past indefinite essay

English With Ashish

Past Indefinite tense: rules, usages and tips

Most of our conversations are incomplete without using the Past Indefinite tense. And if you are a girl, this probably is more true.

Why am I saying it? Why is the Past Indefinite tense vital to use in the English language?

Most of our conversations are almost incomplete without gossiping about someone’s past or narrating a story or simply talking about a past event. And that is why we need this tense.

When to use the Past indefinite tense?

Past Indefinite tense definition: The Past Indefinite tense, also known as the Simple Past tense , is used to talk about actions that occurred in the past at a specific time.

Always remember, the time of the action, if not already understood, needs to be mentioned as this is an important facet of the Past Indefinite tense.

The word that talks about the past time is called the past time marker. Here are some common time markers:

Yesterday, last night, last week, last month, last year, last summer, last season, last decade, last quarter, last night, that day, that night, etc.

The Past Indefinite tense examples

She proposed me last night.
One of my school friends had an accident last week.
I woke up at 5 a.m.
Jim died in a car accident last year.
We went to see him yesterday.
He said a lot of mean things to me in that meeting.
We did not say anything to him. He looked out of his mind.
Why did you call me yesterday?
What did you have last night?

NOTE : avoid mentioning the time of the action if that is already understood by the person/people that you are communicating with.

Look at the following conversation to understand the context:

Mom : Where did you go last night? Me : I went to Jim’s place.

Mom : What did you guys do after I left? Me : We worked on a project together and discussed some things.

Notice, the conversation is about a particular time in the past that is “last night.” In the first sentence, the past time marker is mentioned, so we don’t need to use it over and over again, and we did not.

Now, before we look at different situations where we use the Past Indefinite tense, let’s look at how to form sentences in Past Indefinite tense.

The Past Indefinite tense structure

Let’s look at rules of the Past Indefinite tense now!

1. Affirmative sentence

They insulted me in that meeting.
My students played a prank on me in the previous class.
She called me 15 times last night.

2. Negative sentences

They did not insult me in that meeting.
My students didn’t play a prank on me in the previous class.
She didn’t call me last night.

Didn’t = did not

3. Interrogative sentences

Use the following structure to ask a question that can be answered in YES or NO:

Did you call me last night?
Did you just touch me?
Did she just call you a moron?
Did they live with you?

All these questions can be answered in simple YES or NO. To know the details of the event happened, use the following WH question words before the auxiliary verb (DID): what, when, where, why, how

When did you call me?
Why did you just touch me?
What did he eat with you in the party?
How did you do that?
Where did they live with you?

NOTE : use ‘NOT’ after the subject to form an interrogative negative sentence. But avoid asking negative questions as they confuse people in terms of whether the answer should be positive or negative.

Here’s an example of an interrogative negative sentence in the Past Indefinite tense:

Did you not eat my sandwich?

Wasn’t it confusing to answer? 😉

Now, let’s talk about different usages of the Past Indefinite tense.

The Past Indefinite tense usages

1. to talk about actions happened at a particular time in the past.

The most common way to use the Past Indefinite tense is to talk about actions that happened at a particular time in the past. Here are some examples for demonstration:

She came to see me last night.
We went shopping in the morning.
Did you talk to him yesterday?
Everybody supported me in that meeting.

2. A series of completed actions

If a series of actions happened at a particular time in the past, use the Past indefinite tense to talk about it.

Last night, he walked into my room, woke me up, and took me somewhere with him.
After reaching there in the morning, we checked in to the hotel, got into our room, had breakfast, and went shopping.
Yesterday, after the class, we closed the door, turned the music on, and started dancing like no one was there in the college.

3. Repeated actions/habits in the past

If an action occurred multiple times in the past, use the Past Indefinite tense to talk about it.

We never attended his class, we always bunked it.
Jon worked at a hotel after school.
I played cricket when I was in college.
She played the guitar in school.

4. To describe something or someone

Another common usage of the Past Indefinite tense is to describe someone or something in the past. Here are the examples that demonstrate it:

He was sad last night.
They were very mean to me in school.
She was not happy in the meeting.
The movie was spine-chilling.
The food was scrumptious.
Last night, the weather was extremely pleasant.
You were my friend last night.

Structure : Subject + was/were + adjective/noun

Singular subject = was
Plural subject = were

5. To talk about the completed action and its duration in the past

If an action happened for a period of time in the past, use the Past Indefinite tense to talk about it.

I lived in Japan for 5 years.
Last night, we danced for hours.
Riya and I talked on the phone for an hour.
Everyone waited for you at the stand for some hours.
Max studied Chinese for 4 years.

6. To talk about something that happened a few moments ago (extremely close to the present)

Let’s look at some conversations to understand the usage.

Situation 1:

Arun: Hey, Jon. Somebody is calling you a moron. Jon to the crowd: Hey, who called a moron? Then goes a guy in the red coat says: Was it you who called me a moron? The guy: No, I didn’t do it.

Situation 2:

You are eating some fish chips and mashed potatoes at a restaurant. You go to the loo, leaving your food on your table. You come back and see the number of chips isn’t the same. It is less than what you left. You feel someone just ate it.

Then you shout to the crowd: Who ate my chips? “Did you eat my chips?”, you say to a group of people sitting at table number 5. We didn’t touch my chips . Why would we?! We have our own food to eat.

Notice in both the situations, the speaker (at the end) uses the simple past tense without mentioning the time of the action as the time is just now: very close to the present

Use of adverbs in the Past Indefinite tense

Adverbs like just, recently, never are placed just after the subject.

I just called her.
I never played cricket in school.
Jon recently bought a car.

The Past Indefinite tense active and passive voice

I bought a car last night. (active)
A car was bought last night (by me). (passive)
She called me yesterday. (active)
I was called yesterday. (passive)
Did you finish the book last week? (active)
Was the book finished last week? (passive)
She baked some amazing cookies. (active)
Some amazing cookies were baked (by her). (passive)

TIP : use the passive structure of the Past Indefinite tense when what the action acted upon is more important than who did it. And we generally don’t mention the doer of the action in passive voice.

Also check out the post on the Present indefinite tense .

Here is my YouTube video on the past indefinite tense:

Hope you enjoyed the lesson! Feel free to share your question, doubt, or feedback in the comment section, and also, share the post with the people that need it.

For one-on-one classes, contact me at [email protected] .

Ashish Sharma

Ashish found his first love—the English language—a few years back. Since then, he has been immersed in the language, breaking down the language and teaching it to passionate English learners. He has a flair for listening to the English language (podcasts, sitcoms, stories), observing the nuances, and making it easy for English learners. He is known for breaking down complex English topics and making them easy to be understood.

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Hello Ashish Bhai, awesome post. Keep it up. I am learning lot’s of things from your yt channel and now it’s time to learn from here(website). Thank you 🙂

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Two Minute English

Past indefinite tense examples: what they are and how they work.

Marcus Froland

January 14, 2024

Understanding the ins and outs of the Past Indefinite Tense is an essential part of mastering English grammar. Also known as the Simple Past Tense , this tense is used to describe actions that took place and were completed in the past, and it plays a significant role in both spoken and written communication. In this article, you’ll learn about the various aspects of this popular tense, including the formation of sentences, typical usage scenarios, and practical tips for mastering the English grammar past tense . Let’s dive in and start mastering the Past Indefinite Tense together!

Understanding the Basics of Past Indefinite Tense

The Past Indefinite Tense, also known as the Simple Past, represents completed actions in the past that are disconnected from the present moment. This tense informs about past events with clear completion, making it distinct from the Present Perfect Tense, which suggests ongoing relevance. To understand the formation of Past Indefinite Tense and the rules governing its use, it’s essential to examine its structure, verb forms, and the time expressions associated with it.

The primary structure of the Past Indefinite Tense is formed using the second form (V2) of the verb when making statements. For negations and questions, “did” is used alongside the base form (V1) of the verb. The tense commonly employs time expressions, such as “yesterday,” “ago,” and “last,” to denote the specific time in the past when the action occurred. To illustrate how this tense is applied, consider these examples:

He played football.
She didn’t wash her car.
Did they visit the museum yesterday?

It’s crucial to recognize that the Past Indefinite Tense always refers to completed actions that occurred in the past, with no connection to the present moment. This aspect sets it apart from other past tenses that may have a continuing influence on the present. To further understand the significance of the Past Indefinite Tense, you can explore the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs, along with the techniques for constructing affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in this tense.

Structuring Sentences in the Past Indefinite Tense

The Past Indefinite Tense has a versatile framework for constructing affirmative sentences, negative statements, and questions. It is essential to understand the appropriate sentence structures and apply them confidently in daily conversations and written communications.

Affirmative Sentence Construction

Affirmative sentences in the Past Indefinite Tense require the second form of the verb. The structure generally follows “Subject + V2 + Other Words” format. This principle applies to all subjects, regardless of number and person, with regular verbs ending in “ed” or “d” and irregular verb forms like “went” or “spoke”.

She worked on that project for a month.
Michael went to California last summer.

Forming Negative Statements

Negative statements in the Past Indefinite Tense include “did not” or “didn’t” before the base form of the verb. For example, “I did not bake the cake.” For the verb “to be,” use “was not” or “wasn’t” for singular subjects and “were not” or “weren’t” for plural subjects.

We didn’t visit the museum during our trip.
They weren’t present at the meeting yesterday.

Asking Questions with Past Indefinite Tense

Questions in the Past Indefinite Tense position “did” before the subject, followed by the base form of the main verb. For instance, “Did you bake the cake?” No auxiliary “did” is needed with the verb “to be”; instead, “was” or “were” start the question.

Example: Did you complete your homework on time?

Here is a comparison table of the different Past Indefinite Tense structures:

By practicing and understanding these Past Indefinite Tense sentence structures, you will be able to communicate more effectively and accurately about past events and activities. Mastering these rules will enrich your English language proficiency and deepen your understanding of grammar complexities.

The Role of Regular and Irregular Verbs

When forming past tense sentences, the verbs you encounter play a crucial role in making your statements grammatically correct. In English, there are two main categories of verbs: regular and irregular. Understanding the difference between these two types of verbs is essential for mastering past tense verb forms .

Regular verbs are those that follow predictable rules for forming their past tense. This typically involves adding “-ed” or “-d” to the root of the verb. For example:

Work → Worked
Play → Played
Attend → Attended

Regular verbs maintain the same form irrespective of the subject, making it easy to learn and use them in past tense sentences.

