Learn Past Tense Rules & structure [Notes available]- Hello friends; in this article, we discuss Past tense and its rules; as well as, Pdf is also provided, that you can download using the below link.
Here is an important link of Present tense rules and structures that have been discussed; you can read that as per your convenient time;
Past tense especially relates to the things that have been passed away; it could be works or incidents; past memories, etc, that you can recall at present but can’t go through the same time period;
therefore in this article, you will get essential rules, structures, and examples that will help you to understand past tense,
Understanding past Tense and it’s rule
This informs that if a work; which has been ended comes under the rules of Past tense; for instance, the first capital of India was changed from Kolkata to Delhi in 1911; you went to the market and brought vegetables; My mother lifted me when I was a child; So these examples of sentence show that incident that we are talking about is already elapsed ;
Some more examples to understand it–
- You saw me but I didn’t see you,
- They went away after taking their Food.
- You came but Your phone was switched off, so I was unable to contact you.
- Yesterday,My teacher called and taught me at his house .
Important formulas and rules for Simple past tense
Rule(1)- Sub+v2+obj+otherwords,
Affirmative sentence– Sub+v2+obj, example- I went to the market Yesterday. He completed his task; Please consider these two examples;1st example clearly represents the time “when I went to the market“, but the 2nd example doesn’t give a clear sense of time; “He completed his task” but when did he complete his task isn’t clear; however you may consider it;
Negative Sentence- Sub +did+not(didn't)+v1+ obj
Example– She didn’t read her book.
Note– In the Negative sentence of Past tense; if you use DID, you can use V1 form after DID, here is another example- They didn’t work hard,
Interogative sentence Rule- Did+sub+v1+obj?
Examples– Did you call him?. Did she meet you?.
Negative interrogative Rule - Didn't+sub+v1+obj?
EX– Didn’t you give him a book?. Didn’t she love the way you wished?.
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Negative Interrogative |
| She met me | She didn’t meet me | did she meet me? | didn’t she meet me? |
| You taught a Grammar Book | You didn’t teach a Grammar Book | Did you teach a Grammar Book? | Didn’t you teach a Grammar Book? |
| You studied this article | You didn’t study this article | Did you study this article? | Didn’t you study this article?. |
Simple past tense important Notes
Friends, You might have used these words like It’s high time, It’s time, so if you start the sentence with “It’s High time” or it’s time, and then a Subject comes after these words; better is to use V2 form after Subject in such particular sentences;
- it’s time you brought that Book.
Note– If you use ‘TO‘ after these above words; then make sure to use only V1 form after using ‘TO‘,
- it’s high time to study.
Note(02)– We don’t recommend; use DO/DOES OR DID in the form of helping verb in any Positive sentence; but if the emphasis on MAIN VERB, Then, use DO, DOES OR DID Before the Main verb, so in such cases, the Main verb is in the form of V1,
- She does study everyday
- You did make a right point
Note(03) – I reiterate here that In case of Elapsed works; try to use only the Past Tense rule;
- She has come here Yesterday ( Incorrect)
- She came here Yesterday (Correct)
Past Continuous Tense Rules and structures
This sub-type of tense often reveal that work was happening in the past, something was happening, like, the answer to the question ‘What was happening’ comes under the category of Past continuous tense;
- She was waiting for her boyfriend.
- You were dacing,
- I was going to market at 11 pm,
- They were running in the morning.
| +VE | –VE | ?(QUES) | -? |
| You were beating him | You were not beating him | Were you beating him? | Were you not beating him?. |
| She was teaching yesterday. | She was not teaching yesterday | Was she teaching yesterday? | Wasn’t she teaching yesterday?. |
| I was driving my Bike at 10’o clock. | I was not driving my bike at 10’o clock | Was I driving my bike at 10’o clock ?. | Wasn’t I driving my bike at 10’o clock?. |
+ve Rule- Sub+was/were+ v1+ing+obj. -ve rule- Sub+was/were+not+v1+ing+obj. que?rule- Was/were+sub+v1+ing+obj. -ve?que rule- wasn't/weren't +sub+v1+ing+obj?.or Was/were+sub+not+v1+ing+obj?.
Note(1) – You should use “WAS” with Singular/ He, she, it, this, that, I, name, etc. whereas ‘WERE’can be used with PLural /You, They, we, etc,
- First person -(i) – was
- Second persoN-(YOU) – were
- Third person -( He ,she ,it ,this, that , a name, )- Was
- We,they ,or if Plural – Were,
Note (02) – All those thoughts which are fictitious/Imaginary always take place with the usage of WERE, no matter if the verb form is either ‘Helping verb’ or ‘Main verb’,
- I wish, I were a Bird.
- She wish ,she were a dream girl.
- They pretended as if they were the Indian Army.
Past perfect tense Rules and structures
This sub-type of tense is not as difficult as you think, but here we take some examples; that will really help to understand this;
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | -ve Interrogative |
| He had gone | He hadn’t Gone | Had he gone?. | Hadn’t He gone?. |
| They had beaten him. | They hadn’t beaten him. | Had they beaten him? | Had they not beaten him? |
| She had studied that news. | She hadn’t studied that news. | Had She studied that news?. | Hadn’t she studied that news?. |
So here, after seeing all the above sentences; we find that the use of “HAD” is possible with First person, second person, and 3rd person also; another thing’ V3 form’ also take place after HAD,
+VE Rule(1)- Sub+ HAD+ V3+OBJ -VE RULE(2)- Sub+Had+not+v3+obj. Ques Rule(3)-Had+Sub+v3+obj?. -ve ques(4)- Hadn't+sub+v3+obj?. or had+sub+not+v3+obj?.
Important note– This tense can take two past incidents together to talk at the same time, But we do use different tactics in such cases, to make the sentence in English; i.e. if two works had happened one after one; then, the first work would reveal Past perfect, and 2ndth work would reveal Simple past tense.
- She had seen me before I reached to the market.
- Before They went out of the door the police had caught them.
- By the time I kicked my bike The thief had caught my bike.
Past perfect continuous tense rule-this sub-type of tense reveals that ‘the work which started in past time, went on. and finished at a time,
+ve- Sub+had+been+v1+ing+obj+for/since+time. -ve- Sub+had+not+been+v1+ing+obj+for/since+time. ? -Had+sub+been+v1+ing+obj+for/since+time?.
Examples-
- You had been waiting for me since evening.
- She had been studying her books since morning.
- They had been walking for three hours.
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