Past Simple Tense: Rules, Examples & Exercises

Updated: • Level: A1–B1 • Length: ~10 min

Quick idea: Finished actions in the past. Use V2 (irregular) or verb + -ed (regular).

الفكرة سريعًا: أفعال منتهية في الماضي. نستخدم التصريف الثاني (للافعال الشاذة) أو الفعل + ed للأفعال المنتظمة.

Past Simple timeline and form
Timeline + form + signal words • المخطط الزمني والصيغة والكلمات الدالّة

When to Use

  • Completed action at a past time: I visited Cairo in 2022.
  • فعل مكتمل في وقت ماضٍ: زرت القاهرة عام 2022.
  • Series of finished events: He woke up, got dressed, and left.
  • سلسلة أحداث منتهية: استيقظ، وارتدى ملابسه، ثم غادر.
  • Past habits / repeated actions (often with often, always): When I was a child, I played outside.
  • عادات ماضية: عندما كنت طفلاً كنت ألعب بالخارج.

How to Form

FormPatternExamples
Affirmative Subject + V2 (irregular) / verb + -ed (regular) We watched a movie. • She went home.
Negative Subject + did not (didn’t) + base verb I didn’t go. • They did not watch.
Yes/No Question Did + subject + base verb? Did you visit Luxor?
Wh- Question Wh- + did + subject + base verb? Where did she go?
Be in past was/were (no did!) He was tired. / Was he tired? / They were late.

Important: After did/didn’t, use the base verb, not V2.

مهم: بعد did/didn’t نستخدم صيغة المصدر للفعل، وليس التصريف الثاني.

Regular Verbs: -ed Spelling

  • Most verbs: play → played, cook → cooked
  • الأكثر شيوعًا: play → played، cook → cooked
  • Verb ending in e: add d → live → lived
  • الفعل المنتهي بـ e: أضف d فقط: live → lived
  • Consonant + y: change y → ied → study → studied
  • ساكن + y: تتحول y → ied: study → studied
  • One-syllable C-V-C: double final consonant → stop → stopped, plan → planned
  • كلمة قصيرة (ساكن-علّة-ساكن): ضاعِف الحرف الأخير: stop → stopped

Irregular Verbs

Irregulars don’t use -ed. Learn common forms: go → went, have → had, make → made, see → saw.

الأفعال الشاذة لا تنتهي بـ -ed. احفظ الأشكال الشائعة: go → went، have → had…

Open the Irregular Verbs List

Signal Words & Time Phrases

yesterday, last (night/week/year), in 2010, a minute ago, then, on Monday.

أمس، الأسبوع/السنة الماضية، في 2010، منذ دقيقة، ثم، يوم الاثنين.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous vs Present Perfect

UsePast SimplePast ContinuousPresent Perfect
Main idea Finished past Action in progress in the past Past action with result/relevance now
Form V2 / -ed was/were + V-ing have/has + V3
Example I ate at 7. I was eating at 7. I have eaten already.
Markers yesterday, in 2019 while, when just, already, yet, ever/never

Examples (EN ⇄ AR)

  • I watched TV yesterday.
  • شاهدت التلفاز أمس.
  • They went to school by bus.
  • ذهبوا إلى المدرسة بالحافلة.
  • He didn’t like the movie.
  • لم يعجبه الفيلم.
  • Did you finish your homework?
  • هل أنهيت واجبك؟
  • She was happy yesterday.
  • كانت سعيدة أمس.

Common Mistakes

  1. Using V2 after didn’t. ❌ I didn’t went. → ✅ I didn’t go.

    استخدام التصريف الثاني بعد didn’t. ❌ I didn’t went. → ✅ I didn’t go.

  2. Using did with was/were. ❌ Did he was late? → ✅ Was he late?

    استخدام did مع was/were. ❌ Did he was late? → ✅ Was he late?

  3. Wrong -ed spelling. ❌ stoped → ✅ stopped; ❌ studyed → ✅ studied.

    تهجئة -ed خاطئة. ❌ stoped → ✅ stopped؛ ❌ studyed → ✅ studied.

Exercises

1) Complete with Past Simple (regular or irregular)

  1. She ___ (play) tennis yesterday.
  2. We ___ (not/go) to the party.
  3. They ___ (see) the new museum.
  4. He ___ (be) late last night.
  5. I ___ (study) English in 2020.

2) Choose the correct option

  1. I (didn’t went / didn’t go) to work on Friday.
  2. (Was / Did) she at home yesterday?
  3. They (were / did) not hungry.

3) Make questions with did or was/were

  1. (you / finish / the task) → ?
  2. (he / at school / yesterday) → ?
  3. (they / travel / last year) → ?

4) Error correction

  1. She didn’t went anywhere.
  2. Did you were tired?
  3. He stoped the car suddenly.
Answers

1) Complete

  1. played
  2. didn’t go
  3. saw
  4. was
  5. studied

2) Choose

  1. didn’t go
  2. Was
  3. were not

3) Make questions

  1. Did you finish the task?
  2. Was he at school yesterday?
  3. Did they travel last year?

4) Error correction

  1. She didn’t go anywhere.
  2. Were you tired?
  3. He stopped the car suddenly.

FAQ

Do we use “did” with all subjects?

Yes, in negatives and questions (did/ didn’t + base verb).

نعم، في النفي والأسئلة (did / didn’t + المصدر).

What about the verb be in the past?

Use was/were. Questions/negatives don’t use did: Was he…?, He wasn’t…

نستخدم was/were. لا نستخدم did مع be: Was he…?، He wasn’t…

Past Simple or Present Perfect?

Use Past Simple with a finished time (yesterday, in 2018). Use Present Perfect with no finished time and relevance now (I’ve lost my keys).

نستخدم الماضي البسيط مع زمن منتهٍ (أمس، في 2018). نستخدم المضارع التام بدون زمن منتهٍ مع أثر الآن (لقد أضعت مفاتيحي).