On the other hand, irregular verbs are verbs with unique past tense forms that don’t follow a predictable pattern. They can be challenging to learn because the only way to master these forms is by memorizing them. Some common examples of irregular verbs include:

Take → Took
Be → Was/Were

Irregular verbs vary in their past tense forms and must be used accordingly to maintain grammatical accuracy.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with both regular and irregular verbs to effectively use the past tense in your communication. To help make the learning process more structured, you can create a table of the most common verbs:

By understanding the distinction between regular and irregular verbs and mastering their past tense forms, you will be well-equipped to create grammatically accurate sentences in the past indefinite tense.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Past Tense

It is crucial to understand the concept of subject-verb agreement in past tense when learning and utilizing the English language effectively. Subject-verb agreement in the Past Indefinite Tense necessitates that the verbs remain constant across different subjects, with one notable exception – the verb “to be,” which switches between “was” for singular subjects and “were” for plural subjects.

Consistency is key when employing subject-verb agreement in past tense sentences – regardless of the subject’s person or number, the verb form should remain the same. Let’s explore some examples to demonstrate how subject-verb agreement works in Past Indefinite Tense.

He smiled at his friend. They smiled at their friends. The teacher was explaining the lesson. The teachers were explaining the lessons.

As illustrated by the examples above, the verb forms “smiled” and “explaining” remain consistent across different subjects. However, the verb “to be” varies between “was” and “were” based on whether the subject is singular or plural.

Moreover, mastering subject-verb agreement in past tense also includes understanding the usage of regular and irregular verbs. The following table illustrates the consistent application of regular and irregular verbs with different subjects:

With clear understanding and consistent practice of subject-verb agreement in past tense, you can enhance your ability to compose grammatically correct and fluent sentences in English, ultimately leading to improved communication skills.

Common Uses of the Past Indefinite Tense in Everyday Language

When communicating about past events, the Past Indefinite Tense plays a crucial role in various contexts. It is frequently employed in everyday language for diverse purposes. Some common applications of this tense include describing actions accomplished with time expressions, narrating past habits, sharing personal history, and inquiring about past events:

Completed actions with time expressions

Past habits

Actions that lasted for a specific period

Storytelling and narrations

Asking about past events

Let’s discuss these uses in more detail below:

Past Indefinite Tense is often used to refer to events that took place at specific moments in the past. Time expressions such as “yesterday,” “last week,” and “two years ago” are used to emphasize the particular time when the action occurred. For instance:

He visited Paris last summer.
She started her new job two months ago.
They attended the concert yesterday.

To describe habits or repeated actions that took place in the past, the Past Indefinite Tense is most suitable. These past habits can be almost anything, from daily routines to seasonal activities, as demonstrated in the examples below:

I used to exercise every morning before work.
She always carried an umbrella during the rainy season.
They played soccer together every weekend.

The Past Indefinite Tense lends itself well to discussing actions that extended over a particular period. This includes activities such as vacations, projects, or other events that commenced and concluded in the past:

We lived in Chicago for five years.
She worked on that project for several months.
They traveled through Europe during their summer vacation.

When it comes to sharing stories and recounting personal history, the Past Indefinite Tense is invaluable. It allows you to paint vivid pictures of past events that are clearly separated from the present:

He climbed Mount Everest and celebrated his achievement at the summit.
They adopted a rescue dog and named him Max.
She won a prestigious award for her innovative research.

Inquiring about past incidents also calls for the use of Past Indefinite Tense, as it emphasizes the focus on past actions and their completion:

Did you finish your homework last night?
When did they move to their new home?
How did you meet your best friend?

By understanding the various situations where the Past Indefinite Tense is appropriate, you will be better equipped to use it naturally and effectively in your everyday communications.

Comparing Past Indefinite Tense with Other Past Tenses

Understanding the distinction between various past tenses is crucial for mastering English grammar. In this section, we will focus on the differences between the Past Indefinite and Present Perfect Tense, highlighting their unique characteristics and usage.

Distinction from Present Perfect Tense

A major point of difference between Past Indefinite vs Present Perfect Tense is their relationship with the present. The Past Indefinite Tense focuses on describing actions that occurred and completed in the past with no connection to the present time. On the other hand, Present Perfect Tense is used for actions that started in the past and have relevance to the present, or actions completed without mentioning specific time markers.

Another factor that aids in past tense comparisons is the use of time expressions. Past Indefinite Tense requires definite time expressions such as “yesterday,” “last week,” or “a year ago.” In contrast, Present Perfect Tense employs indefinite time expressions like “ever,” “never,” “since,” and “for.”

Example: Past Indefinite Tense – “I visited Rome last summer.” (completed action with specific time) Present Perfect Tense – “I have visited Rome.” (completed action affecting the present but without specific time)

Let’s consider a table that further showcases the difference between Past Indefinite and Present Perfect Tense in various contexts:

Keeping these differences in mind will help you express yourself more accurately and choose the correct tense for various situations. Remember, Past Indefinite Tense is dedicated to narrating completed actions in the past, while Present Perfect Tense captures actions with ongoing relevance or without specific time markers.

Practical Examples of Past Indefinite Tense in Use

The Past Indefinite Tense is a versatile and essential part of everyday language that encapsulates completed events, past habits, and narration. In this section, we will explore practical examples of the Simple Past Tense to help you better understand its usage in various contexts.

They flew to Paris last summer.

I always drank coffee in the morning before starting work.

She taught me to dance when I was a child.

These examples demonstrate the wide-ranging functionality of the Past Indefinite Tense and the need to master it for fluency in English. Let us now examine a table showcasing more examples of past tense in context along with the corresponding base forms of the verbs used, to aid comprehension.

By examining these examples and consistently practicing the formation and usage of the Past Indefinite Tense, you can enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English and share your experiences with precision and clarity.

Tips for Mastering Past Indefinite Tense in English

Learning the Past Indefinite Tense is essential for effective communication in English. To excel in this tense, you should immerse yourself in the language and practice regularly. Here are some helpful tips that will aid you in mastering this grammatical concept.

First, familiarize yourself with both regular and irregular verb forms, as these are crucial for constructing accurate past tense sentences. Regular verbs typically end in “-ed” or “-d,” while irregular verbs have unique past forms like “went” or “saw.” Create flashcards or refer to a list of irregular verb conjugations to commit these forms to memory.

Next, practice past tense sentence construction through exercises and storytelling activities. Share a personal anecdote or create fictional narratives to apply your knowledge of the Past Indefinite Tense in context. By doing so, you will naturally understand the tense’s nuances and how to use it effectively.

Finally, incorporate time expressions related to the past, such as “yesterday,” “ago,” and “last,” in your sentences. This will help you enhance your fluency and comprehension of the Past Indefinite Tense. Additionally, consuming English-language media like books, television shows, and podcasts will expose you to real-life examples and promote a more natural understanding of this fundamental tense.

English Made Simple: Two-Minute Lessons for Busy Learners

Past Indefinite Tense Examples: What They Are and How They Work

Knowing how to use tenses correctly and appropriately is a major part of using the English language and thus, being taken seriously. The past indefinite is so commonly used that it's important to cover it early on.

The past indefinite is used to refer to something that happened in the past. It is also referred to as 'past simple'; an appropriate name as it is the most basic form of past tenses in the English language. By this, we mean that it follows an uncomplicated structure and takes on a straightforward set of rules.

An example of a past indefinite sentence is " I went to school in California".

It is one of the first of the past tenses that students would focus on in school, which is why it’s the tense that we’re focusing on today. We’ll cover everything from what it is, how it’s structured, and how to use it in everyday situations.

What is the Past Indefinite Tense?

Why are tenses so important when it comes to learning the English language, as well as speaking it? And what purpose does the past indefinite tense serve? That is what you are about to find out.

Tenses and Their Purpose

Tenses are used to modify verbs, in a way that tells the speaker whether we’re talking about the past, present, or future. In fact, tenses are so evolved that we can even use them to infer whether something is still happening, ended a long time ago, ended recently, or even to differentiate between an action in the past that you did once and one that you did continuously.

Isn’t language just so smart?

The Past Indefinite Tense

The past indefinite tense is also called the past simple. It is used to refer to something that happened in the past, as you may have guessed from the name. It is the most basic form of past tenses, hence why it’s called the ‘Past Simple’.

Other Tenses

Other past tenses in the English language include the Past Continuous, the Past Perfect, and the Past Perfect Continuous.

But there aren’t only past tenses, as we are sure you know. There are also present and future tenses, to cater to when we want to describe an event that takes place in the present or is yet to take place in days or years to come.

Here’s a list of the different tenses of the English language:

Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous

The Past Indefinite Structure

That’s all well and good, we hear you say. But how do you actually use it? That’s what we’ll get onto next.

Verb 1, Verb 2, Verb 3

Firstly to build a sentence using the past indefinite tense, you’ll need to know how to conjugate a verb into its past indefinite tense. The basic rule is as follows.

Take the infinitive of the verb and add ‘ed’, or simply ‘d’ if the verb already ends with an ‘e’. For example:

Play → played
Walk → walked

Many verbs end in a vowel and a consonant. An extra consonant is added when these verbs are turned into the past tense. For example, ‘admit’ turns into ‘admitted’. See how we added another ‘t’ and then ‘ed’. Some other examples include:

Stop → stopped
Plan → planned

There! Simple enough right? We wish. But you know just as well as I do that the English language is full to the brim with irregular verbs. So for this reason, we’re going to introduce you to a very handy concept that will help you. The concept of verb 1, verb 2, and verb 3. Verb 1 refers to the infinitive form of a verb; verb 2 refers to the past simple form of a verb, and verb 3 refers to the participle form.

Here are a few examples:

This concept and table are handy for remembering how to conjugate verbs. That’s because there are so many irregular verbs in the English language, and with that many instances where the rules don’t apply, it’s a handy way to remember.

People tend to recite verbs 1, 2, and 3 like a song. In this way, it helps them remember how to conjugate irregular verbs. For example, if you ask someone what the past indefinite tense of the verb ‘to eat’ is, you might hear them go “eat, ate, eaten… it’s ‘eaten’!

