Simple Past Tense

1. Definition & Core Meaning
The Simple Past Tense is used to talk about completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The action is over!

2. Use Cases - Why do we use it?
• Finished Actions: Things that started and ended in the past.
• Past Habits: Things you used to do regularly but don't anymore.
• Stories & History: Narrating a sequence of events.

3. When to Use It - Key Signals
Look for past time markers: yesterday, last night, last week, ago, in 2010, when I was young.

4. How to Use It - Structural Formula
(+) Affirmative:
• Subject + verb-ed (or irregular verb) --> I walked / She went.

(-) Negative:
• Subject + did not (didn't) + verb (base) --> I didn't walk / She didn't go.
(Note: Never use 'didn't + went'. After 'did', the verb returns to normal!)

(?) Question:
• Did + Subject + verb (base)? --> Did you walk? / Did she go?