Simple Past: Example

Simple past
The simple past is a verb tense that is used to talk about things that happened or
existed before now. Imagine someone asks what your brother Wolfgang did while
he was in town last weekend.
Example.
Did Wolfgang win the gold medal or the silver medal? Where did Wolfgang go to
celebrate? Did the judges decide fairly, in your opinion?
When asking a question with the verb to be, you don’t need the auxiliary did. The
formula is was/were + [subject].
Example.
Was Wolfgang in a good mood after the contest? Were people taking lots of
pictures?
The simple past tense shows that you are talking about something that has
already happened. Unlike the past continuous tense, which is used to talk about
past events that happened over a period of time, the simple past tense
emphasizes that the action is finished.
Example: Wolfgang admired the way the light glinted off his silver medal.

You can also use the simple past to talk about a past state of being, such as the
way someone felt about something. This is often expressed with the simple past
tense of the verb to be and an adjective, noun, or prepositional phrase.
Example: Wolfgang was proud of his hula hoop victory.

Example: The contest was the highlight of his week.
How to Formulate the Simple Past
For regular verbs, add -ed to the root form of the verb (or just -d if the root form
already ends in an e):
Play→Played Type→Typed Listen→Listened Push→Pushed Love→Loved
For irregular verbs, things get more complicated. The simple past tense of some
irregular verbs looks exactly like the root form:
Put→Put Cut→Cut Set→Set Cost→Cost Hit→Hit
For other irregular verbs, including the verb to be, the simple past forms are more
erratic:
See→Saw Build→Built Go→Went Do→Did Rise→Rose Am/Is/Are→Was/Were
The good news is that verbs in the simple past tense (except for the verb to be)
don’t need to agree in number with their subjects.
Example: Wolfgang polished his medal. The other winners polished their medals

too.
How to Make the Simple Past Negative
Fortunately, there is a formula for making simple past verbs negative, and it’s the
same for both regular and irregular verbs (except for the verb to be). The formula
is did not + [root form of verb]. You can also use the contraction didn’t instead
of did not.
Example: Wolfgang did not brag too much about his hula hoop skills. Wolfgang’s
girlfriend didn’t see the contest.
For the verb to be, you don’t need the auxiliary did. When the subject of the
sentence is singular, use was not or wasn’t. When the subject is plural, use were
not or weren’t.
Example: The third-place winner was not as happy as Wolfgang. The fourth-

place winner wasn’t happy at all. The onlookers were not ready to leave after the
contest ended. The contestants weren’t ready to leave either.
How to Ask a Question
The formula for asking a question in the simple past tense is did + [subject] + [root
form of verb].
Example: Did Wolfgang win the gold medal or the silver medal? Where did
Wolfgang go to celebrate? Did the judges decide fairly, in your opinion?
When asking a question with the verb to be, you don’t need the auxiliary did. The
formula is was/were + [subject].
Example: Was Wolfgang in a good mood after the contest? Were people taking

lots of pictures?
Past Continuous
The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, refers to a continuing
action or state that was happening at some point in the past. The past continuous tense is
formed by combining the past tense of to be (i.e., was/were) with the verb’s present participle
(-ing word).
Example: The sun was shining every day that summer.

Example: As I spoke, the children were laughing at my cleverness.
It can also be used to describe something that was happening continuously in the past when
another action interrupted it.
Example: The audience was applauding until he fell off the stage.
Example: I was making dinner when she arrived.
The past continuous can shed light on what was happening at a precise time in the past.
Example: At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner.
It can also refer to a habitual action in the past.
Example: She was talking constantly in class in those days.
One final caution: Though the irregularities are few, not every verb is suited to describing a
continuous action. Certain verbs can’t be used in the past continuous tense. One common
example is the verb to arrive.
Incorrect: At noon, he was arriving.

Correct: At noon, he arrived.
WILL, GOING TO.
A very confusing concept is when to use WILL and when to use BE GOING TO when we refer the
future.
Both refer to the future and there is a slight difference between the two though in most cases they
can be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning. Even if you misuse them, a native
speaker is going to understand you without any problems.
WILL
RAPID DECISION
IM THIRSTY. I THINK I WILL BUY A DRINK.
OFFER
THAT LOOKS HEAVY. I WILL HELP YOU WITH IT
PROMISE
DON’T WORRY I WONT TELL ANYONE
THEREAT
IF YOU DON’T STOP, I WILL TELL YOUR MOTHER.
REFUSAL
SHE WONT LISTEN TO ANYTHING I SAY
GOING TO
PRIOR PLAN
THE DECISION WAS MADE BEFORE THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING.
IM GOING TO THE BEACH NEXT WEEKEND WITH MY FRIENDS.
Evidence/signs
When there are signs that something is likely to happen .
My stomach hurts a lot and I think I am going to throw up.
Its 70-0.theyre going to win.