Affirmative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

Another kind of past indefinite sentence you can use is an affirmative sentence. These are used to state something that is true to the speaker, a fact, or an opinion about something that did happen, as opposed to negative sentences.

The basic structure of an affirmative sentence in the past indefinite tense:

Subject + V2 + object/modifier + past time marker (optional)

For example:

I swam home
They drew pictures
He accepted his fate

Of course, you can make this sentence more complex by adding in other parts of the sentence, such as marker in time, adverbs, adjectives, and so on.

Since the trains were canceled, I swam home instead.
Unexpectedly, they drew pictures all day last Tuesday.

Negative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

The second kind of past indefinite sentence you can use is a negative sentence. It’s used to negate something, or in other words, to say how something didn’t happen, or isn’t true.

The basic structure of a negative sentence in the past indefinite tense is quite different from that of a positive sentence. It looks like this:

Subject + did + not + V1

As you can see, the verb ‘did’ is already in the past indefinite tense, so that’s taken care of. This means that your main verb can remain in the infinitive - or verb 1 form. This means the structure of past indefinite negative sentences is actually much easier to use since it doesn’t rely on remembering the V2 conjugations.

I did not know that
I did not dance at the ball
I didn’t do it

Note: ‘didn’t’ and ‘did not’ are interchangeable.

As with affirmative past indefinite sentences, you can keep it simple or create pretty complex sentences.

Interrogative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

This one’s also pretty self-explanatory, but we’ll go ahead and explain it anyway. Interrogative sentences are used to ask questions (‘interrogative’ comes from the verb ‘to interrogate’). Therefore, the purpose of interrogative sentences in the past indefinite tense is to ask a question about an event from the past.

Their basic structure is the following:

Did + subject + V1 + ?

Here are some examples:

Did you go?
Did you hear?
Did John quit?

Here are some examples of more complex sentences, created by adding other types of words to the above basic structure:

Did you go to the pub after work?
Did you hear about John and Carol?
Did John quit his job?

Or, to make things interesting, you could even add in a WH question word. See the following examples:

When did you go to the pub?
What did you hear, any gossip?
Why did John quit his job?

When to Use the Past Indefinite

Now that you know how to structure a verb in the past indefinite tense, you know that it’s the perfect tense to use when talking about events that started and ended in the past. In other words, they are no longer happening. Unlike some tenses, which can be used to describe an event that started in the past but is still ongoing in the present.

So which contexts can you use the past indefinite in? Let’s talk about it.

Events That Happened in the Past

The past indefinite or past simple is perfect if you want to simply state an event that happened in the past. For example:

She learned to speak Japanese.

Moods or States of Being in the Past

This tense can also be used to talk about how you or someone else was in the past. For example:

We were very happy living in Vancouver.

Repeated Actions in the Past

Talking about a habit you had in the past? Something you did often? The past indefinite is perfect for that.

We always played in the park after school.

To Conclude

There are many more uses of the past indefinite that we could probably think of, but likely too many to cover in this article. That’s how popular this tense is!

Do you have any ideas of other contexts it could be used in? We're sure if you give it a little thought, you'll be able to come up with lots of others.

In the meantime, hopefully, you feel clearer about the use of the past indefinite tense - also called the past simple tense - and know when and how to employ it.

Learn More:

Present Indefinite Tense Examples: What They Are and How They Work
'Lead' or 'Led': What Is the Past Tense of 'Lead'?
'Walked Passed' or 'Walk Past': Which is Correct?
‘Work Experience' or 'Working Experience': What's the Difference?
‘Keep Up the Good Work’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Passed' vs 'Past': What's the Difference Between the Two?
Assertive Sentence Examples: What is an Assertive Sentence?
'Is Used' or 'Has Been Used' or 'Was Used': Which is Correct?
'Hanged' or 'Hung': What's the Difference?
'Dos and Don'ts': How to Write Them With Proper Grammar
'Phrasal Verbs' vs 'Verb Phrases': What's the Difference?
Is 'Sir' Capitalized?
Is It 'A' or 'An'? A List of 35 Special Words
Verbs: What Are Verbs? Definition and Types (Examples)
Yes/No Questions: What Are Closed Questions? Definition and Examples

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English Saga

Past Indefinite Tense| Definition, rules, Formula, Examples

Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense is used when the purpose is to point out some action that happened in the past period. It means that Past Indefinite Tense simply states actions of the past period that had been practiced in the past period without mentioning the status of its completeness or incompleteness. For example:

They spoke.

Helping Verbs of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

The Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense do not take any helping verb to express the actions of the past period. Instead, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use the “2nd form of Verb” without any helping verb with all pronouns and number nouns . And thus, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following Sentence Structure:

Subject+ 2nd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words

“Did” is used as a helping verb in Negative , Interrogative , and Negative Interrogative Sentences, with 1st form of helping Verb.

"Did" as Helping Verb in Past Indefinite Tense

Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Negative , Interrogative , and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” as a helping verb with the 1st form of the Verb. However, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense do not use any helping verb, instead, they use only the 2nd form of the Verb with their subject.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use the 2nd form of Verb with all types of pronouns and nouns to express the actions of a little while ago. So, Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following arrangement of subject, verb, and object.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Assertive Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

I posted the letter.
I received your letter.
I liked him for his honesty.
I solved that puzzle.
I went for a morning walk early in the morning.
I wrote the essay to highlight the social issues of our society.
I liked to sing at parties.
I took bath daily before going to my school.
I saw him near that market.
I met with an accident while visiting my Uncle’s house.
I performed a joker role on the stage.
I wished that I become a great bureaucrat.
We boarded the train.
We waited for you.
Our team won the match.
We did our work ourselves.
We read that funny article.
We wore simple dresses.
We worked hard to meet our deadlines.
We loved to help needy people.
We came for the launch in this restaurant.
We planned to organize a concert to help disabled people.
We met him in his office to discuss the social evil of child labor.
We were welcomed warmly by them. ( Passive Voice )
You invited me to tea.
You looked after my brother.
You ate the apple.
You refused to help me in my most difficult times.
You pretended as if you know nothing about that theft.
You performed very well on stage, despite a great audience.
You showed affection for the young.
Your behavior with your parents was sick. ( Passive Voice )
You borrowed some money from me last year, and you had not returned it yet.
You liked to tease others.
They gave us a gift.
They acted upon our advice.
The travelers set the forest on fire.
People caught the thief.
The boys made a noise.
The students told the lesson.
The people held a meeting in the garden.
The laborers took out a procession.
The students raised slogans.
The clerks went on strike.
The laborers called off the strike.
The children learned their lesson by heart.
David won the prize.
Harry made a beautiful picture.
He ran for his life.
He refused to give his book.
The teacher punished the students.
The headmaster finds the naughty boy.
The doctor operated on the patient.
Ali bought books.
He went to school daily.
He offered prayers five times a day.
John cleaned his room.
He succeeded in developing a CPF number generating tool .
The grandmother told us a strange story.
The teacher taught the lesson well.
Naseema wept.
The virtuous woman brought the orphan up.
She plucked those pink flowers.
She preferred coffee to tea.
She liked to buy colorful books.
Marry worked in a garment factory to earn her livelihood.
She did her work on time.
She read various kinds of magazines.
She washed her clothes clean.
She disliked taking breakfast early in the morning.
It was thundering outside. ( Passive Voice )
The rainy season bought its blessings to farmers last year.
It was 11’O clock by watching. ( Passive Voice )
The heavy flood destroyed the road that leads to the main city.
The dog chased the rabbit.

Negative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” as a helping verb with “not”, to express the negativity of the sentence. Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense has the following sentence structure.

Subject+ Did+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of the Predicate

Negative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Negative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

Subject+ Did+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words

I+ Did+ not

I did not make fun of him.
I did not send a letter to my father by airmail.
I did not write a letter to my mother.
I did not wish to meet her.
My brother did not say goodbye at the railway station.
I did not abuse them.
I did not buy anything from that shop.
I did not miss my school bus yesterday.
I did not take much interest in his offer.
I did not like to play with my opponents on my team.

We+ Did+ not

We did not care for him.
We did not visit all the historical places.
We did not like cricket much.
We did not take our lunch.
We did not read any newspapers to keep ourselves up to date.
We did not scold them.
We did not reply to the email on time.
We did not say anything wrong to them.
We did not wash your clothes yesterday.
We did not invite them to tonight’s party.

You+ Did+ not

You did not fulfill your promise.
You did not listen to me.
You did not inform me of the decision.
You did not repair the television.
You did not enjoy the party.
You did not draw the map of North America.
You did not make much progress.
You did not make a beautiful garland.
You did not take your medicine on time.

They+ Did+ not

They did not help us.
People did not protest against this law.
The police did not arrest the thief.
The police did not disperse the crowd.
They did not push me aside.
The army did not capture the fort.
They did not accept our invitation.
They did not stand by their friends.
They did not know him.
The people did not ready to help the needy.

He+ Did+ not

He did not obey his parents.
He did not escape punishment.
The principal did not distribute the prizes.
The wrestler did not knock out his opponent.
He did not tell a lie.
He did not sell his whole property.
He did not hate anyone.
He did not go to the office.
He did not mind your bitter words.
He did not bring up his younger brother.

She+ Did+ not

She did not tell a lie.
She did not sew her clothes.
She did not respect her elders.
She did not encourage her juniors.
She did not prepare dinner.
She did not play with her siblings.
She did not support democracy.
She did not take bath daily.
She did not prefer coffee to tea.
She did not accept her guilt.

It+ Did+ not

The airplane did not take off at quarter to eight.
It did not take much time to complete.
It did not rain outside.
This road did not lead to the main city.
It did not cloudy yesterday.
This story did not emphasize humanity.

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

“Did” is used at the start of the Interrogative Sentences to show the interrogative nature of the sentences. However, Interrogative Sentences with words of Questions have “did” after them. So, Interrogative Sentences with words of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of the Predicate+?

Interrogative Sentences without Word of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Extension of Predicate+ ?

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense:

Word of Question+ Did+?

Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

Whom did you consult?
Why did he insult you?
When did the lion carry away the cow?
Where did you find this book?
Why did he tear the paper?
Who swept the room?
How did they greet you?
How did the cook prepare rice?
Why did Harry burn the candle at both ends?
When did the airplane land at the airport?
Where did the goods train collide with the passenger train?
Where did you see the mad dog?
How did the laborer carry so much load?
To whom did the doctor give the injection?
When did they reach Karachi?

