essay in past indefinite tense

English With Ashish

Past Indefinite tense: rules, usages and tips

Most of our conversations are incomplete without using the Past Indefinite tense. And if you are a girl, this probably is more true.

Why am I saying it? Why is the Past Indefinite tense vital to use in the English language?

Most of our conversations are almost incomplete without gossiping about someone’s past or narrating a story or simply talking about a past event. And that is why we need this tense.

When to use the Past indefinite tense?

Past Indefinite tense definition: The Past Indefinite tense, also known as the Simple Past tense , is used to talk about actions that occurred in the past at a specific time.

Always remember, the time of the action, if not already understood, needs to be mentioned as this is an important facet of the Past Indefinite tense.

The word that talks about the past time is called the past time marker. Here are some common time markers:

Yesterday, last night, last week, last month, last year, last summer, last season, last decade, last quarter, last night, that day, that night, etc.

The Past Indefinite tense examples

• She proposed me last night.
• One of my school friends had an accident last week.
• I woke up at 5 a.m.
• Jim died in a car accident last year.
• We went to see him yesterday.
• He said a lot of mean things to me in that meeting.
• We did not say anything to him. He looked out of his mind.
• Why did you call me yesterday?
• What did you have last night?

NOTE : avoid mentioning the time of the action if that is already understood by the person/people that you are communicating with.

Look at the following conversation to understand the context:

Mom : Where did you go last night? Me : I went to Jim’s place.

Mom : What did you guys do after I left? Me : We worked on a project together and discussed some things.

Notice, the conversation is about a particular time in the past that is “last night.” In the first sentence, the past time marker is mentioned, so we don’t need to use it over and over again, and we did not.

Now, before we look at different situations where we use the Past Indefinite tense, let’s look at how to form sentences in Past Indefinite tense.

The Past Indefinite tense structure

Let’s look at rules of the Past Indefinite tense now!

1. Affirmative sentence

• They insulted me in that meeting.
• My students played a prank on me in the previous class.
• She called me 15 times last night.

2. Negative sentences

• They did not insult me in that meeting.
• My students didn’t play a prank on me in the previous class.
• She didn’t call me last night.

Didn’t = did not

3. Interrogative sentences

Use the following structure to ask a question that can be answered in YES or NO:

• Did you call me last night?
• Did you just touch me?
• Did she just call you a moron?
• Did they live with you?

All these questions can be answered in simple YES or NO. To know the details of the event happened, use the following WH question words before the auxiliary verb (DID): what, when, where, why, how

• When did you call me?
• Why did you just touch me?
• What did he eat with you in the party?
• How did you do that?
• Where did they live with you?

NOTE : use ‘NOT’ after the subject to form an interrogative negative sentence. But avoid asking negative questions as they confuse people in terms of whether the answer should be positive or negative.

Here’s an example of an interrogative negative sentence in the Past Indefinite tense:

• Did you not eat my sandwich?

Wasn’t it confusing to answer? 😉

Now, let’s talk about different usages of the Past Indefinite tense.

The Past Indefinite tense usages

1. to talk about actions happened at a particular time in the past.

The most common way to use the Past Indefinite tense is to talk about actions that happened at a particular time in the past. Here are some examples for demonstration:

• She came to see me last night.
• We went shopping in the morning.
• Did you talk to him yesterday?
• Everybody supported me in that meeting.

2. A series of completed actions

If a series of actions happened at a particular time in the past, use the Past indefinite tense to talk about it.

• Last night, he walked into my room, woke me up, and took me somewhere with him.
• After reaching there in the morning, we checked in to the hotel, got into our room, had breakfast, and went shopping.
• Yesterday, after the class, we closed the door, turned the music on, and started dancing like no one was there in the college.

3. Repeated actions/habits in the past

If an action occurred multiple times in the past, use the Past Indefinite tense to talk about it.

• We never attended his class, we always bunked it.
• Jon worked at a hotel after school.
• I played cricket when I was in college.
• She played the guitar in school.

4. To describe something or someone

Another common usage of the Past Indefinite tense is to describe someone or something in the past. Here are the examples that demonstrate it:

• He was sad last night.
• They were very mean to me in school.
• She was not happy in the meeting.
• The movie was spine-chilling.
• The food was scrumptious.
• Last night, the weather was extremely pleasant.
• You were my friend last night.

Structure : Subject + was/were + adjective/noun

• Singular subject = was
• Plural subject = were

5. To talk about the completed action and its duration in the past

If an action happened for a period of time in the past, use the Past Indefinite tense to talk about it.

• I lived in Japan for 5 years.
• Last night, we danced for hours.
• Riya and I talked on the phone for an hour.
• Everyone waited for you at the stand for some hours.
• Max studied Chinese for 4 years.

6. To talk about something that happened a few moments ago (extremely close to the present)

Let’s look at some conversations to understand the usage.

Situation 1:

Arun: Hey, Jon. Somebody is calling you a moron. Jon to the crowd: Hey, who called a moron? Then goes a guy in the red coat says: Was it you who called me a moron? The guy: No, I didn’t do it.

