Uses of Simple Past
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never or several times.
It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Beware of Double Dutch!
One specific use of the Simple Past's use deserves your attention: Speakers of English use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Dutch uses the Tegenwoordig Voltooide Tijd in those cases.
EXAMPLES
English | Dutch |
I saw a movie yesterday. | Ik heb gisteren een film bekeken. |
I didn't see a play yesterday. | Ik heb gisteren geen theatervoorstelling bezocht. |
Last year, I travelled to Japan. | Vorig jaar ben ik naar Japan gereisd. |
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea. | Vorig jaar ben ik niet naar Korea gereisd. |
Did you have dinner last night? | Heb je gisteren gedineerd? |
She washed her car last week. | Ze heeft haar auto vorige week gewassen. |
Signal Words of Simple Past