Interrogative Sentences Without Word of Question:

Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense without Word of Question have the following arrangement of subject, verb, and object

Did+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

Did I say something very emotional?
Did I message him?
Did I refuse to help her?
Did I prefer coffee to tea?
Did I blame you for all my loss?
Did I borrow some money from them?
Did I water plants daily?
Did I pluck a rose from your garden?
Did I live in my selfish wishes?
Did I always stand first in my class?
Did we serve them improperly?
Did we propose a foolish idea before the committee?
Did we listen to music last night?
Did we refuse to help you?
Did we understand his condition fully?
Did we always humiliate them with our bad behavior?
Did we think more about ourselves than our parents?
Did we gift them this bungalow?
Did we attend your grandmother’s funeral?
Did we scold those children?
Did your friends congratulate you on your success?
Did your friends like this party?
Did you enjoy the flight?
Did your brother lend you a hand?
Did you reach home safe and sound?
Did you see this movie ago?
Did you listen to music the whole night?
Did you like nature photography?
Did you enter this room with your pen?
Did you always stand by your younger siblings?

Did+ They+ ?

Did they buy a new house?
Did they order the peon to ring the bell?
Did they overcharge their customers?
Did they ready to appear before a judge to confess their guilt?
Did the players play the hockey match in this playground?
Did the laborers dig the soil yesterday?
Did they drink the whole mango juice?
Did they smell flowers?
Did they serious about this project?
Did they make a plan on how to make this proposal successful?
Did the officer transfer his peon?
Did the Magistrate catch him red-handed?
Did Ali lose weight due to overworking?
Did he take proper sleep and diet to keep himself healthy?
Did that tailor sew my clothes?
Did he tell a lie?
Did he play cricket well?
Did he criticize his opinion?
Did he go to the gym to keep himself healthy?
Did he always blame you for his failures?

Did+ She+ ?

Did she support urbanization?
Did she wash his clothes with her hands?
Did she always wear a spick and span dress?
Did she always abide by her parents?
Did she always speak the truth?
Did she dislike him due to his poverty?
Did she tend before God in her most difficult times?
Did she go to London last year?
Did she buy a new toy for her baby?
Did she prefer ice cream to a brownie?
Did it dirty the room?
Did it 4’O clock by your watch then?
Did his curse make him corrupt?
Did her needs propel her to be a dacoit?
Did it be late to catch the bus?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense use “did” at the start of the sentence to ask questions, and “not” comes after the subject of the sentence to describe the negativity of the sentence. However, Negative-Interrogative Sentences with words of Question have “did” after them. So, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense with Word of Question have the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ did+ Subject+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences without Word of Question, and having “Did” at the start of the sentence, have the following Sentence Structure:

Did+ Subject+ not+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Following are some examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense.

Word of Question+Did+not+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences with Word of Question have the following arrangement of subject, verb, and Object.

Word of Question+ did+ not+ Subject+ 1st form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+ ?

Whom did you not consult for your disease?
Why did he not inform you about your mother’s health condition?
Why did the lion not carry away the cow?
Why did you not find this book?
Why did he not tear the paper?
Who did not sweep the room?
Why did they not greet you?
Why did the cook not prepare rice?
Why did Harry not burn the candle at both ends?
When did the aero-plane not land at the airport?
Why did the goods train not to collide with the passenger train, despite running on the same line?
Where did you not see the mad dog?
Why did the laborer not carry so much load?
Why did the doctor not give an injection?
Why did they not reach Karachi?
Who did not read my letter?
Why did the cobbler not mend my shoe?
Why door was not knocked at? ( Passive Voice )

Negative-interrogative Sentences without a word of Question

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense without Word of Question, have the following Sentence Structure.

Did+ I+ not+ ?

Did I not say something very emotional?
Did I not message him?
Did I not help her?
Did I not prefer coffee to tea?
Did I not blame you for all my loss?
Did I not borrow some money from them?
Did I not water plants daily?
Did I not pluck a rose from your garden?
Did I not live in my selfish wishes?
Did I not always stand first in my class?

Did+ We+ not+ ?

Did we not serve them improperly?
Did we not propose a foolish idea before the committee?
Did we not listen to music last night?
Did we not refuse to help you?
Did we not understand his condition fully?
Did we not always encourage them?
Did we not think more about ourselves than our parents?
Did we not gift them this bungalow?
Did we not attend your grandmother’s funeral?
Did we not scold those children?

Did+ You+ not+ ?

Did your friends not congratulate you on your success?
Did your friends not like this party?
Did you not enjoy the flight?
Did your brother not lend you a hand?
Did you not reach home safe and sound?
Did you not see this movie ago?
Did you not listen to music the whole night?
Did you not like to nature-photography?
Did you not enter this room with your pen?
Did you not always stand by your younger siblings?

Did+ They+ Not+ ?

Did they not buy a new house?
Did they not order the peon to ring the bell?
Did they not overcharge their customers?
Did they not ready to appear before a judge to confess their guilt?
Did the players not play the hockey match in this playground?
Did the laborers not dig the soil yesterday?
Did they not drink the whole mango juice?
Did they not smell flowers?
Did they not serious about this project?
Did they not make a plan for how to make this proposal successful?

Did+ He+ Not+ ?

Did the officer not transfer his peon?
Did the Magistrate not catch him red-handed?
Did Ali not lose weight due to overworking?
Did he not take proper sleep and diet to keep himself healthy?
Did that tailor not sew my clothes?
Did he not tell a lie?
Did he not play cricket well?
Did he not criticize his opinion?
Did he not go to the gym to keep himself healthy?
Did he not always blame you for his failures?

Did+ She+ Not+ ?

Did she not support urbanization?
Did she not wash his clothes with his hands?
Did she not always wear a spick and span dress?
Did she not always abide by her parents?
Did she not always speak the truth?
Did she not dislike him due to his poverty?
Did she not tend before God in her most difficult times?
Did she not go to London last year?
Did she not buy a new toy for her baby?
Did she not prefer ice cream to brownies?

Did+ It+ Not+ ?:

Did it not dirty the room?
Did it not 4’O clock by your watch then?
Did his curse not make him corrupt?
Did her needs not propel her to be a dacoit?
Did it not late to catch the bus?

Passive Voice of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Simple Past Indefinite Tense uses “was/were” as helping verbs while going from Active Voice form to Passive Voice form. Past Indefinite Tense can be converted into Passive Voice according to the following rules mentioned in:

Simple Past Indefinite Tense-Passive Voice

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Past indefinite tense, definition, rules and example sentences.

Past Indefinite Tense, Definition and Example Sentences

Table of Contents

Past Indefinite Tense

While the “indefinite tense” is a category of the verb tense, it covers simple past tense, simple present tense and simple future tense. The three indefinite tenses represent usual activities and realities. Unlike other tenses, indefinite tenses describe actions without specifically specifying whether the verbs are complete. Indefinite tenses are more commonly referred to as simple tenses. The term “indefinite” is not used very often, especially when talking about individual uncertain times. This is why we used the term “simple” when talking about three indefinite tenses.

The Indefinite Tense in the Past

The indefinite aspect.

The term indefinite direction is used to group all actions at indefinite times. These verbs are past tense, present tense, and future tense. It should be noted here that the appearance of the action is determined by whether the verb expresses a fact, an ongoing action, or an incomplete action. Actions of indefinite dimensions express facts.

Why Are Indefinite Aspect Important?

Native English speakers can use all tenses without thinking twice about grammar. In addition, if you are teaching or learning English, you need to spend time learning tenses because expressing when something happens is a very basic communication skill. Simple tenses are generally the first tenses to be taught or learned. However, as we mentioned, they are not very simple and are not used very often during a natural dialogue. We must remember that tenses do not tell us whether something is a past, present, or future verb. They also tell us whether the action is in a habitual, completed, or ongoing state.

Common Regular Verbs in the Past Tense

In the table below, we have listed the past tense and negative forms of some of the frequently used regular verbs.

Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

We have listed the past tense and negative forms of frequently used irregular verbs in the table below.

Past Indefinite Tense Example Sentences

Years ago, when I was young, I used to listen to this music often.

This video game must be very old, we used to play it with my brother when I was little.

This product was made in Japan I guess.

I remember our old Christmas times, we were pretty spoiled kids.

We used to be pure-hearted people, too, life conditions made us this way.

In the past, years ago, we had a greengrocer here.

Once upon a time, our ancestors gave great struggles for these lands.

75 Sentences of Simple Present Tense

15 Sentences of Simple Present Tense, Example Sentences

10 Sentences of Simple Present Tense

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Past Indefinite Tense (Simple Past): 4 Rules & Examples

Want to learn 4 rules and examples of Past Indefinite Tense/ Simple Past Tense to express any action or event of the past maintaining the rules of using past forms of verbs and their structure? Here is the lesson to learn the proper way of using past indefinite tense along with its structures, variations, and usages.

Through learning this lesson, you will be able to describe any action or event of the past time in written form.

So, let’s jump there…

But, first of all, we have to learn the structure and form of past indefinite tense. If you haven’t studied other previous lessons on the tense classifications , i would like to suggest you to read those lessons first before going through this lesson.

What is Past Indefinite Tense?

The tense through which any action or event of past is expressed, is considered as Past Indefinite Tense in English grammar. We use this tense in order to express the acts of past using past form of verbs and some past tense markers phrases .

Most importantly, the past form of a verb in a sentence is considered as the basic sign of simple past tense. It’s similar to the structure of present indefinite/ simple present tense . The only difference is the time frame of an action or event.

At first notice these sentences in past indefinite tense: I bought some fruits for him. (Here, the verb ‘bought’ is the past form of the verb ‘buy’)

They invited me last night on their party. (Here, the verb ‘invited’ is in past form of the verb ‘invite’ and the phrase ‘last night’ is the past marker.

So, always remember that a sentence in past indefinite can be recognized in 2 ways. One is the past form of the verb and another one is the use of past tense marker phrases in a sentence. I hope you have understood that it’s too much easier to recognize a past sentence in a paragraph, report, or essay.

Simple Past Tense Structure

A sentence in simple past tense will always have either the past form of the principal verb or past form of the verb with a past tense marker phrase in its structure. This is the major sign of recognizing the tense of a sentence in English language. So, please note:

(Past form of verb) or (Past form of verb+ Past tense marker phrases)

Structure: Subject + Past form of verb + Object + Extension/ Past tense marker phrase

Examples: Mr. Rahman gave me a pen. Mr. Rahman gave me a pen yesterday .