Situation 2:

You are eating some fish chips and mashed potatoes at a restaurant. You go to the loo, leaving your food on your table. You come back and see the number of chips isn’t the same. It is less than what you left. You feel someone just ate it.

Then you shout to the crowd: Who ate my chips? “Did you eat my chips?”, you say to a group of people sitting at table number 5. We didn’t touch my chips . Why would we?! We have our own food to eat.

Notice in both the situations, the speaker (at the end) uses the simple past tense without mentioning the time of the action as the time is just now: very close to the present

Use of adverbs in the Past Indefinite tense

Adverbs like just, recently, never are placed just after the subject.

• I just called her.
• I never played cricket in school.
• Jon recently bought a car.

The Past Indefinite tense active and passive voice

• I bought a car last night. (active)
• A car was bought last night (by me). (passive)
• She called me yesterday. (active)
• I was called yesterday. (passive)
• Did you finish the book last week? (active)
• Was the book finished last week? (passive)
• She baked some amazing cookies. (active)
• Some amazing cookies were baked (by her). (passive)

TIP : use the passive structure of the Past Indefinite tense when what the action acted upon is more important than who did it. And we generally don’t mention the doer of the action in passive voice.

Also check out the post on the Present indefinite tense .

Here is my YouTube video on the past indefinite tense:

Hope you enjoyed the lesson! Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.

For one-on-one classes, contact me at  [email protected] .

Ashish Sharma

Ashish found his first love—the English language—a few years back. Since then, he has immersed in the language, breaking down the language and teaching it to passionate English learners. He has a flair for listening to the English language (podcasts, sitcoms, stories), observing the nuances, and making it easy for English learners. He is known for breaking down complex English topics and making them easy to be understood.

2 thoughts on “Past Indefinite tense: rules, usages and tips”

Hello Ashish Bhai, awesome post. Keep it up. I am learning lot’s of things from your yt channel and now it’s time to learn from here(website). Thank you 🙂

Thank you, Prince! Happy to know that you find my posts informative!

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Past Indefinite Tense | Definite, Structure and Examples

Last updated on April 2nd, 2023 at 12:57 pm

Past Indefinite Tense

We need to use Past Indefinite Tense to indicate past actions or past habits. Past Indefinite Tense is also known as the ‘Simple Past’ tense. But the question is, what is the definite of Past Indefinite Tense? The definition is very simple. When we indicate a complete action in the past or a past habit, it’s called Past Indefinite Tense. For example:

• I did my duty correctly.
• He retired from his job.
• She controlled her weight.
• Lopa completed her homework.
• They missed their childhood.

Structure: Subject+Verb(past form)+Object

Let us see the different forms of Past Indefinite Tense:

Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

Let us see some examples of Past Indefinite Tense:

• I got the point.
• He went to a historical place yesterday.
• You observed the situation.
• We found our weakness.
• Alim attended the program.
• Lee passed the last examination.
• Did you miss your friend?
• We enjoyed the party last night.
• They watched a horror movie.
• I forgot to participate in the program.
• I improved my English skills slowly.
• You did not catch the fish.
• Did you not accept the proposal?
• He ate good food yesterday.
• She waited for you two days ago.
• Brendon reached his campus.
• Kamran borrowed a book from his friend.
• Did they solve the issue correctly?
• We missed our old days.
• He was appointed as an officer in charge.

Azizul Hakim is the founder & CEO of englishfinders.com . He is a passionate writer, English instructor, and content creator. He has completed his graduation and post-graduation in English language and literature.

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Past Indefinite Tense| Definition, rules, Formula, Examples

Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense is used when the purpose is to point out some action that happened in the past period. It means that Past Indefinite Tense simply states actions of the past period that had been practiced in the past period without mentioning the status of its completeness or incompleteness. For example:

• They spoke.

Helping Verbs of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

The Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense do not take any helping verb to express the actions of the past period. Instead, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use the “2nd form of Verb” without any helping verb with all pronouns and number nouns . And thus, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following Sentence Structure:

Subject+ 2nd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words

“Did” is used as a helping verb in Negative , Interrogative , and Negative Interrogative Sentences, with 1st form of helping Verb.

Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Negative , Interrogative , and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” as a helping verb with the 1st form of the Verb. However, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense do not use any helping verb, instead, they use only the 2nd form of the Verb with their subject.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use the 2nd form of Verb with all types of pronouns and nouns to express the actions of a little while ago. So, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following arrangement of subject, verb, and object.

