English Tenses: Learn Simple Past and Past Continuous tense with Examples

After Learning Present Tense Briefly, Now we are going to Study the Past Tense in Details.

Photo Source: http://www.grammar-monster.com

The Past Tense has Four Portions which are

1. Simple Past Tense
2. Past Continuous tense (Also know as Past Progressive)
3. Past Perfect Tense
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Now Today's Class we will Discuss the Simple Past tense and Past Continuous tense with Examples.

What is the Simple Past Tense?

The Simple Past Tense Represent/Express/Show all those actions which Started and Finished in the Past. For Example

1. They Won the Swimming Champions Trophy.
2. She Purchased the New Motorola Mobile set.
3. He Loved her Mom.

Principals of the Simple Past Tense:

1. We Do not use Any Helping Verb.
2. We use the Second form of the Verb.
3. The First Form of the verb will be used in the Negative Sentences
4. The subject will follow the helping verb Did Not in the negative Sentences.
5. The first form of the verb will be used with the Question mark at the end of the sentence.

• Negative Sentences:

In the negative Sentences of the Simple Past Tense we use the Firm form of the Verb while the Helping verb Did not will be Added after the subject of the Sentence. For Example

1. She did not Write an Instagram message to her Ex-Boyfriend.
2. We did not go to another side of the grassy valley.
3. He did not play the Songs after the midnight Party.
4. They did not learn the Past Simple tense Perfectly.

You can see we use the Helping verb Did not with the first form of the verb.

Interrogative Sentences:

In the Interrogative Sentences of the Simple Past Tense, The Subject of the sentence will be replaced by the Word DID, the subject will automatically change to the helping verb while the first form of the verb will remain constant. Question Mark will be Placed right after the Object. For Example

1. Did he repair his mobile?
2. Did she Twerk on the floor?
3. Did we Read the Whole Story?
4. Did She buy the pen and pencil?
5. Did they qualify for the Summer Scholarships?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

What is Past Continuous Tense?

Past Continuous Tense also known as past Progressive Tense is the second part of the Past Tense. Past Continuous tense show an activity/Work or Even which start in the Past and remain continue for a Specific Period of time. For Example

1. Nicki was Cooking Lady Fingers.
2. They were shouting and Laughing.

Photo Source: http://www.idioms4you.com

Principles of Past Continuous Tense:

1. In the Past continuous Tense, we use the First form of the verb + Ing.
2. We use the Helping verb (Was/were).
3. Helping verb was will be used with third Person singular.
4. Helping verb Were will be used with fist and second person singulars.

Structure of the Past Continuous Tense:

Subject + Was/Were + Main Verb + Ing + Object.

Negative Sentences:

In the Negative Sentences, we use the word not after the helping verb (was/were), the remaining sentence will remain same. For Example

1. They were not Writing the Articles for all the night.
2. She was not riding the Horse.
3. You were not teaching the English tenses after winter holidays.

Interrogative Sentences:

In Interrogative Sentences, The Helping verb (was/were) will be used as a subject while the subject will be shifted in place of helping verb. The Question mark will be placed after the sentence.

The Structure of the sentences will look like this:

Was/Were + Helping verb (subject of positive sentence) + Main verb + ing + Object + ?

For Example:

1. Was she washing the shirts all the night?
2. Were they making fun of that stranger?
3. Was he enjoying his third birthday?

Final Words:

Today we learn about Past tense, Simple Past Tense & Past continuous tense, will learn further parts of the past tense in the upcoming class.

Ask A Question in the comment sections below.