Remember, there is no obligation in case of using ‘past tense marker phrases’. A sentence with only a ‘past form of verb’ is past simple tense or past indefinite tense. When you will go for long sentences, there will come ‘past tense marker phrases’ to indicate exact time in the past.

So, in order to write sentences in simple past tense, you have memorize the ‘past forms of the verbs’ and the list of the ‘past tense marker phrases’.

Now, we will learn the negative and interrogative structures of past indefinite tense. When you will write a past sentence in negative or interrogative form, the auxiliary verb “did” will be used. The one and only auxiliary verb of past indefinite tense is ‘did’ .

When and How to Use ‘Did’ in Past Tense?

An Interesting Fact about ‘Did’!

There is an interesting function of the auxiliary verb ‘did’ . The auxiliary verb “did” is the past form of the verb “do”. You have already learnt that the form of verb will be always “past” in case of past indefinite tense.

But when you will express a past action in negative or interrogative form, you have to use the auxiliary verb ‘did”

But wait… we learnt that there will be a past verb in a past indefinite tense. So, if we add ‘did’, it makes two verbs in a sentence and both are in past form.

Can we use two past verbs in a single sentence? No, we can’t. There will be always a single past verb in a past sentence.

So, what’s the solution? The solution is having the auxiliary verb ‘did’ as a past verb and convert the form of the main verb into present form. Whenever ‘did’ will come in a sentence, the main verb will be converted into present form from the past.

Have a look on these examples: Mr. Rahman gave me a pen yesterday. Negative: Mr. Rahman did not give me a pen yesterday. Interrogative: Did Mr. Rahman give me a pen yesterday?

So, you can see how the main verb is getting back to present form as soon as ‘did’ is added. So, the structures are:

Negative Structure:

Subject + did not + present form of main verb + object + extension.

Example: Negative: Mr. Rahman did not give me a pen yesterday.

NOTE: Here, the auxiliary verb ‘did’ is used and this is why the form of main verb is changed from ‘gave’ to ‘give’ .

Interrogative Structure:

Did + Subject + present form of main verb + object + extension?

Example: Interrogative: Did Mr. Rahman give me a pen yesterday?

Using ‘did’ and not changing the form of the main verb into present is one of the top mistakes in the world, people do, according to the statistics of ” OXFORD English Learners ” and ” Cambridge English publication ” So, be careful about this.

4 Rules of Past Indefinite Tense

Now, we will learn about the variations of past indefinite tense and how they work.

Rule 01 – Past Indefinite Tense Marker Words & Phrases

There are some certain phrases or words in English language which are considered as the past tense markers because they indicate a past moment of an action or event. If you memorize these words or phrases properly, you will be able to identify the time of an action or event.

This small chart of these words/phrases will also help you to solve the fill in the blanks questions in your academic exams.

Past Tense Marker Words & Phrase Chart

Example: We came here last night with our relatives. Long time ago , i went there with my friends. I won the first prize in 2015.

Rule 02 – Habit / Regular Action or Event of Past Moments

Generally, we express a past event or action in simple past tense where we basically use past form of the main verb. But, there are a few actions or events in our past life which are considered as habits of past instead of normal action.

If we want to express any habit of our past life, we must use a different form of verb (used to/would+ base form of verb) in it. You can use one of these two modal verbs: ‘used to’ or ‘would’ .

Examples: I used to/would swim in this river. NOTE: Here, the use of the modal auxiliary verb- ‘used to/would’ indicates that I regularly swam in this river in past days of my life. It was a regular habit of past but I do not swim in this river anymore.

He used to/would play cricket in this field in his childhood. (In his childhood, ‘playing cricket’ in this field was his daily action of life. But many years have passed. And now it is only in memories.)

Rule 03 – Formal Request or Official Expression

If you want to request someone for something or pray for permission at present, you simply can use the modal verb ‘can/may/will’ at the starting of the sentence. But if you want to make the request more formal or want to express it officially, you must use the modal verb- ‘would or could’ at the starting of the question.

Though the modal verb- ‘would and could’ are in past forms but the meaning of the sentences do not indicate past action or event. They express deep gratitude or politeness . The expression and meaning of these sentences are present here. Besides, please note that the verb ‘would’ is more formal than the verb ‘could’ .

Examples: Would you give me a pen please? (Formal expression) Could you shut the window now? (Semi-formal expression)

Rule 04 – Any Past Duty or Obligation

Sometime, we indicate any past duty or obligation . But we do not do that work now. Besides, it was not our past regular habit. In such cases, we will use the structure: (was to/were to+ base form of verb) in the place of verb.

Example: I was to go to Dhaka to bring the books. He was to water in the garden daily afternoon.

Usages & Examples of Simple Past Tense in Practical Life

Now here are some situations or cases where we should use simple past tense normally.

01 – Any general action or event of past will be written or spoken using the structure of past indefinite tense.

Example: I gave him a nice bag on his last birthday. My friend broke your glass during drinking water yesterday .

02 – Any fairy story or general history should be expressed in past indefinite tense.

Example: The king ordered the boy to tell the truth. Jerry helped the writer to collect woods.

So, these are all about the structures, rules, and usages of Past Indefinite Tense in English language. It’s one of the most used tenses among all tenses in English grammar.

In case of writing any composition based on the past event or action, past indefinite tense is the only tense, you have to use in sentence structure. Besides, to understand the important grammatical lesson- ‘ Tag Questions ‘, you must learn this tense.

After reading this lesson, you can move to next lesson of tense: Future Indefinite

Now try to use this tense in your daily assignments and let us know about your thoughts on this lesson: ‘Past Indefinite Tense’ using the comment box below. Last of all, share this lesson with your friends or classmates to help them learn simple past tense with rules and examples.

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Past Indefinite Tense

This Grammar.com article is about Past Indefinite Tense — enjoy your reading!

The term tenses is used in English language to describe the occurrence of verb. Tense also has other meanings but grammatically speaking, this is the only meaning of the term.

In today’s article, I will discuss the term tense in detail and highlight one form of tense i.e. past tense. I will throw light on the occurrence and formation of the past tense in English sentences.

Tense is described as the quality of a verb which occurs in a sentence and which describes the time frame of the action taking place. In simpler terms, the occurrence of action of a sentence is depicted by the tense of that sentence.

He likes bananas.

In the above example, the verb likes indicates that the action is taking place right now and is not an event of the past or future, thus we know that the tense of this sentence is present.

The basic categorization of tense is that it can exist in three forms which are past, present and future. This means that a verb also comes in three forms i.e. past, present and future.

A verb is said to be in past tense when the action it is describing has taken place at point in the past.

She sang well at the party.

This example makes use of second form of verb i.e. sang and thus it indicates that the action is of past.

But is doesn’t end there. The past tense is further divided into different forms and types which include past indefinite tense, past continuous tense, past perfect tense and past perfect continuous tense.

Today I will talk about past indefinite tense.

Past indefinite indicates that the action described in a sentence has happened before and is not a current happening.

She watched television.

The example indicates that the action of watching was an event of the past.

A verb exists in past indefinite tense when it is in its simple second form.

The boy stood at the bus stop.

The above example is also that of past indefinite tense. Notice that the second form of verb stood is used which represents that time of action to be of past.

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50 Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

This lesson will discuss the 50 effective examples of the past indefinite tense in English grammar. As a language speaker, you know that knowing verb tenses is important for understanding the different moments in time. The past indefinite tense or simple past tense is used to talk about things that happened in the past or a past habit.

50 Effective Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

Let’s see the 50 effective examples of the past indefinite tense:

I went to school yesterday.
I slept every night last week.
I wanted to visit my grandparents this weekend.
I was exhausted from walking around all day.
I received the letter this morning.
Did you not write the letter?
I wrote my book in the past.
We did not ask him to work for us.
What did he buy yesterday?
He made a mistake in his task.
Did you not see your friend?
He finished his work on time.
She lost her keys last night.
Did they not go to school yesterday?
I asked my friend to help me with my homework.
He refused to help me.
He demanded money from me.
I refused to give it to him.
They threatened us.
We were not afraid of them.
Did they not tell you the truth?
Did you not meet your friend?
I did not help him.
Did you receive my letter?
I received a new book from my uncle.
How much did you pay for your new bicycle?
I paid Aqa’s tuition fees yesterday.
They built a new house in our neighborhood last year.
Did he repair his car?
She drove her car to school yesterday.
He borrowed my mobile phone last night.
I gave him a gift on his birthday.
We invited them for dinner last week.
Did you not tell him?
Shahid was a good worker.
What did you do yesterday?
I spent my time with my friends.
Did he sell his house?
He failed the test.
I completed the task yesterday.
Did you not have a good time yesterday?
I did not see your brother.
Did he receive the letter?
I received your email last morning.
We did not go to school yesterday.
I saw my friend in the market.
Did you give him the document?
We returned home late at night.

Azizul Hakim is the founder & CEO of englishfinders.com . He is a passionate writer, English instructor, and content creator. He has completed his graduation and post-graduation in English language and literature.

50 Effective Examples of Past Perfect Tense

50 Examples of Past Perfect Continuous Tense

50 Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

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Past Indefinite/Simple Tense in English – Structure, Rules & Examples

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In the previous unit , we have discussed the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in detail. We assume that you have learned the forms of verbs and their meanin gs in this unit and are also aware of What is Tense . if not, please click these links and learn them first.

In this unit, we will learn Past Indefinite Tense. Note that this is the easiest tense in the Grammar. This tense tells about an action that has recently happened in the past. e.g. We went to school, He took tea, We played GTA 5 etc.

Here are some examples in Hindi/Urdu – hum gye, wo ae, ap ne khana khaya etc

Table of Contents

We use the second form of the verb (past form) with all the pronouns ( He, She, It, I, We, You, They ) and Nouns (Names). Also, remember that Past Indefinite is the only tense in which we use the 2nd form of the verb.

These examples will help you understand this.