Examples of Assertive Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

• I posted the letter.
• I received your letter.
• I liked him for his honesty.
• I solved that puzzle.
• I went for a morning walk early in the morning.
• I wrote the essay to highlight the social issues of our society.
• I liked to sing at parties.
• I took bath daily before going to my school.
• I saw him near that market.
• I met with an accident while visiting my Uncle’s house.
• I performed a joker role on the stage.
• I wished that I become a great bureaucrat.
• We boarded the train.
• We waited for you.
• Our team won the match.
• We did our work ourselves.
• We read that funny article.
• We wore simple dresses.
• We worked hard to meet our deadlines.
• We loved to help needy people.
• We came for the launch in this restaurant.
• We planned to organize a concert to help disabled people.
• We met him in his office to discuss the social evil of child labor.
• We were welcomed warmly by them. ( Passive Voice )
• You invited me to tea.
• You looked after my brother.
• You ate the apple.
• You refused to help me in my most difficult times.
• You pretended as if you know nothing about that theft.
• You performed very well on stage, despite a great audience.
• You showed affection for the young.
• Your behavior with your parents was sick. ( Passive Voice )
• You borrowed some money from me last year, and you had not returned it yet.
• You liked to tease others.
• They gave us a gift.
• They acted upon our advice.
• The travelers set the forest on fire.
• People caught the thief.
• The boys made a noise.
• The students told the lesson.
• The people held a meeting in the garden.
• The laborers took out a procession.
• The students raised slogans.
• The clerks went on strike.
• The laborers called off the strike.
• The children learned their lesson by heart.
• David won the prize.
• Harry made a beautiful picture.
• He ran for his life.
• He refused to give his book.
• The teacher punished the students.
• The headmaster finds the naughty boy.
• The doctor operated on the patient.
• Ali bought books.
• He went to school daily.
• He offered prayers five times a day.
• John cleaned his room.
• He succeeded in developing a CPF number generating tool .
• The grandmother told us a strange story.
• The teacher taught the lesson well.
• Naseema wept.
• The virtuous woman brought the orphan up.
• She plucked those pink flowers.
• She preferred coffee to tea.
• She liked to buy colorful books.
• Marry worked in a garment factory to earn her livelihood.
• She did her work on time.
• She read various kinds of magazines.
• She washed her clothes clean.
• She disliked taking breakfast early in the morning.
• It was thundering outside. ( Passive Voice )
• The rainy season bought its blessings to farmers last year.
• It was 11’O clock by watching. ( Passive Voice )
• The heavy flood destroyed the road that leads to the main city.
• The dog chased the rabbit.

Negative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” as a helping verb with “not”, to express the negativity of the sentence. Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following sentence structure.

Subject+ Did+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of the Predicate

Examples of Negative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

Subject+ Did+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words

I+ Did+ not

• I did not make fun of him.
• I did not send a letter to my father by airmail.
• I did not write a letter to my mother.
• I did not wish to meet her.
• My brother did not say goodbye at the railway station.
• I did not abuse them.
• I did not buy anything from that shop.
• I did not miss my school bus yesterday.
• I did not take much interest in his offer.
• I did not like to play with my opponents on my team.

We+ Did+ not

• We did not care for him.
• We did not visit all the historical places.
• We did not like cricket much.
• We did not take our lunch.
• We did not read any newspapers to keep ourselves up to date.
• We did not scold them.
• We did not reply to the email on time.
• We did not say anything wrong to them.
• We did not wash your clothes yesterday.
• We did not invite them to tonight’s party.

You+ Did+ not

• You did not fulfill your promise.
• You did not listen to me.
• You did not inform me of the decision.
• You did not repair the television.
• You did not enjoy the party.
• You did not draw the map of North America.
• You did not make much progress.
• You did not make a beautiful garland.
• You did not take your medicine on time.

They+ Did+ not

• They did not help us.
• People did not protest against this law.
• The police did not arrest the thief.
• The police did not disperse the crowd.
• They did not push me aside.
• The army did not capture the fort.
• They did not accept our invitation.
• They did not stand by their friends.
• They did not know him.
• The people did not ready to help the needy.

He+ Did+ not

• He did not obey his parents.
• He did not escape punishment.
• The principal did not distribute the prizes.
• The wrestler did not knock out his opponent.
• He did not tell a lie.
• He did not sell his whole property.
• He did not hate anyone.
• He did not go to the office.
• He did not mind your bitter words.
• He did not bring up his younger brother.

She+ Did+ not

• She did not tell a lie.
• She did not sew her clothes.
• She did not respect her elders.
• She did not encourage her juniors.
• She did not prepare dinner.
• She did not play with her siblings.
• She did not support democracy.
• She did not take bath daily.
• She did not prefer coffee to tea.
• She did not accept her guilt.

It+ Did+ not

• The airplane did not take off at quarter to eight.
• It did not take much time to complete.
• It did not rain outside.
• This road did not lead to the main city.
• It did not cloudy yesterday.
• This story did not emphasize humanity.

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

“Did” is used at the start of the Interrogative Sentences to show the interrogative nature of the sentences. However, Interrogative Sentences with words of Questions have “did” after them. So, Interrogative Sentences with words of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of the Predicate+?

Interrogative Sentences without Word of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of Predicate+ ?

Examples of Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense:

Word of Question+ Did+?

Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

• Whom did you consult?
• Why did he insult you?
• When did the lion carry away the cow?
• Where did you find this book?
• Why did he tear the paper?
• Who swept the room?
• How did they greet you?
• How did the cook prepare rice?
• Why did Harry burn the candle at both ends?
• When did the airplane land at the airport?
• Where did the goods train collide with the passenger train?
• Where did you see the mad dog?
• How did the laborer carry so much load?
• To whom did the doctor give the injection?
• When did they reach Karachi?

