In this section you will find information about the different uses of the simple past tense or past simple tense with examples.
Uses of the Simple Past Tense
To talk about past actions that finished at a specific time.
I went to Mexico last month.
They ate the whole cake.
She saw him last night.
To talk about past habits and states.
I took many photographs when I was in high school.
He was a painter.
Stephanie was in a band when she was younger.
To talk about past actions that happened one after the other.
Julia went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth.
Frank grabbed his coat and went out.
I called Nicole and congratulated her.
In the following table, you will find information about the structure of the simple past tense and positive, negative and interrogative sentences.
More information about English verb tenses here.