Learn All About Simple Past Tense, Structure, Rules, and Sentences

 

What is Simple Past Tense?

Simple Past Tense is a sentence used to express the past time of an action. In this, information is given that some action will be completed in a certain time. It is used in three special forms – singular, plural, first, second, and third person. For example, “I went to school yesterday” or “He ate”. It is used to describe events that happened before time. Simple past tense is used in sentences to show a situation at a time that has already happened. In this, details of the actions and their completion are given. Simple past-tense sentences provide a simple way to express events that happened earlier.

 

सीखें Simple Past Tense बिना Grammar में उलझे through this video

 

Definition of Simple Past Tense

The simple past is a tense used in a phrase to express the past time of an action. It describes an event or action in the past, such as “I played” or “He sang”. In this, the completed action of the verb is told which has already happened.

Simple past tense का इस्तेमाल अतीत में हुए किसी काम या action के बारे में बताने के लिए किया जाता है। इस tense में उस action की बात की जाती है जो अतीत में पहले ही हो चुकी हो। 

 

Structure and Formula of Simple Past Tense

The structure of Simple Past Tense is based on the following formula:

Subject + Verb2 (past form) + Object/Complement

Here, 

1. The subject is the person or thing that performs the action or is described by the sentence.
2. The verb is the action word that shows what the subject is doing or being. In the simple past tense, the verb remains in its second form, or the past form of the verb is used.
3. And, object or complement is the person or thing affected by the verb’s action, or additional information about the subject.

Simple past tense के structure में subject के साथ second form of the verb यानी verb की past form लगती है और उसके साथ object या complement. 

 

Types of Simple Past Tense

There are four types of Simple Past Tense and these types are given along with their formula below:

 

1. Assertive Sentences

Subject + Verb2 (past form) + Object/Complement

1. I baked a cake.

मैंने एक cake bake किया।

2. He took his children to the park yesterday.

वह कल अपने बच्चों को park में ले गया।

3. We bought vegetables the day before from the market nearby.

हमने एक दिन पहले पास के बाजार से सब्जियां खरीदीं।

4. My mother bought me a beautiful pair of earrings.

मेरी माँ ने मेरे लिए एक सुंदर जोड़ी झुमके खरीदे।

 

2. Negative Sentence

Formula: Subject+ Did not+ Verb (V1) + Object

1. She did not wait for her sister to join her at the party.

उसने अपनी बहन के party में शामिल होने का इंतज़ार नहीं किया।

2. I did not hear dogs barking near my house.

मैंने अपने घर के पास कुत्तों को भौंकते नहीं सुना।

3. She did not eat salad for lunch yesterday.

वह कल lunch में सलाद नहीं खा रही थी।

4. I did not like the chocolate you gave me.

आपने मुझे जो chocolate दी, वह मुझे पसंद नहीं आई।

 

3. Interrogative Sentence

Formula: Did+Subject+Verb (V1) +Object

1. Did she watch a movie with you?

क्या उसने आपके साथ फिल्म देखी?

2. Did you study in the library after school yesterday?

क्या आपने कल school के बाद library में पढ़ाई की थी?

3. Did your mother give you the dress you wanted?

क्या आपकी माँ ने आपको वह कपडे दिए जो आप चाहते थे?

4. Did I submit my application for the exam?

क्या मैंने परीक्षा के लिए अपना आवेदन जमा किया था?

 

4. Negative Interrogative Sentence

Formula: Did you/he/she+ Not+ Verb (V1) + Object

1. Did you not complete your project?

क्या आपने अपना project पूरा नहीं किया?

2. Did she not eat dinner at your place yesterday?

क्या उसने कल तुम्हारे यहाँ रात का खाना नहीं खाया था?

3. Did you not find your watch?

क्या आपको अपनी घड़ी नहीं मिली?

4. Did he not go to the office 2 days back?

क्या वह 2 दिन पहले office गया था?

 

Some WH Sentences Example of Simple Present Tense

1. Why did he go to the market?

वह बाज़ार क्यों गया?

• He went to the market to buy vegetables.
• वह सब्जी लेने बाज़ार गया था।

2. How did you go home?

आप घर कैसे गए?

• I went home by car.
• मैं कार से घर गया।

3. Where did he stay?

वह कहाँ रहा?

• He stayed at a friend’s house.
• वह एक दोस्त के घर रुका था।

4. What did you bring?

तुम क्या लाए हो?

• I brought some clothes.
• मैं कुछ कपड़े लाया।

5. Where did they eat lunch?

उन्होंने दोपहर का भोजन कहाँ किया?