Interrogative Sentences Without Word of Question:

Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense without Word of Question have the following arrangement of subject, verb, and object

Did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

• Did I say something very emotional?
• Did I message him?
• Did I refuse to help her?
• Did I prefer coffee to tea?
• Did I blame you for all my loss?
• Did I borrow some money from them?
• Did I water plants daily?
• Did I pluck a rose from your garden?
• Did I live in my selfish wishes?
• Did I always stand first in my class?
• Did we serve them improperly?
• Did we propose a foolish idea before the committee?
• Did we listen to music last night?
• Did we refuse to help you?
• Did we understand his condition fully?
• Did we always humiliate them with our bad behavior?
• Did we think more about ourselves than our parents?
• Did we gift them this bungalow?
• Did we attend your grandmother’s funeral?
• Did we scold those children?
• Did your friends congratulate you on your success?
• Did your friends like this party?
• Did you enjoy the flight?
• Did your brother lend you a hand?
• Did you reach home safe and sound?
• Did you see this movie ago?
• Did you listen to music the whole night?
• Did you like nature photography?
• Did you enter this room with your pen?
• Did you always stand by your younger siblings?

Did+ They+ ?

• Did they buy a new house?
• Did they order the peon to ring the bell?
• Did they overcharge their customers?
• Did they ready to appear before a judge to confess their guilt?
• Did the players play the hockey match in this playground?
• Did the laborers dig the soil yesterday?
• Did they drink the whole mango juice?
• Did they smell flowers?
• Did they serious about this project?
• Did they make a plan on how to make this proposal successful?
• Did the officer transfer his peon?
• Did the Magistrate catch him red-handed?
• Did Ali lose weight due to overworking?
• Did he take proper sleep and diet to keep himself healthy?
• Did that tailor sew my clothes?
• Did he tell a lie?
• Did he play cricket well?
• Did he criticize his opinion?
• Did he go to the gym to keep himself healthy?
• Did he always blame you for his failures?

Did+ She+ ?

• Did she support urbanization?
• Did she wash his clothes with her hands?
• Did she always wear a spick and span dress?
• Did she always abide by her parents?
• Did she always speak the truth?
• Did she dislike him due to his poverty?
• Did she tend before God in her most difficult times?
• Did she go to London last year?
• Did she buy a new toy for her baby?
• Did she prefer ice cream to a brownie?
• Did it dirty the room?
• Did it 4’O clock by your watch then?
• Did his curse make him corrupt?
• Did her needs propel her to be a dacoit?
• Did it be late to catch the bus?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” at the start of the sentence to ask questions, and “not” comes after the subject of the sentence to describe the negativity of the sentence. However, Negative-Interrogative Sentences with words of Question have “did” after them. So, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense with Word of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences without Word of Question, and having “Did” at the start of the sentence, have the following Sentence Structure:

Did+ Subject+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

Word of Question+Did+not+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences with Word of Question have the following arrangement of subject, verb, and Object.

Word of Question+ did+ not+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

• Whom did you not consult for your disease?
• Why did he not inform you about your mother’s health condition?
• Why did the lion not carry away the cow?
• Why did you not find this book?
• Why did he not tear the paper?
• Who did not sweep the room?
• Why did they not greet you?
• Why did the cook not prepare rice?
• Why did Harry not burn the candle at both ends?
• When did the aero-plane not land at the airport?
• Why did the goods train not to collide with the passenger train, despite running on the same line?
• Where did you not see the mad dog?
• Why did the laborer not carry so much load?
• Why did the doctor not give an injection?
• Why did they not reach Karachi?
• Who did not read my letter?
• Why did the cobbler not mend my shoe?
• Why door was not knocked at? ( Passive Voice )

Negative-interrogative Sentences without a word of Question

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense without Word of Question, have the following Sentence Structure.

Did+ I+ not+ ?

• Did I not say something very emotional?
• Did I not message him?
• Did I not help her?
• Did I not prefer coffee to tea?
• Did I not blame you for all my loss?
• Did I not borrow some money from them?
• Did I not water plants daily?
• Did I not pluck a rose from your garden?
• Did I not live in my selfish wishes?
• Did I not always stand first in my class?

Did+ We+ not+ ?

• Did we not serve them improperly?
• Did we not propose a foolish idea before the committee?
• Did we not listen to music last night?
• Did we not refuse to help you?
• Did we not understand his condition fully?
• Did we not always encourage them?
• Did we not think more about ourselves than our parents?
• Did we not gift them this bungalow?
• Did we not attend your grandmother’s funeral?
• Did we not scold those children?

Did+ You+ not+ ?

• Did your friends not congratulate you on your success?
• Did your friends not like this party?
• Did you not enjoy the flight?
• Did your brother not lend you a hand?
• Did you not reach home safe and sound?
• Did you not see this movie ago?
• Did you not listen to music the whole night?
• Did you not like to nature-photography?
• Did you not enter this room with your pen?
• Did you not always stand by your younger siblings?

Did+ They+ Not+ ?