I watched movies on Netflix. (Mein ne Netflix par movies dekhi)
They listened to music on Amazon Prime. (Unho ne Amazon Prime par gaane sun e )
We slept in the day. (Hum din ko so ye )
You failed in exams. (Ap exams mein fail ho e )
I earned money from my website. (Mein ne apni website se pese kama e )
We hated them very much. (Hum ne un se bhut nafrat ki )
They talked to each other in the class. (Unho ne class mein apas mein baatein ki)
You did your work very well. (Ap ne apna kaam bhut ache se kiya)
I fought with my sister. (Mein ne apni behen se lad ai ki )
We ran very fast. (Hum bhut tez bhag e )

Now that we have understood the basics, let us learn how to make questions of a sentence which is in Present Past Tense .

We use Did with He, She, It, I, We, You, They and Name in the beginning. And the main verb (which is in the past form) changes into the first form.

Did he watch videos on Youtube?
Did she upload selfies on Instagram?
Did it rain every day?
Did Athar play PUBG at night?
Did Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sing Qawallis?

Note that we put Did at the beginning and the verb (watched, uploaded, rained, etc) changes in the first form.

Now that we have understood the basics of Past Indefinite Tense, let us memorize what we have learned.

In Past Indefinite Tense, we use just 2nd form of Verb with He, She, It, I, We, You, They and Name/Names.
While forming the question in Past Indefinite Tense, we insert Did in the beginning.
When we insert Did in the beginning, the verb (which is in 2nd form) changes into the first form.

Play Quiz on Past Indefinite Tense

English Grammar Here

Past Indefinite Tense, English Past Indefinite Tense Examples

12 Tenses and Example Sentences in English Grammar

Past Indefinite Tense

In this way, we aim to ensure that you achieve maximum success both in writing, in essay exams, and speaking activities.

What is Past Indefinite Tense?

The Past Indefinite Tense is a tense used to express a state or action that occurred in the past. Usually, the exact time of this action or state is not specified in these sentences. Therefore, sentences have an indefinite meaning. In short, in such sentences, there is no time frame to give information about the exact time period of the action that took place in the past or the situation seen in the past.

Affirmative – Positive Sentences in Past Indefinite Tense

The structure of positive sentences in Past Infinite Tense is briefly as follows:

Subject + Main Verb + suffix -ed (or irregular verb) + Object

Affirmative sentences can be established by following the basic formula above.

Alice threw the ball so quickly that the window of the manager’s car broke.
I bought it for this notebook and was very satisfied.
You came here too, they saw you here and told me.
I lost my pen here.
I did my homework and saved it in the laptop’s related file.
I turned in my homework.
She sang in a room inside the house, said she felt good, and left.

Negative Sentences in Past Indefinite Tense

It is also possible to organize sentences with negative meanings using the Past Infinitive Tense. While doing this, you should also be considering the state and actions that took place in the past. In addition, just like the other tenses, the word to be used to give the negative meaning in this tense is obvious: not! Now let’s take a look at the general structure of the negative sentences in the past indefinite tense. Later, let’s examine the sample sentences.

Subject + Auxiliary Verb (did) + not + Main Verb (in the first form) + Object

Negative sentences can be established by following the basic formula above.

He did not reply to my mail.
He didn’t come all the way to school with me, so I didn’t walk there alone and gave up.
Saul didn’t yell at you.
He didn’t collect his files, so they criticized him.
He did not finish his job and did not accept the criticism of him about being late.
He did not attend school, so he did not take the exam.

Interrogative Sentence in Past Indefinite Tense

Sometimes we want to ask a question about a situation or action that happened in the past. In such a case, the tense we should use is Past Indefinite Tense. When we use this tense, we need to put the auxiliary verb at the beginning of the question sentence. In a moment, we’ll give you the formula you need to follow to create a question sentence. Also, don’t forget to add a question mark at the end of sentences.

Auxiliary Verb (Did) + Subject + Main Verb (in the first form) + Object

Interrogative sentences can be established by following the basic formula above.

Did he do his homework?
Did she wash the dishes?
Has he completed many jobs asked of him?
Did you buy everything that is in the list of needs for the school?
Did he come with me?
Did they talk to you?
Did you get me what I wanted from you?

You can get more detailed information about tenses by reading our other articles.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense, Definition and Examples

10 Sentences in Present Perfect Tense in English

All Tenses in English, Positive Sentences, Negative Sentences and Question Sentences

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50 Past Indefinite Tense Examples In English

Past Indefinite Tense Examples In English

Affirmative Sentences Examples

I ate an apple.
He flew a kite.
I saw her yesterday.
You woke me up.
She left that job.
He left at 10 a.m.
She slipped while walking.
Anu got married last month.
Rohan fell off the stairs.
I left my purse at home.
His car got stolen.
She told me a lie.
He plucked the flower.
I read the newspaper.

50 Example For Present Perfect Tense

She loved him very much.
He came to India in 2015.
He came to me yesterday.
I put the key on your table.
He picked the apple and ate it.
Rohan left school in 2008.
She lived near our house.
She came here for the money.
I really did wrong to you.

Past Indefinite Tense Examples

Negative Sentences Examples

Simple Past Tense Formula

He did not eat an apple.
He did nothing wrong.
I didn’t beat him.
I did not know him.
Mohan did not drink alcohol.
He did not come yesterday.
I did not knock at your door.
He did not paint that wall.
He didn’t come to me yesterday.
She did not invite us.
I did not go to her party.
You didn’t make the right decision.
I didn’t like that song.

Interrogative Sentences Examples

Did you eat the apple?
Did you go there?
Did he drive a car?
Did Rohan live in Delhi?
Did he tell anything?
Did she have a pen?
Why did you wake me up?
Why did you go to Kanpur?
When did she come here?
Did she meet Rohan?
Did she dance?
Why did you tell me a lie?
Did you get any keys here?

Negative Interrogative Sentences

Didn’t you eat an apple?
Why didn’t you wake me up?
Why didn’t you tell me all this?
Did she not meet Rohan?
Did you not win the race?
Did India not win the match?
Didn’t Rohan drive the car?
Didn’t you go to the fair?
Did nobody tell you anything?
Why didn’t you go to the office today?
Didn’t the teacher come yesterday?
Didn’t I eat pizza yesterday?
Did you not submit the assignment?

20 Examples of Past Continuous Tense Sentences

Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

In This Blog We Will Discuss

100 Examples of Past Indefinite Tense

Here, we are sharing lots of examples of Past Indefinite Tense sentences that will help every level of students to understand the structure of this tense. It will be easier to practice with these examples.

• She was the most important person in my life.

• We played cricket in this field.

• I ate a mango.

• Jesus was the best human of his time.

• She enjoyed the whole movie.

• I loved that movie.

• They loved visiting my place.

• She went to Delhi and never came back.

• I was the dumbest in the class.

• He loved her but never expressed.

• He helped me a lot to do my homework.

• I went to a book fair with my father.

• My mother went to her office.

• I didn’t attend the class yesterday.

• She wrote a romantic poem for me.

• The whole school went for a picnic in Agra.

• She ate ice-cream.

• Mr. Varun made a change in the school.

• She made the cake for me.

• I cooked food in the hostel.

• I learned English.

• She went to school.

• She paid for the money.

• I rang the bell.

• He ran away.

• She said to stay.

• I saw a bird.

• Varun showed me a beautiful girl.

• She slept the whole night.

• I sang beautiful songs.

• He spent time with me.

• I told him to come.

• Mr. Das taught us English.

• I thought it perfectly.

• Bangladesh won the cricket match.

• I didn’t understand the lesson.

• He wrote a letter to me.

• They wore a school uniform.

• I swam the river.

• I spoke the truth.

• She was absent in the class.

• The principal admired me.

• She admitted her guilt.

• He advised me to study more.

• I apologized for my mistake.

• She allowed me to enter her house.

• I acted as a brilliant guy.

• She appeared suddenly.

• I approved her new look for the drama.

• She applied for a job.

• People applauded for me.

• He argued a lot.

• They arranged a big program.

• He asked a few questions.

Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets and Exercises with Answers

25 Sentences using Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets. How to use Past Indefinite Tense in Sentences.

Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets are essential for anyone trying to learn about simple past actions in English. These worksheets make it easier to understand and use the past tense properly. They provide clear examples and practice activities that help learners understand how to talk about things that happened before now. With these worksheets, students can build a strong foundation in English grammar, making it simpler to share past stories and events clearly. If you’re looking to improve your understanding of the past indefinite tense , these worksheets are a helpful starting point.

Table of Contents

Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets

Worksheet 1:fill in the blanks with appropriate form of the verb given in the brackets..

She __________ (read) the book yesterday.
They __________ (play) soccer after school.
He __________ (visit) his grandparents last weekend.
We __________ (eat) dinner at the restaurant.
I __________ (watch) a movie last night.
She __________ (write) a letter to her friend.
He __________ (study) for the exam all day.
They __________ (travel) to Europe last summer.
The cat __________ (catch) a mouse in the garden.
We __________ (meet) our friends at the party.
He __________ (fix) the broken car yesterday.
She __________ (dance) at the party.
They __________ (buy) a new house last year.
I __________ (swim) in the ocean yesterday.
He __________ (visit) the museum with his family.
She __________ (bake) a delicious cake for the celebration.
We __________ (take) a trip to the mountains.
They __________ (clean) the entire house.
He __________ (run) a marathon last month.
She __________ (paint) a beautiful picture.
I __________ (play) the piano at the concert.
They __________ (plant) flowers in the garden.
He __________ (fix) the computer issue.
She __________ (sing) her favorite song on stage.
We __________ (visit) the zoo yesterday.

Scroll down to See Answers

15+Sentences of Present Indefinite Tense Worksheet. How to use Present Indefinite Tense in Sentences.

Worksheet 2:Rewrite Sentences in Negative and Interrogative form.

He completed his project on time.

He did not complete his project on time.
Did he complete his project on time?

They went to the beach for vacation.

They did not go to the beach for vacation.
Did they go to the beach for vacation?

We celebrated his birthday with a surprise party.

We did not celebrate his birthday with a surprise party.
Did we celebrate his birthday with a surprise party?

She cooked a delicious meal for her family yesterday.

he did not cook a delicious meal for her family yesterday.
Did she cook a delicious meal for her family yesterday?

They bought a new car after saving for years.

They did not buy a new car after saving for years.
Did they buy a new car after saving for years?

Negative and Interrogative form of Past Indefinite Tense. How to make Negative and Interrogative of Past Indefinite Tense.

