The Simple Past Practice

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TODAY’S GRAMMAR: 
In our last couple classes, we have been learning about the Simple Past Tense. 
Today, we will continue learning about some expressions that you can use with 
that tense. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perfectly use the Simple 
Past Tense. 
 
EXPRESSIONS USED IN THE SIMPLE 
PAST TENSE 
In English, the Simple Past Tense is used for finished actions or situations that 
began and ended before now. There are three (3) ways to make Simple Past 
Tense. 
In order to show when an action or situation happened in the past, particular 
words and phrases (time adverbials) are often used. Here are some of the most 
common ones: 
 
1. 
 
yesterday 
This refers to the day before today, but not at 
any specific time. 
2. 
 
last _____ 
This time adverbial is similar to yesterday, but it 
can be used with many different time references: 
last night 
last week 
last month 
last year 
last Tuesday 
last summer 
etc. 
3. 
 
a / an / one _____ ago 
A singular noun phrase showing a period of time 
follows a, an, or one: 
a / one minute ago 
an / one hour ago 
a / one week ago 
a / one week ago 
a / one month ago 
a / one year ago 
etc. 
4. 
 
(plural number or expression) _____ ago 
A plural noun phrase showing a period of time 
is used before ago: 
two minutes ago 
three hours ago 
several days ago 
a few weeks ago 
a number of months ago 
many years ago 
etc. 
 
5. 
 
the day before yesterday 
This time adverbial has the same meaning as 
two days ago. 
6. 
 
the _____ before last 
This common time adverbial is similar to 
the day before yesterday, but it can be 
used for many more time references: 
the night before last 
the week before last 
the month before last 
etc. 
7. 
 
past dates 
Any time expression that refers to a date 
before now requires a past tense. 
Examples: 
in 1998 
on June 21st (if this date was before now) 
on June 21st, 2000 
during 1995 
in the 19th Century 
last Christmas 
etc. 
8. 
 
past events 
Any time that refers to an event that happened 
before now also requires a past tense. 
Examples: 
on my last birthday 
at the beginning of my class 
during my childhood 
when I got up this morning 
when my grandfather was a boy 
etc. 
 
 
 
______________________________ 
Special Notes: 
1. 
 
Any time expression that refers to "before now" 
can require past tense. If "now" is Monday 
afternoon at 2:15 PM, for example, these time 
adverbials require past tense if they refer 
to Monday: 
at 2:00 PM 
at noon 
this morning 
 
in the morning 
at lunch 
etc. 
 
2. 
 
"Last" is very commonly used, but not with "day": 
use yesterday, not *last day. 
3. 
 
Two or more time adverbial can be combined: 
at 2:30 yesterday afternoon 
late last night 
early in the morning a couple of days ago 
every Thursday last summer 
etc. 
Note that when two or more time adverbials are 
combined, shorter periods of time come before 
longer periods of time.