• Did they not buy a new house?
• Did they not order the peon to ring the bell?
• Did they not overcharge their customers?
• Did they not ready to appear before a judge to confess their guilt?
• Did the players not play the hockey match in this playground?
• Did the laborers not dig the soil yesterday?
• Did they not drink the whole mango juice?
• Did they not smell flowers?
• Did they not serious about this project?
• Did they not make a plan for how to make this proposal successful?

Did+ He+ Not+ ?

• Did the officer not transfer his peon?
• Did the Magistrate not catch him red-handed?
• Did Ali not lose weight due to overworking?
• Did he not take proper sleep and diet to keep himself healthy?
• Did that tailor not sew my clothes?
• Did he not tell a lie?
• Did he not play cricket well?
• Did he not criticize his opinion?
• Did he not go to the gym to keep himself healthy?
• Did he not always blame you for his failures?

Did+ She+ Not+ ?

• Did she not support urbanization?
• Did she not wash his clothes with his hands?
• Did she not always wear a spick and span dress?
• Did she not always abide by her parents?
• Did she not always speak the truth?
• Did she not dislike him due to his poverty?
• Did she not tend before God in her most difficult times?
• Did she not go to London last year?
• Did she not buy a new toy for her baby?
• Did she not prefer ice cream to brownies?

Did+ It+ Not+ ?:

• Did it not dirty the room?
• Did it not 4’O clock by your watch then?
• Did his curse not make him corrupt?
• Did her needs not propel her to be a dacoit?
• Did it not late to catch the bus?

Passive Voice of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Simple Past Indefinite Tense uses “was/were” as helping verbs while going from Active Voice form to Passive Voice form. Past Indefinite Tense can be converted into Passive Voice according to the following rules mentioned in:

• Simple Past Indefinite Tense-Passive Voice

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Level Up Your English

Past Indefinite Tense: Structure, Rules and Examples

Master it with exercises & image-based activities.

The Simple Past Indefinite Tense , also commonly known as the Simple Past Tense , or the Past Simple, is primarily used to describe actions or events that occurred and were completed at a point of time in the past. Let us look into the structure, rules, examples, and exercises in a fun manner.

Table of Contents

With every present moment or day passing and quickly becoming the past, there is no way that the past tense can be kept out of our speech. With that simple reason, let’s get started on learning about the simple past indefinite tense right away.

Past Indefinite Tense Definition

Here are two dictionary definitions of the Simple Past Indefinite Tense:

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it thus: “ Simple Past is the tense that is used to refer to events, actions, and conditions that occurred in the past “

The Merriam-Webster’s definition arrives at the same meaning as above with: “ The Simple Past Tense is a verb tense expressing action or state in or, as if in the past, and without further specification of time. “

These definitions underline the basic function of the Simple Past Tense, which is to describe actions or states that occurred at a specific time in the past.

Past Indefinite Tense Examples

How about we see a few past indefinite tense examples in the positive, negative and interrogative or question forms.

What are V1 V2 and V3

Every tense has a fixed pattern, which makes it easy for learners to grasp the syntax of sentences correctly. This pattern is called the structure or as it has strangely come to be called in India, ‘ the past indefinite tense formula’ . For convenience, let us frame the structure using the commonly used terms for the three forms of a verb- the V1, V2 and V3 .

But, what are the V1, V2 and V3 forms? This simply means that a verb can be used in the present tense, which we call the V1 , the past tense, which we call the V2 and the past participle form, which we refer to as the V3 .

For clarity, take a look at these basic sentences with some common verbs in all three forms of V1, V2, and V3 . In this lesson, we are focused on the V2, i.e. the past forms of a verb.

Past Indefinite Tense Rules

Now, let us get a grip on the past indefinite tense rules to make proper sentences.

Past Indefinite Tense Formula

Did you notice that verbs 1 to 6 have a certain pattern, which is not to be found in verbs from 7 to 9? Well, the first 6 are called ‘ regular verbs ‘ that always add an ‘-ed’ in ‘V2’ to the base form a verb, or the V1 form of a verb. Words that take an altogether different word form for their V2 and V3 are called the irregular verbs .

You can find an elaborate list of V1, V2, and V3 forms, plus worksheets at this link.

The past tense formula (an Indian corruption of the word, structure ) remains the same, but just that the V2 forms of irregular verbs are different from those of the predictable ‘-ed’ ending regular verbs, as you can notice in the past indefinite tense structure chart below.

Time Cues as Past Tense Words

Since the simple past indefinite tense always refers to completed past actions , there are certain words that are commonly used with this tense. Words like ago, back, last weekend (any time frame with last), formerly, in the past , etc. These are called the “ Temporal Indicators ” of the past tense.

The cue words may appear in the middle, but are often tagged at the end of the past tense sentences. Test-takers on IELTS, GMAT, SAT, and TOEFL must remember to quickly spot and identity sentences with these temporal words as being past tense sentences.

See the table below for the most common 15 cue words that signal the simple past tense. The table will also provide you with 15 past indefinite tense example sentences, sampling one for each cue word.

Past Tense Words

Here are the temporal words or the past time words in these past indefinite tense examples to learn from.

