SARF – SIMPLE PAST

This form of the past tense is used when something has been 100% completed. Even when it
was years and years ago or just a few seconds ago! For instance, I worked.

To start the animation, point the cursor on the person, such as „You“!

From top to bottom you can build your sentences. From bottom to top you can build your questions. For statements, always begin with the personal pronoun „I-you-he-she-it-we-you or they“. Include the past tense action verb. Only after that can you complete the sentence with place and time.
(place always comes before time – P before T).

I worked here every year.

With questions, you begin from the bottom up. If, for instance, you would like to use the question word “why”, begin with this word, then include the signal word “did” to indicate the simple past tense, the personal pronoun, the desired action verb. (Note! Use the action verb from the present tense column since “did” already denotes the past tense) and finally, if necessary, place then time. If you do not require a question word, simply leave it out and continue building the sentence as just described.

NOTE „did“ already includes the past tense form and does not require an additional past tense action verb.

(Why) did you work here?

Why did he work here?

1. Note: he-she-it-they he-she-it-they“ can be replaced by proper nouns such as a first name instead of „he“ or a place such as „The shop“ instead of „it“.

The shop opened yesterday.

Note 2: The following words can replace „did“: could and the forms to be: „was und „were“, which also replace the action verb at the same time.

Could you talk to John?

(Why) Was he in London?

How many friends were here?

Further to - Present Perfect

Back to Overview - The SARF-Table