• They ate lunch at a restaurant.
• उन्होंने एक restaurant में दोपहर का खाना खाया।

 

Some Contractions Related to Simple Past Tense Used in Sentences

Contractions are when two words are combined and shortened to form a word. Following are some of the contractions used in Simple Past Tense and their examples:

Contractions तब बनते हैं जब दो शब्दों को मिलाकर एक शब्द बनाया जाता है। यहाँ नीचे कुछ Simple Past Tense से जुड़े contraction के example दिए गए हैं:

1. Was Not – Wasn’t

नहीं था – नहीं था

1. My friend wasn’t prepared for her exam.

मेरा दोस्त उसकी परीक्षा के लिए तैयार नहीं था।

1. The movie wasn’t interesting.

फिल्म दिलचस्प नहीं थी।

1. He wasn’t tall.

वह लंबा नहीं था।

2. Were Not – Weren’t

नहीं थे – नहीं थे

1. Most of the children weren’t there in the classroom.

ज़्यादातर बच्चे कक्षा में नहीं थे।

1. You weren’t excited about the movie yesterday.

आप कल फिल्म के लिए उत्साहित नहीं थे।

1. They weren’t happy to see the guest.

वे महमान को देखकर खुश नहीं थे।

3. Did Not – Didn’t

नहीं किया – नहीं किया

1. I didn’t understand what she told.

मुझे समझ नहीं आया कि उसने क्या कहा।

1. He didn’t forget her birthday.

वह अपना जन्मदिन नहीं भूले।

1. You didn’t eat lunch yesterday.

आपने कल दोपहर का भोजन नहीं किया।

 

 

What Do You Use Simple Past Tense For?

The simple past tense is used for:

1. In context after completing an action.

Example: I completed my work.

                मैंने अपना काम पूरा कर लिया।

                He ate his food.

                उसने खाना खाया। 

2. To describe an event or action that happened in the past.

Example: I read a book yesterday.

                मैंने एक किताब कल पढ़ी थी।

                He sang a new song.

                उन्होंने एक नया गाना गाया। 

3. To describe an action that has already happened.

Example: My friend helped me.

                मेरे दोस्त ने मेरी मदद की। 

                We attended a party last month.

                हमने पिछले महीने एक party में भाग लिया था।

4. To describe a state of affairs.

Example: He was happier in his childhood.

                वह बचपन में बहुत ज़्यादा खुश थे।

                He stood first in school.

                वह स्कूल में प्रथम स्थान पर आये।

Simple past tense का इस्तेमाल किसी काम के पूरा हो जाने के बारे में बताने के लिए, या जो काम पहले से हो चुका है उसके बारे में बताने के लिए किया जाता है। 

 

General Rules to Form Simple Past Tense

Here are some Simple Past Tense rules that you must keep in mind while using simple past tense. 

1. Add ‘ed’ or ‘d’ to the end of the verb. 

Verb के अंत में ‘ed’ या ‘d’ लगता है। 

Example: play – played, talk – talked

2. If the verb ends in ‘e’, ​​add ‘d’. 

अगर verb के अंत में ‘e’ हो तो उसके साथ ‘d’ लगता है। 

Example: Cease – Ceased, Translate – Translated

3. If the verb ends in ‘y’, change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘ed’. 

अगर verb के अंत में ‘y’ हो तो ‘y’ की जगह ‘i’ का इस्तेमाल होता है और उसके अंत में ‘ed’ लगता है। 

Example: Cry – Cried, Study – Studied

4. Some verbs have an irregular form. 

कुछ verbs के साथ उनकी second या past form लगती है। 

Example: Be – Was/Were, Come – Came

 

Points To Remember While Using Simple Past Tense

Here are some of the points that you need to remember while using simple past tense.

1. Identify the Time: It’s important to recognize that Simple Past Tense is used to describe actions or events that happened in the past. Recognizing the timing of past events accurately is crucial.

2. Choose the Correct Form: Ensure to choose the correct form of the verb when using the Simple Past Tense. Regular verbs typically add “-ed” or “-d” to the base form, while irregular verbs have their own unique past tense forms.

3. Consider Person and Number: Match the verb to the subject in terms of person and number. Use appropriate forms of the verb depending on whether the subject is singular or plural, and first, second, or third person.

4. Maintain Consistency: Use the same tense throughout the sentence or paragraph for actions that occurred at the same time. Consistency in tense usage helps maintain clarity and coherence in writing.

5. Convey Complete Events: When using the Simple Past Tense, clearly express the entire event or action. Describe the action in a way that provides a complete picture of what happened in the past.

Simple past tense mein verb की सही form का इस्तेमाल करना, first, second, या third person के साथ या singular या plural के साथ सही verb का इस्तेमाल करना बहुत ज़रूरी है। 

 

Where Not To Use Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is fantastic for completing actions in the past, but it doesn’t work for everything. Here’s where you should avoid using it:

1. Actions Happening Now or That Haven’t Finished

The simple past describes events finished in the past. Don’t use it for things ongoing in the present (“I work here.” – present ongoing, use present simple).

It’s not ideal for future actions either (“The train leaves tomorrow morning.” – future, use present perfect or future simple).