Answers of Worksheet 1:

100 Examples of Collective Nouns
Present Indefinite Tense Worksheets
Active And Passive Voice With Rules
100 Present Indefinite Tense

15+Sentences of past Indefinite Tense Worksheet Interrogative of past Indefinite Tense Worksheets Negative of past Indefinite Tense Worksheets Past Indefinite Tense Exercises past Indefinite Tense Interrogative form Worksheet past Indefinite Tense Negative form Worksheet past Indefinite Tense Worksheets Past Tense Exercises Past Tense Worksheets Worksheets of past Indefinite Tense

Present Continuous Tense Worksheets and Exercises with Answers

Simple Present Tense with Examples, Definition, Structure, Rules, Times Words, and Usages

Simple Present Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

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50 Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense Examples

The past indefinite tense, also known as the simple past tense, is used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and are no longer ongoing. It is formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs or using the past form of irregular verbs. For example, “She walked to the store yesterday.”

Let’s see Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense with examples:

Affirmative

Interrogative, sentences of past indefinite tense examples.

I visited the museum yesterday.
She bought a new car last week.
He completed his assignment on time.
They watched a movie on Saturday.
We celebrated his birthday with a party.
The sun shone brightly all day.
Maria cooked a delicious dinner.
John graduated from college in 2020.
The cat chased a mouse.
Sarah read a fascinating book.
Tom fixed the leaky faucet.
The children played in the park.
My parents traveled to Europe last summer.
We finished the project ahead of schedule.
Lisa cleaned her room yesterday.
The company launched a new product.
James won the chess tournament.
The rain stopped suddenly.
I saw an old friend at the store.
The dog barked loudly.
They visited the Grand Canyon.
She wrote a heartfelt letter.
He built a treehouse for his kids.
The team scored a winning goal.
We hiked in the mountains last summer.
Mary painted a beautiful picture.
The movie started at 7 PM.
I met my favorite author.
The flowers blossomed in the spring.
He arrived on time for the meeting.
I didn’t enjoy the concert last night.
She didn’t pass her driving test on the first try.
They didn’t visit their grandparents last weekend.
He didn’t complete his homework on time.
The team didn’t win the championship last year.
Jane didn’t like the movie we watched last week.
We didn’t have a great time at the party.
The restaurant didn’t serve good food.
I didn’t receive the package yesterday.
Tom didn’t attend the meeting this morning.
Did you visit the museum last weekend?
Where did she go for her vacation?
What happened at the party last night?
Who won the game yesterday?
When did they start their journey?
Why did he quit his job?
How did they meet each other?
Did you enjoy the concert on Saturday?
What time did the movie end?
Did your parents travel to Europe last summer?

50 Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense Examples

50 Sentences of Present Perfect Continuous Tense Examples

50 sentences of past continuous tense examples.

50+ Past Indefinite Tense Interrogative Sentences Examples

Table of Contents

What is past indefinite tense ? The past indefinite tense, also known as the simple past tense, is employed to describe actions that occurred and were completed in the past. This tense is characterized by the use of specific time markers that indicate the action’s occurrence in the past. Let’s delve into the realm of past indefinite tense interrogative sentences , shedding light on their structure, usage, and significance.

Structure of Past Indefinite Tense Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in the past indefinite tense follow a distinct structure. To construct an interrogative sentence in this tense, the sentence’s order is inverted, and the auxiliary verb “ did ” is used before the subject. The main verb remains in its base form, irrespective of the subject. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Affirmative Sentence: She visited the museum yesterday.

Interrogative Sentence (Past Indefinite Tense): Did she visit the museum yesterday?

In the interrogative form, “ did ” acts as an auxiliary verb, indicating that a question is being asked about the past action. The subject “she” remains unchanged, and the main verb “visit” remains in its base form without the “-ed” suffix.

Usage and Examples

Past indefinite tense interrogative sentences find application in various contexts. They are employed to inquire about past events, actions, or situations. Here are a few examples showcasing the usage of these interrogative sentences:

Did you watch the movie last night?
Did they complete the project on time?
Did he travel to Paris last summer?

In each of these examples, the use of “did” at the beginning of the sentence signals that a question is being posed about a specific past action. The sentences seek information or verification regarding the events described.

In the realm of English grammar , understanding the nuances of various tenses is key to proficient communication . Past indefinite tense interrogative sentences offer a doorway to exploring the past, seeking insights, and exchanging information. By grasping the structure, usage, and significance of these sentences, you empower yourself to navigate conversations and narratives that transcend time.

Dear Annie: Blindsided by divorce papers from husband — and his mother

Published: Mar. 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m.

How could people be so cruel? Getty Images

Dear Annie: My name is “Stephanie,” and my husband’s name is “Travis.” Travis and I have been married for 27 years. About six months ago, I was blindsided with divorce papers. He and his mom made the decision. Yes, you read that right. Anyhow, my husband and I still live together, and the divorce has not moved forward for various reasons. His entire family has completely disowned me, with the exception of my father-in-law, who didn’t get involved.

Travis’ father, my father-in-law, suddenly passed away recently. It was heartbreaking. I sent food, etc. because that is who I am. When the obituary came out online and in the paper, my name wasn’t in it. My husband’s name and our children’s names were, of course, but my name wasn’t. I am so hurt by this. My father-in-law and I always had a good relationship, and I feel like Travis and his mother did it out of spite. I know they did. In my opinion, that was disrespectful to both his father and to me.

How could people be so cruel? How do I move past this? What are your thoughts? Thank you. -- “Stephanie” Left Out in PA

Dear Stephanie: I’m sorry for the loss of your father-in-law, especially during an already difficult time for you and your marriage. After almost three decades of calling Travis’ family your own, you have every right to feel hurt, excluded and disrespected by their behavior. Ultimately, this action speaks much louder of their character than of yours.

Initiate a conversation with Travis to express how this exclusion made you feel and establish a way to interact and cohabit as you move toward finalizing the divorce. It is disappointing that the people you’ve been closest to have started to act in unrecognizable ways, but remember, you can only control your reactions and behavior. Lean on your true friends and loved ones while you grieve both your father-in-law and your marriage.

Stories by Annie Lane

Dear Annie: Daughter invites bad ex-boyfriend on birthday vacation
Dear Annie: I should have done this ages ago, but grief got in the way
Dear Annie: Can you help me with this ‘thank-you’ note conundrum?
Dear Annie: Husbands hypochondria derailing our marriage, and lives
Dear Annie: Exhausted caregiver? You’re not alone

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology -- featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected] .

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Guest Essay

How ‘Past Lives’ Changed My Mind About My Relationship

By Euny Hong

Ms. Hong is a cultural critic.

My most stressful moviegoing experience last year was not the mushroom cloud in “Oppenheimer” or the murder trial scenes in “Anatomy of a Fall,” but watching the story of a love triangle among a Korean American woman, a Korean guy and a white guy in the Oscar-nominated “Past Lives.” In the film, Nora, our 30-something heroine, and Arthur, her white husband, are living happily in New York when Nora is contacted by Hae Sung, her childhood sweetheart in South Korea, with whom she had reconnected online as a young adult.

He tells her he’s planning to visit the city. When he arrives, it’s clear he still has feelings for her. Given this situation, I knew at least one person would be very upset by the end of the movie. For most of the film, I felt that person was going to be me.

On the one hand, as a Korean woman, I really wanted Nora to pick the Korean guy. As Arthur says to Nora, “If this was a story someone was telling, I’d be the evil white American husband keeping you two apart!” Every Asian American woman is aware of a longstanding Hollywood trope: The white male savior who sweeps in to save an “exotic” Asian woman, a scenario that goes back at least as far as Anna May Wong’s roles in the 1920s.

The maddening corollary to the white savior trope is that the Asian guy never gets the girl. I still recall the incredulity my friends and I felt coming out of a theater in 1998 having just watched “The Replacement Killers,” a movie in which the dreamy Chow Yun-fat saves the gorgeous Mira Sorvino, yet it doesn’t even occur to them to hook up.

On the other hand, I was having these thoughts while watching “Past Lives” in a movie theater sitting next to my boyfriend, who is white.

As an Asian woman living in the West, I learned long ago that every dating choice I make becomes a referendum: on race, on feminism — you know, just some of the most explosive issues of our day. If you happen to be dating a white guy, well, your relationship feels as if it’s being policed by loved ones and strangers alike. Some of them will accuse you of being psychologically damaged or of plotting to extinguish your people. You may even internalize some of these beliefs.

Before I was old enough to know how babies were made, I was taught by my whole extended family that marrying a white guy would damn my descendants and that an Asian couple was the correct, harmonious order of things. (It also made for a tidier Christmas card photo, or so I was told.)

The first time I watched “Past Lives,” I had this kind of policing in mind. I was fixated on Hollywood’s historical depictions of Asian women and recalling how the very first time I ever saw two Asian characters kissing in a Hollywood film wasn’t until 2018, with “Crazy Rich Asians.” (I think I audibly gasped.)

Of course I hoped for Nora to get together with Hae Sung: I could view the love triangle story line only through a lens that presumed that one outcome was necessarily good while the other was necessarily bad. I dutifully rooted for the good one, although it contradicted my real-life experience, as personified by the man sitting in the theater next to me.

But when I rewatched the film, which is up for best picture on Sunday, I realized it’s a smarter movie than that and truer to life as well. The broad premise of “Past Lives” may be “who will she choose?” but the reason it’s an affecting experience is not that it’s concerned with abolishing tropes or righting representational wrongs. Instead, it’s a story about three good people, trying to do right by one another, fumbling and faltering but finding their way through.

For Nora, the only fitting choice in the end is her husband, Arthur, not because he is (or isn’t) white but because he is the right choice for her. To run off with Hae Sung — whether he’s Asian or not — would not have made any sense, given what we learn about her character and relationship. Reflexively rooting for that to happen made no sense for me, either.

I have my own “Past Lives” moment, sort of. I first met my boyfriend in 1996 at a party thrown by mutual friends from college. We went on one horrible date — I take responsibility; being dense, I didn’t realize it was a date and kept whining about some clown who had just dumped me — and both decided we wanted nothing more to do with each other. Unexpectedly, 26 years later, in late 2022, I had to interview him in my role as a journalist. Reacquainted, we hit it off.