Let’s learned the slight differences in meanings of some of these words that refer to the past time frames.

Nuances: Formerly vs Previously, Back vs Ago

Know the difference.

“ Formerly ” and “ previously ” are similar in meaning, but their usage is slightly different:

“ Formerly ” typically refers to something that was the case in the past but is no longer true (at the present time). It emphasizes the change or transition from the past state to the present state.

• Example : “This building was formerly a school.” (It was a school in the past but now it is not.)

“ Previously ” simply means at an earlier time or before a particular event or point in time. It doesn’t necessarily imply a change or transition.

• Example : “He had worked at the company previously.” (He worked at the company before the current time. It implies either that he’s an ex-employee, or he might be rejoining, which brings up the discussion.)

To conclude “formerly” emphasizes the change from a past state to a present state, while “previously” simply refers to something that occurred before a specific time or event.

Back versus Ago: Know the Difference

Here’s how “back” and “ago” differ:

“ Back ” typically refers to a point in time that is the recent past, but it can be used to refer to a range of time, including very recent past moments. It’s often used in casual speech to refer to something that happened shortly before the current moment.

• He left five minutes back.
• Call me back!
• I’ll be back soon!
• “ He called me back a few minutes ago. ” (Here, “back” is used to refer to a very recent past moment, just a few minutes before the current moment.)

“ Ago ” specifically refers to a point in time that is earlier than the present moment, and it is commonly used to indicate longer periods of time into the past . It’s typically used with specific units of time (e.g., minutes ago, hours ago, days ago, years ago).

• A long time ago , ….(Stories begin this way!)
• “ She moved to the city three years ago. ” (Here, “ago” is used to indicate a time three years before the current moment.)

In summary, while both “back” and “ago” refer to past moments, but “back” can refer to a very recent past moments, while “ago” is specifically used to indicate a point in time that is further away into the past from the present moment, often for longer periods of time into the past.

Past Indefinite Tense Affirmative Sentences

Let us look at some sentences for the past indefinite tense

Image-Based Past Indefinite Tense Exercise 1

Now that you have taken a thorough look at the past indefinite tense rules, structure, and examples, it is time to practice some free speech. Here’s the first past indefinite tense exercise.

Look at the image below and speak for over 1 to 2 minutes. You could use the verbs suggested below.

Suggested Regular Verbs:

gather, unload, set, check, adjust, fine-tune, brief, highlight, strap, fasten, distribute, fill, pose, smile, complete, set.

Sample Answer

Before setting off on the marathon, the bicyclists gathered at the starting point early in the morning. They unloaded their bicycles from the trailers and set them up. They ensured everything was in proper working order. Some riders meticulously checked their tire pressure and adjusted their seats for optimum comfort. Others adjusted their gear ratios and fine-tuned their bikes for the long journey ahead.

The team captain briefed everyone on the route. He highlighted the precautions for the challenging terrain or potential hazards. They strapped on their helmets and fastened their water bottles securely to their bikes. Energy bars and electrolyte drinks were distributed among the cyclists, providing fuel for the rigorous ride ahead.

Excitement and anticipation filled the air as the group posed for a pre-marathon photo. Everyone smiled for the picture. Once they completed the preparations, they set out on the marathon, eager to conquer the miles ahead.

16 Regular Verb Forms Used Ending in ‘-ed’:

Notice how many regular verbs were used here: gathered, unloaded, set, checked, adjusted, fine-tuned, briefed, highlighted, strapped, fastened, distributed, filled, posed, smiled, completed, set.

Past Indefinite Tense Negative Sentences

Let’s now make some past indefinite tense negative sentences. Note how the irregular V1 verbs take a new word form in the V2 past tense.

See more examples of the past tense ‘ed’ forms at the great resource here .

Image-Based Past Indefinite Tense Exercise 2

Look at the image below. This is how these kids spend the afternoon yesterday. Describe from the image the actions of these kids in past tense or past indefinite tense. Use at least 5 verbs. Here is a set of suggested verbs. Use as many as you can and bring in more verbs as you desire. You could speak or write out a description.

Suggested Verbs:

Verbs: want, spend, wander, sit, pull, start, play, excite, watch, demonstrate, observe, request, agree, try, enjoy, return

“Three little boys wanted to have some fun. They spent the Sunday together. They wandered around some familiar places. Then they sat outside an old temple. One of them pulled out his smartphone. He started showing some games he usually plays on his phone.

The kids got excited as they watched him play. He demonstrated the game to them. They observed keenly to grasp the rules of the game. They requested him to let them have a turn to play the game too. He agreed and the other two boys tried out the game too. They enjoyed their time together. They agreed to meet again the next Sunday, and they each returned home!”

16 Regular and Irregular Verbs Used

Notice the mix of regular and irregular verbs used here: wanted, spent, wandered, sat, pulled, started, played, excited, watched, demonstrated, observed, requested, agreed, tried, enjoyed, returned

Additional Past Tense Exercise : Transpose

Transpose the infinitive forms of the verbs, seen in red in the sample answer above into past indefinite tense sentences: to grasp, to let, to meet.

