So, after having decided what was usually done in the past we are now going to focus on particular events that happened in the past. When something happened and we know exactly when it happened we use the past tense. So the time of the event is important and it is mentioned.
This is the past simple: the past simple is formed by the full verb + -ed (in case of a regular verb)
example: I watched a movie last night.
Of course, there are exceptions! If a verb:
* ends in an -e -d is added to challenge challenged
* ends in a consonant (medeklinker) +y, -y is replaced by -ied to dry dried
* ends in a short vowel (klinker + consonant) the consonant is doubled to slam slammed
*has more syllables (lettergrepen) and end in -l, -led is added to travel travelled
If there are regular verbs then there must be irregular verbs as well: of course they have there own ending:
The past simple negative(ontkennend) and interrogative(vragend):
If you want to want to say that something did not happen in the past, the past simple goes as follows:
- did/ didn't + full verb example: He didn't go to the match.
When you want know if he went to the match, you ask the question:
- Did+ subject(onderwerp)+ full verb example: Did he go to the match?
Facts of history also belong to the past. For example when you wonder how people in early times used to live.
If you would write a report on a history subject then you would use the past simple lots of times. For example: Christopher Columbus discovered a new world in 1492.