When to use GOING TO
The structure BE GOING TO is normally used to indicate the future but with some type of
connection to the present. We use it in the following situations:
1. When we have already decided or we INTEND to do something in the future. (Prior Plan)
The decision has been made before the moment of speaking.
 They're going to retire to the beach - in fact they have already bought a little beach
house.
 I'm going to accept the job offer.
2. When there are definite signs that something is going to happen. (Evidence)
Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have.
 I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.

 I don't feel well. I think I'm going to throw up. (throw up = vomit)
3. When something is about to happen:
 Get back! The bomb is going to explode.
When to use WILL

In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit connection to the present, use WILL:
1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)
This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a spontaneous way.
 I'll buy one for you too.

 I think I'll try one of those. (I just decided this right now)
2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)
 My team will not win the league this season.

 I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.
Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.

3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
 I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.

 I promise I will behave next time.
 I'll take you to the movies if you'd like.
4. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.
 I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.

 My kids won't listen to anything I say.
 My car won't start.
Future Predictions
As you can see, both Will and Going to can be used for making future predictions without
having a real difference in meaning.
 The weather report says it will rain tomorrow. (Correct)

 The weather report says it is going to rain tomorrow. (Correct)
Compare Will vs. Going To

If someone asks: "Are you busy this evening?"
If I respond: "Yes, I'm going to the movies." I use going to because it is a plan I made earlier
(before I was asked the question). - In this case we cannot use Will.
If I haven't made plans, then you can say either: "I will probably watch TV." OR
"I'm probably going to watch TV."
Both will and going to are possible in this situation because we are predicting what will happen
(since we haven't made any plans).
REPORT
The simple past is used to talk about things that happened or existed before now
The past simple can also be used to talk about a past state of being, such as the way
someone felt about something.
And the past continuous refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at
some point in the past. The past continuous tense is formed by combining the past
tense of to be i.e. was/were.
WILL and GOING TO.
Both refer to the future and there is a slight difference between the two though in most
cases they can be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning.
The structure BE GOING TO is normally used to indicate the future but with some type
of connection to the present and In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit
connection to the present, be use WILL
Sources different
https://www.grammar.cl/
https://studylib.es/doc/
https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/

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Simple past

Example: Wolfgang admired the way the light glinted off his silver medal.

Example: Wolfgang was proud of his hula hoop victory.

Play→Played Type→Typed Listen→Listened Push→Pushed Love→Loved

Put→Put Cut→Cut Set→Set Cost→Cost Hit→Hit

See→Saw Build→Built Go→Went Do→Did Rise→Rose Am/Is/Are→Was/Were

Example: Wolfgang polished his medal. The other winners polished their medals

Example: The third-place winner was not as happy as Wolfgang. The fourth-

Example: Was Wolfgang in a good mood after the contest? Were people taking

Example: The sun was shining every day that summer.

Example: At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner.

It can also refer to a habitual action in the past.

Example: She was talking constantly in class in those days.

example is the verb to arrive.

Incorrect: At noon, he was arriving.

IM THIRSTY. I THINK I WILL BUY A DRINK.

THAT LOOKS HEAVY. I WILL HELP YOU WITH IT

DON’T WORRY I WONT TELL ANYONE

IF YOU DON’T STOP, I WILL TELL YOUR MOTHER.

SHE WONT LISTEN TO ANYTHING I SAY

THE DECISION WAS MADE BEFORE THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING.

IM GOING TO THE BEACH NEXT WEEKEND WITH MY FRIENDS.

When there are signs that something is likely to happen .

My stomach hurts a lot and I think I am going to throw up.

Its 70-0.theyre going to win.

 I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.

3. When something is about to happen:

 Get back! The bomb is going to explode.

When to use WILL

 I'll buy one for you too.

2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)

 My team will not win the league this season.

Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.

 I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.

4. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.

 I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.

 The weather report says it will rain tomorrow. (Correct)

Compare Will vs. Going To

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