Past Indefinite Tense Interrogative Sentences

It’s about time to delve into the past indefinite tense interrogative sentences. Take a look at the structure and attempt to make a sentence with the past V2 forms of the given V1 verb. Refer to the example sentence for extra practice.

Past Indefinite Tense Sentences

Negative interrogative examples.

When you expect a certain verb action to happen but it doesn’t or something or someone makes you doubt the happening of the action, you tend to use the negative past indefinite interrogative form.

Make WH- Questions with Past Indefinite Tense Structure

Once you learn to make the past indefinite interrogation forms, making further WH- questions, i.e. when-why-where-who-whom-how question forms becomes easy as cake! Just two things to do:

• The WH- Questions go at the beginning of the sentence.
• Did drops the capital as it is not the sentence starter anymore!

For instance, take one of this previous indefinite past example sentence:

• “ Did she cut her hair short? “
• Tag WHEN to result in: “ When did she cut her hair short? “

See more examples below from the past indefinite interrogative question examples above:

Catch the Nuances of the Negative Questions!

Again, in the set of ‘ Past Indefinite Negative Interrogative Sentences ‘ the emphasis is on the non-occurrence of the verb action, which could imply feelings of sarcasm, frustration, annoyance and the like too. First, let us look at the WH- additions:

Therefore, these sentences could imply:

• Why did he not ride his bike to work? – -> meaning ‘ Of course, he always drives his bike to work. ‘
• Why did you not bring samosas to the picnic? –> meaning ‘ You were expected to bring samosas to the picnic -because you were told to, or you said so yourself!)
• When did he not come late? –> meaning, “ It’s a known fact that he is always late. “

Understanding these nuances is what being a ‘fluent speaker’ is all about!

Past Indefinite Tense Exercise:

Practice converting the questions from the tables above with the WH- questions suggested in the brackets:

• Did you read before going to bed?? ( What )
• Did the dog not bite the robber? ( Why )
• Did you watch a movie last night? ( Which )
• Did you not watch the show last night? ( Why )
• Did she not buy those shoes? ( Why )
• Did you go to the museum? ( When )
• What did you read before going to bed?
• Why did the dog not bite the robber?
• Which movie did you watch last night?
• Why did you not watch the show last night?
• Why did she not buy those shoes?
• When did you go to the museum?.

Can storytelling be done in the past indefinite tense?

Yes, you could. However, a mix of the tenses is more natural in storytelling. For instance, you would use the simple present tense to state the moral- since morals endure the test of time! You could refer to the lesson on the simple present tense to see how a story can be told entirely in one single tense.

Is the past indefinite tense useful professionally too?

Yes, when you have to report an incident at work, or write the day’s summary as a sales person, most of your report will be composed in the past tense. Annual general meetings and board meetings also report the performance for the previous year in this tense along with other tenses like the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses.

This lesson on the past indefinite tense of the simple past tense has given you a solid grounding on all there is to know, from rules, structures, examples, and image-based exercises . But there is more along to past tense continuum to perfect your English. Get thorough with the simple past tense worksheets as well as take the lesson on Reported Speech .

Click on the links below to access the simple past tense worksheets, V1 V2 V3 Verb forms and exercises, and Reported Speech.

5 Simple Past Tense Worksheet Sets with Answer Keys Verb Forms V1 V2 V3 to V5 Reported Speech with Examples and Exercises

Or, try articles of general interest:

• Fruits Encyclopedia Pillar Page (Links to 8 posts on different Fruit types)
• Picture Composition- 40 to fit any level (Links to 6 posts for Grade 1 to Grade 6)
• Master Pillar page for Picture Descriptions (Links to 5 Basic to Intermediate picture-tasks for adults)

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50 Past Indefinite Tense Examples In English

The Past Indefinite Tense , also known as the Simple Past Tense , is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. It is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. In this article, we delve deep into the nuances of the Past Indefinite Tense, providing 50 diverse examples to illustrate its usage. These examples are crafted to help learners understand how to use this tense correctly and effectively in various contexts.

Understanding the Past Indefinite Tense

The Past Indefinite Tense is used to express actions that occurred at a definite time in the past, which can be stated explicitly or understood from the context. It is formed using the base form of the verb with the addition of “-ed” for regular verbs, while irregular verbs have unique past tense forms. The structure of the Past Indefinite Tense is as follows:

• Affirmative: Subject + Verb (past form) + Object
• Negative: Subject + did not + Verb (base form) + Object
• Interrogative: Did + Subject + Verb (base form) + Object?

Key Usage of the Past Indefinite Tense

1. completed actions in the past.

The most common use of the Past Indefinite Tense is to describe actions that were completed in the past. For example:

• She visited Paris last summer.
• They completed the project yesterday.

2. Series of Completed Actions

It can also describe a series of completed actions in the past:

• He woke up, brushed his teeth, and left for work.

3. Duration in the Past

The tense can indicate an action that occurred over a period in the past:

• We lived in New York for five years.

4. Habits in the Past

It can describe past habits that no longer occur:

• He played football every weekend.

