Past Indefinite Tense| Use, Rules, Formula, Examples

Past Indefinite Tense or Simple Present Tense can be defined as that type of past tense in which a Verb is used to indicate the past time habitual actions. It means that actions or practices that had been practiced regularly during past time, can be expressed in Past Indefinite Tense.

Rules to form Past Indefinite Tense Sentences

Following are some rules, that must be followed to form Past Indefinite Tense Sentences.

• First, write the Subject of the past habitual action.
• If the Sentence is Assertive, then write 2nd Verb.
• However, in the case of Negative, Interrogative, and Negative-Interrogative Sentences, use the helping verb “did” with 1st Verb.
• Then use an Object, on which the Subject does something.
• In the end, write the remaining words, if there are any.

Helping Verbs of Past Indefinite Tense

Past Indefinite Tense uses only 1 single helping verb to indicate the habitual actions of the Past time.

• Did

“Did” As a Helping Verb in the Past Indefinite Tense

“Did” is used as a helping verb with all types of Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns(I, We, You, They, He, She, It), to indicate the habitual or daily life actions of the past time. Thus, Past Indefinite Tense Sentences with “did” as a helping verb have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+did+1st Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Assertive, Negative, Interrogative, and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structure formula.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense do not take any helping verb, instead, they take 2nd Verb to represent the habitual actions of the past time. Thus Assertive Sentences of Past Indefinite Tensde have the following Sentence Structure formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+2nd Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

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

1. I visited the museum yesterday.
2. We finished our project on time.
3. You played football with your friends last weekend.
4. They met my old school teacher at the grocery store.
5. He watched a movie last night.
6. She baked a delicious cake for the party.
7. The train arrived late at the station.
8. The company launched a new product last month.
9. She called her friend to wish her a happy birthday.
10. They travel to Japan last summer.

Negative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense take “not” with the helping verb “did”, to indicate the negative nature of habitual actions of the past time. Thus, Negative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+did+not+1st Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Negative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

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

1. I did not complete my homework before dinner.
2. We did not buy a new dress for the party.
3. You did not visit the Grand Canyon during your vacation.
4. They did not attend the concert on Friday night.
5. He did not learn to play the guitar when I was a teenager.
6. She did not write a letter to her grandmother.
7. The cat did not chase the mouse around the house.
8. The children did not play in the park after school.
9. He did not forget his keys at home this morning.
10. They did not sell their old car last week.

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense uses “did” as a helping verb at the start of Sentences to show the interrogative nature of the habitual actions of the past time. Thus, Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Did+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+1st Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

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

1. Did I listen to my favorite song on the way to work?
2. Did we have breakfast early this morning?
3. Did you visit your grandparents last weekend?
4. Did they praise their students for their hard work?
5. Did he organize a surprise party for his friends?
6. Did she read an interesting book last month?
7. Did he take a walk in the park after lunch?
8. Did he clean the house before the guests arrived?
9. Did they win the scholarships last year?
10. Did we enjoy the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense take “did” as a helping verb at the start of Sentences to show the interrogative nature of the past habitual action, and “not” comes after the Subject of the Sentences to show the negative nature of the past habitual actions. Thus, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Indefinite Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Did+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+not+1st Verb+Object+Remaining Words+?

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Indefinite Tense

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

1. Did I not start a new job last Month?
2. Did we not cook dinner for our family last night?
3. Did you not move to a new city in June?
4. Did they not visit the dentist for a check-up yesterday?
5. Did he not celebrate his birthday with a big party?
6. Did she not find a wallet on the sidewalk?
7. Did the storm not cause a lot of damage last week?
8. Did he not watch a documentary about space exploration?
9. Did they not paint their house last summer?
10. Did I not complete the project ahead of the deadline?

Past Indefinite Tense-Passive Voice

Past Indefinite Tense or Simple Past Tense Sentences can be converted to Passive Voice form. To make Passive Voice form of Past Indefinite Tense Sentences, follow the rules mentioned in the article:

• Past Indefinite Tense|Passive Voice