Why did things click this time and not previously? As Heraclitus wrote, you can’t step in the same river twice. To me, that’s the real lesson of “Past Lives”: We have to move forward, not back. As Nora ends up saying to Hae Sung, referring to her Korean name, Na Young, and her new home, New York: “The Na Young you remember doesn’t exist here.” When she chooses to stay with Arthur, she explains it by saying, “This is where I ended up.”

It might sound like a blowoff, but, in the film, it’s a deep and moving declaration of commitment. It’s also a moment that felt deeply authentic to me. The first time I watched the film, I worried that someone’s feelings would be crushed, maybe mine. But when I left the theater with my boyfriend, I didn’t feel heartbroken at all.

Euny Hong is a cultural critic.

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20 EXAMPLES OF PAST INDEFINITE TENSE
Simple Past Indefinite Tense- Examples, Formula, Exercise, Rules, Structure
Past Indefinite Tense Definition, Formula, & Examples
Past Indefinite Tense
Past Indefinite Tense in English (Rules, Formula & Examples) PDF
20 EXAMPLES OF PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

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Day 10 (past indefinite related easy to practice sentence )
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past indefinite tense
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Past Indefinite Tense
Definition. Past Indefinite Tense (also known as Simple Past Tense) is a tense that is used to describe a completed action or event that happened in the past. In other words, it is used to talk about an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. This tense is formed by adding the past tense ending '-ed' to the regular verbs ...
The past indefinite tense: rules and unique usages
Structure: Subject + was/were + adjective/noun. Singular subject = was. Plural subject = were. 5. To talk about the completed action and its duration in the past. If an action happened for a period of time in the past, use the Past Indefinite tense to talk about it. I lived in Japan for 5 years.
Past Indefinite Tense
The past indefinite tense is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past and action duration is not important. With most verbs, the past tense is formed by adding -ed. (Liked, learned, walked). If a short verb ends with a consonant vowel, double the last ...
Past Indefinite Tense Examples: What They Are and How They Work
Another factor that aids in past tense comparisons is the use of time expressions. Past Indefinite Tense requires definite time expressions such as "yesterday," "last week," or "a year ago.". In contrast, Present Perfect Tense employs indefinite time expressions like "ever," "never," "since," and "for.". Example:
Past Indefinite Tense Examples: What They Are and How They Work
Take the infinitive of the verb and add 'ed', or simply 'd' if the verb already ends with an 'e'. For example: Play → played. Walk → walked. Many verbs end in a vowel and a consonant. An extra consonant is added when these verbs are turned into the past tense. For example, 'admit' turns into 'admitted'.
Past Indefinite Tense| Definition, rules, Formula, Examples
I wrote the essay to highlight the social issues of our society. I liked to sing at parties. I took bath daily before going to my school. ... Simple Past Indefinite Tense uses "was/were" as helping verbs while going from Active Voice form to Passive Voice form. Past Indefinite Tense can be converted into Passive Voice according to the ...
Past Indefinite Tense, Definition, Rules and Example Sentences
The term indefinite direction is used to group all actions at indefinite times. These verbs are past tense, present tense, and future tense. It should be noted here that the appearance of the action is determined by whether the verb expresses a fact, an ongoing action, or an incomplete action. Actions of indefinite dimensions express facts.
Past Indefinite Tense
Past Indefinite Tense Structure, Formula, Examples The past indefinite tense is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past and action duration is not important. With most verbs, the past tense is formed by adding -ed. […]
Past Indefinite Tense
Examples of Past Indefinite Tense. Let us see some examples of Past Indefinite Tense: I got the point. He went to a historical place yesterday. You observed the situation. We found our weakness. Alim attended the program. Lee passed the last examination. Did you miss your friend? We enjoyed the party last night. They watched a horror movie.
Past Indefinite Tense: A Guide to Better Grammar
The Tenses. To understand and better use the past indefinite tense you have to first understand what a tense is. Tenses are modifications to a verb (active words, such as to throw, to jump, to believe, etc.) that dictate when the action took place. There are three tenses in English: past, present, and future. Each tense when applied to the verb ...
Past Indefinite Tense (Simple Past): 4 Rules & Examples
4 Rules of Past Indefinite Tense. Rule 01 - Past Indefinite Tense Marker Words & Phrases. Past Tense Marker Words & Phrase Chart. Rule 02 - Habit / Regular Action or Event of Past Moments. Rule 03 - Formal Request or Official Expression. Rule 04 - Any Past Duty or Obligation. Usages & Examples of Simple Past Tense in Practical Life.
Past Indefinite Tense
Past indefinite indicates that the action described in a sentence has happened before and is not a current happening. Example: She watched television. The example indicates that the action of watching was an event of the past. A verb exists in past indefinite tense when it is in its simple second form. Example:
Past Indefinite Tense, Examples & Exercises Made Easy Now
The past indefinite tense, also known as the simple past tense, is used to indicate that an action occurred at a specific point in the past and has now been completed. You know it is formed using ...
Simple Past Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage • Englishan
Simple Past Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage. Simple Past Tense (Past Indefinite Tense) is used when an action or event has already happened before a specific point in time and it has no connection to the present. This tense is used to express past and distinct events. Or "Simple Past Tense refers to the time when an action or event happened ...
50 Examples of Past Indefinite Tense
50 Effective Examples of Past Indefinite Tense. Let's see the 50 effective examples of the past indefinite tense: I went to school yesterday. I slept every night last week. I wanted to visit my grandparents this weekend. I was exhausted from walking around all day.
Past Indefinite Tense in English with Examples
In this unit, we will learn Past Indefinite Tense. Note that this is the easiest tense in the Grammar. This tense tells about an action that has recently happened in the past. e.g. We went to school, He took tea, We played GTA 5 etc. Here are some examples in Hindi/Urdu - hum gye, wo ae, ap ne khana khaya etc. Table of Contents.
Past Indefinite Tense, English Past Indefinite Tense Examples
The Past Indefinite Tense is a tense used to express a state or action that occurred in the past. Usually, the exact time of this action or state is not specified in these sentences. Therefore, sentences have an indefinite meaning. In short, in such sentences, there is no time frame to give information about the exact time period of the action ...
50 Past Indefinite Tense Examples In English
Past Indefinite Tense Examples In English. Affirmative Sentences Examples. I ate an apple. He flew a kite. I saw her yesterday. You woke me up. She left that job. He left at 10 a.m. She slipped while walking. Anu got married last month. Rohan fell off the stairs. I left my purse at home. His car got stolen. She told me a lie. He plucked the flower.
Examples of Past Indefinite Tense
Here, we are sharing lots of examples of Past Indefinite Tense sentences that will help every level of students to understand the structure of this tense. It will be easier to practice with these examples. • She was the most important person in my life. • We played cricket in this field. • I ate a mango. • Jesus was the best human of ...
Simple Past Indefinite Tense-Passive Voice 150+ examples
The simple past indefinite tense, also known as the past simple tense, is used to describe actions that occurred and were completed in the past. In the passive voice, it emphasizes the recipient of the action rather than the doer. For example, instead of saying "John repaired the car," we can say "The car was repaired by John.".
Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets and Exercises with Answers
Table of Contents. Past Indefinite Tense Worksheets. Worksheet 1:Fill in the blanks with appropriate form of the verb given in the brackets. Worksheet 2:Rewrite Sentences in Negative and Interrogative form. Answers of Worksheet 1:
50 Sentences Of Past Indefinite Tense Examples
The past indefinite tense, also known as the simple past tense, is used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and are no longer ongoing. It is formed by adding "-ed" to regular verbs or using the past form of irregular verbs. For example, "She walked to the store yesterday.".
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50+ Past Indefinite Tense Interrogative Sentences Examples
Past indefinite tense interrogative sentences offer a doorway to exploring the past, seeking insights, and exchanging information. By grasping the structure, usage, and significance of these sentences, you empower yourself to navigate conversations and narratives that transcend time. NARRATION CHANGE [Direct and Indirect] - 50+ Examples.
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Past Indefinite tense: rules, usages and tips

When to use the Past indefinite tense?

The Past Indefinite tense examples

The Past Indefinite tense structure

1. Affirmative sentence

2. Negative sentences

3. Interrogative sentences

The Past Indefinite tense usages

2. A series of completed actions

3. Repeated actions/habits in the past

4. To describe something or someone

5. To talk about the completed action and its duration in the past

6. To talk about something that happened a few moments ago (extremely close to the present)

Use of adverbs in the Past Indefinite tense

The Past Indefinite tense active and passive voice

Ashish Sharma

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Two Minute English

Understanding the Basics of Past Indefinite Tense

Structuring Sentences in the Past Indefinite Tense

Affirmative Sentence Construction

Forming Negative Statements

Asking Questions with Past Indefinite Tense

The Role of Regular and Irregular Verbs

Subject-Verb Agreement in Past Tense

Common Uses of the Past Indefinite Tense in Everyday Language

Comparing Past Indefinite Tense with Other Past Tenses

Distinction from Present Perfect Tense

Practical Examples of Past Indefinite Tense in Use

Tips for Mastering Past Indefinite Tense in English

Past Indefinite Tense Examples: What They Are and How They Work

What is the Past Indefinite Tense?

Tenses and Their Purpose

The Past Indefinite Tense

Other Tenses

The Past Indefinite Structure

Verb 1, Verb 2, Verb 3

Affirmative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

Negative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

Interrogative Sentences in the Past Indefinite

When to Use the Past Indefinite

Events That Happened in the Past

Moods or States of Being in the Past

Repeated Actions in the Past

To Conclude

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Past Indefinite Tense| Definition, rules, Formula, Examples

Helping Verbs of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Assertive Sentence Structure of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Assertive Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Negative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Negative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

I+ Did+ not

We+ Did+ not

You+ Did+ not

They+ Did+ not

He+ Did+ not

She+ Did+ not

It+ Did+ not

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Word of Question+ Did+?

Interrogative Sentences Without Word of Question:

Did+ They+ ?

Did+ She+ ?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Simple Past Indefinite Tense

Word of Question+Did+not+?

Negative-interrogative Sentences without a word of Question

Did+ I+ not+ ?

Did+ We+ not+ ?

Did+ You+ not+ ?

Did+ They+ Not+ ?

Did+ He+ Not+ ?

Did+ She+ Not+ ?

Did+ It+ Not+ ?:

Passive Voice of Simple Past Tense or Past Indefinite Tense