50 Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

A. affirmative sentences.

• She bought a new dress yesterday.
• They watched a movie last night.
• The team won the match by a large margin.
• We visited the museum last weekend.
• He wrote a letter to his friend.
• The cat chased the mouse around the house.
• She studied French in college.
• He lost his keys at the park.
• They built a new house in the countryside.
• The teacher explained the lesson thoroughly.

B. Negative Sentences

• She did not attend the meeting.
• They did not finish the assignment on time.
• He did not recognize the old man.
• We did not hear the alarm clock this morning.
• The company did not make a profit last year.
• She did not enjoy the concert.
• They did not participate in the competition.
• He did not answer the phone when it rang.
• We did not see the eclipse due to cloudy weather.
• The children did not understand the instructions.

C. Interrogative Sentences

• Did she call you yesterday?
• Did they go to the party?
• Did he finish his homework on time?
• Did you see the fireworks display?
• Did they visit the Grand Canyon last year?
• Did she bring her camera?
• Did he cook dinner for the family?
• Did they travel by train or by car?
• Did you enjoy the concert last night?
• Did she tell you the news?

D. Usage in Various Contexts

• They left the party early because they were tired.
• She read a fascinating book about history.
• He sang a beautiful song at the event.
• We traveled to Europe last summer.
• She cleaned the entire house by herself.
• They organized a surprise party for their friend.
• He designed a new logo for the company.
• She painted a stunning landscape.
• The kids played in the park all afternoon.
• We enjoyed the delicious meal at the new restaurant.

Tips for Using the Past Indefinite Tense

• Regular vs. Irregular Verbs: Regular verbs simply add “-ed” to form the past tense, while irregular verbs require memorization as they do not follow a consistent pattern.
• Contextual Clues: Often, the past indefinite tense is accompanied by time expressions such as “yesterday,” “last week,” “in 2010,” etc., which provide a clear indication of the time frame.
• Negative and Interrogative Forms: Remember to use “did” as the auxiliary verb in negative and interrogative sentences, regardless of whether the main verb is regular or irregular.

Mastering the Past Indefinite Tense is crucial for effective communication in English. This tense allows us to clearly describe actions that have been completed in the past, providing specificity and clarity. By studying and practicing the examples provided, learners can enhance their understanding and use of this tense, thereby improving their overall proficiency in English.

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Past Indefinite Tense Definition, Formula, & Examples

Understanding grammar is essential for effective communication in any language. In English, tenses play a crucial role in conveying the timing of actions and events. One of the fundamental tenses in English is the “Past Indefinite Tense.” In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of the Past Indefinite Tense, exploring its formation, usage.

Table of Contents

What is Past Indefinite Tense?

The Past Indefinite Tense, also known as the Simple Past Tense, is a verb tense used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and are now completed. It is used to express actions that happened at a specific point in the past and have no connection to the present. This tense is straightforward and easy to identify in a sentence due to its distinctive verb form.

Formula for Past Indefinite Tense

To form sentences in the Past Indefinite Tense, we follow a specific formula. The formula for affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in this tense is as follows:

Affirmative Sentence

Subject + Form of verb 2 + object + …………… (.)

Negative Sentence

Subject + did not + form of verb 1 + object + …………… (.)

Interrogative Sentences

Did + Subject + form of verb1 +  object + …………… (?)

Affirmative Form

In affirmative sentences, we use the past simple form of the verb, which is typically the base form of the verb with the addition of ‘-ed’ for regular verbs or an irregular form for irregular verbs.

Formula: Subject + Past Simple Verb (Second form of the verb) + Object

• His eyes filled with tears.
• She loved her father.
• I did my homework.
• The sword fell from his hands.
• My brother played hockey.
• We went to school.
• He wanted to advise him.
• He abused him
• He recited the Holy Book.
• He cultivated the rice.
• He cheated them.
• I supported him.
• They dug the grave.

Negative Form

In negative sentences, we use “did not” or its contraction “didn’t” followed by the base form of the verb.

Formula: Subject + Did not (didn’t) + Base Form of the Verb + Object

• They did not help the poor.
• He did not go to school.
• They did not post the letter.
• They did not admit your mistakes.
• It did not snow on the mountains.
• You did not finish your work.
• They did not catch the fish.
• He did not preach him.
• They did not teach us English.
• He did not advise him.
• The girl did not dress the hair.

Interrogative Form

In interrogative sentences, we begin with “did” followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. The question mark at the end indicates that it is a question.

Formula: Did + Subject + Base Form of the Verb + Object?

• Did the words start to appear?
• Did the grandmother tell us an interesting story?
• Did they wait for their friend?
• Did it rain yesterday?
• Did our team win the match?
• Did he know how to contest the election?
• Did he oppose him?
• Did he want to kill his father?
• Did he tease the cattle?
• Did they help the poor?
• Did they drive the car?
• Did the teacher tell a story to the boys?
• Did Ali win the match?

Past Continuous Tense in English Past Perfect Tense Formula and Examples Past Perfect Continuous Tense in English

Download Past Indefinite Tense Formula, Definition, Examples

( From Here )

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