2. Uncertain Past Events

Simple past tense is for definite actions. If you need to figure out when something happened, avoid it. (“Maybe I saw you yesterday?” – uncertain, use present perfect or a modal verb like “might have”).

3. General Truths or Habits That Still Apply

The simple past is for specific past occurrences, not general truths (“The Earth orbits the sun.” – always true, use present simple).

For habits that continue into the present, other tenses like the present perfect continuous might be better (“We always went camping in the summer.” – habit that might still happen, use present perfect continuous).

4. States of Being

The simple past is for actions, not states of being that last over time. (“She lived in France for ten years.” – action, use simple past).

Use present simple for things that are still true (“She lives in France now.” – current state, use present simple)

 

Verbs That Cannot Be Used With Simple Past Tense

Verbs denoting continuous or ongoing actions, states, or conditions are typically not used with the Simple Past Tense because this tense is primarily used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point. Verbs indicating ongoing or continuous actions are better suited to tenses like Past Continuous or Past Perfect. Here are some examples:

1. Verbs of Continuous Action: These verbs represent actions that were ongoing or continuous in the past and are not typically used in the Simple Past Tense. 

Examples: “to be” (was, were) in the sense of ongoing existence or states: “She was running.” (Past Continuous)

“to swim,” “to dance,” “to talk,” etc. (actions in progress): “They were swimming.”

2. Verbs of Perception: Verbs related to perception or senses often describe ongoing actions and are not typically used in the Simple Past Tense. 

Examples: “to see,” “to hear,” “to feel,” etc. (perceiving ongoing events): “I was hearing a strange noise.”

3. Stative Verbs: The Simple Past Tense does not usually use verbs that express states rather than actions. These verbs describe ongoing conditions or states rather than specific actions. Examples: “to like,” “to love,” “to know,” “to believe,” etc.: “She believed in ghosts.” (Simple Past is possible, but it’s less common for stative verbs.)

 

Learn Some Simple Past Tense Example With Answers

1. Did they finish their work?

क्या उन्होंने अपना काम पूरा किया?

• Yes, they did.
• हाँ, उन्होंने किया।
• No, they didn’t.
• नहीं, उन्होंने नहीं किया।

2. Did you go home?

क्या आप घर गए थे?

• Yes, I did.
• हाँ, मैं गया था।
• No, I didn’t.
• नहीं, मैंने नहीं गया था। 

3. Did she sleep?

क्या वह सोई थी?

• Yes, she did.
• हाँ, सोई थी।
• No, she didn’t.
• नहीं, नहीं, सोई थी।

4. Did it bite?

क्या यह काटता हैं?

• Yes, it did.
• हाँ, काटता हैं।
• No, it didn’t.
• नहीं, नहीं, काटता हैं।

5. Did I do the work?

क्या मैंने काम किया?

• Yes, you did.
• हाँ, तुमने किया।
• No, you didn’t.
• नहीं, तुमने नहीं किया।

 

Some Simple Past Tense Sentence Examples

Here are some simple past tense sentences to help you understand the concept of simple past tense. If you want some more sentences, you can read more simple past tense sentences here.

1. Anushka walked to the store yesterday.

अनुष्का कल दुकान तक पैदल गईं।

2. They played cricket after school.

वे स्कूल के बाद क्रिकेट खेलते थे।

3. Ajay finished his homework before dinner.

रात के खाने से पहले अजय ने अपना homework पूरा कर लिया।

4. Anjali and Akash visited our grandparents last weekend.

आकाश और अंजलि ने पिछले weekend अपने दादा-दादी से मुलाकात की।

5. I watched a movie with my sister last night.

मैंने कल रात अपनी बहन के साथ एक फिल्म देखी।

6. The sun set behind the mountains.

सूरज पहाड़ों के पीछे डूब गया।

7. Riya cooked dinner for her family.

रिया ने अपने परिवार के लिए रात का खाना बनाया।

8. They traveled to the USA last summer.

उन्होंने पिछली गर्मियों में USA की यात्रा की।

9. Rishi studied for his exam all night.

ऋषि ने पूरी रात परीक्षा के लिए पढ़ाई की।

10. We danced at the party until midnight.

हमने आधी रात तक party में डांस किया।

 

Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you understand the simple past tense and every aspect related to it. We have covered simple past tense formulas, structure, rules, etc., in detail and have also mentioned simple past tense sentences. The simple past-tense examples with answers will help you understand how to frame simple past-tense questions in English. If you want to learn spoken English online and looking for an English speaking course online, then a spoken English course is best for you. 

 

ये था Tense Part 5 Past Simple Tense. इसी तरह Past Continuous Tense सीखने के लिए पढें Tenses Part 6.

अगर आप इसि तरह शुरू से हिन्दी से इंग्लिश सीखना चाहते हैं तो आज ही Join करें Awal’s Spoken English Course.