GRAMMAR LESSON THREE: Simple past

Hi everyone!

For those of you who have already learnt the first two grammar posts, here it comes the third one, the simple past:

The simple past is used to talk about actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.
I didn't see a play yesterday.
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
Did you have dinner last night?
She washed her car.
He didn't wash his car.

Simple past   

In affirmative form, it is formed with the past of the verb used. In regular verbs, the past is done placing an -ED ending at the end of the word, as in: walked, danced, jumped, washed, stayed... Even though, not only are there regular verbs, but also irregular verbs. Those ones don´t have an specific rule and you have to learn them. Here is the whole list. Examples:

I lived in California for many years
He traveled to the UK last week
It rained last weekend
She broke her arm that afternoon
They brought us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night
He bought his new jacket at the new clothing store.

In negative form, the verb "To do" (irregular) is placed before the principal verb as an auxiliary in its past tense "Did" and the principal verb is used in present tense. Examples:


I didn't live in California for many years
He didn't travel to the UK last week
It didn't rain last weekend
She didn't break her arm that afternoon
They didn't bring us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night
He didn't buy his new jacket at the new clothing store.

In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb "To do" in its past tense "Did" is used at the beginning of the question, being the principal verb used in present tense. Examples:

Did I live in California for many years?
Didn´t he travel to the UK last week?
Did it rain last weekend?
Didn't she break her arm that afternoon?
Did they bring us a pizza for dinner last Saturday night?


Series of completed actions using simple past

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.Examples:


I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?


Let's see its use with some examples:

Modern Family, Emmy awards ceremony: LILY IS A MONSTER

ED O'NEILL
It may sound corny, but our show really is like a family
JULIE BOWEN
Yeah, it's crazy how much I adore everyone in this cast
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON
Oh, really? everyone?
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
What's going on here?
SOFIA VERGARA
Nothing
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
I know it's not a table read because all of you showed up
ERIC STONESTREET
She's a monster

AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Shouldn't you get to make up?
JULIE BOWEN
Honey, I just came from make up
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Oh, really? Yikes!

AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Ty, they are ready for ya!
TY BURREL
Thanks honey!
Hey, what's up?
ARIEL WINTER
Ty! Are you OK?
SARAH HYLAND
You're sick
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
You're next!

SOFIA VERGARA
Oh, Aubrey, you look so pretty today
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Can somebody tell me what the heck she's saying?

JESSE TYLER FERGUSON
I'm sorry. Can we cut?
Aubrey, I can hear you chewing, what are you eating?
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Chicken Sandwich with two pickles
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON
Wait a minute. Did you get that where I think you got it?
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
Yup. This is what I’m going to eat at my wedding. What are you going to eat at your wedding?

ED O'NEILL
We've replaced Lily before, no one will notice
STRANGER
I don't know, I think you're underestimating the audience
ED O'NEILL
Please, they think I'm married to Sofia Vergara! They'll buy anything!
STRANGER
I'm a middle aged man and, quite frankly, this whole thing seems a little bit racist. I'm in
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS
They're ready for you!
ED O'NEILL
Yeah! See you on Monday, Lily
STRANGER
I like the sound of that!

So here we have the simple present UNDERLINED and, remember, it is used to express an action that happened in a specific time in the past, it can be five minutes ago, five hours ago or five years ago, but it's an action that is already finished. Examples:

AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS (0:22)
Shouldn't you get to make up?
JULIE BOWEN
Honey, I just came from make up


JESSE TYLER FERGUSON (1:00)
Wait a minute. Did you get that where I think you got it?

Suburgatory, Episode 1x01: ARE YOU CALLING MY BRA UGLY?

DALIA

That's so lame your mom died, beyotch.

TESSA

My mom, heh, didn't die. She's just gone.    

DALIA

So you became a lesbian to get back at her.

TESSA

What?

DALLAS

Tessa? If you need any help

or you have any questions or you feel lost

or unattractive in any way just let me know.

TESSA
I know why we're doing all this. It´s because your mom feels sorry for me.
DALIA
No. It's because my mom wants to screw your dad.

TESSA

Doesn't your mom screw your dad?

DALIA

Heh, no.

DALLAS
The suspense is killing me. I'm dying to see how cute you girls look.
DALIA
I'm buying* this
DALLAS
Oh, my godness, Tessa. Look at you. That is a keeper. That top is just off to the chizzy, is it not?
This is going* straight to the register.
Oh dear Lord, Who did this to you?
TESSA
This? I ordered it from a sporting-goods catalogue.
What's the problem?
DALLAS
Well, it's downright orthopedic. It's like a giant ACE bandage.
Like something a burn victim would wear.

TESSA

Are you calling my bra ugly?

DALLAS

Yes, honey, I am because it is ugly. And I would love to find one for you

that isn't. Along with a nice heterosexual dress shoe.

I put again the same video example, because, as you can see, in just one video we can find a whole variety of tenses: simple present, present continuous, simple past... Examples of simple past:

DALIA

That's so lame your mom died, beyotch.(0:09)

TESSA

My mom, heh, didn't die. She's just gone.

DALIA

So you became a lesbian to get back at her.

TESSA

What?

TESSA (1:01)
This? I ordered it from a sporting-goods catalogue.
What's the problem?


Easy A Clip: FULLY SUPPORTIVE 

OLIVE'S MOM
That boy from yesterday just dropped this off for you
OLIVE
Well, put it in the pile of gifts from my other suitors
OLIVE'S MOM
He seems like a nice kid, he seems a little incredibly gay...
OLIVE
Dyed in the wool homosexual, that boy is.
OLIVE'S MOM
I just want you to know your father and I are totally supportive. We love you no matter what the sexual orientation of your opposite sex sex partner...
OLIVE
We are not dating, mom.
OLIVE'S MOM
..and don't worry about not making us grandparents. Although we were kind of hoping you'd get "knocked up" so we'd have a second shot at raising kids, really do it right this time.
OLIVE
Bye now...
OLIVE'S MOM
You know I dated a homosexual once. For a long time actually... a "long" time...
OLIVE
Dear god, dear lord, tell me you did not marry and have children with him
OLIVE'S MOM
No.
OLIVE'S MOM
No, no. Your father is as straight as they come. A little too straight, if you know what I mean, girlfriend.
OLIVE
I don't...
Can you shut the door please?
OK, doors right over there..

So here we have the simple present UNDERLINED again. Examples:

OLIVE'S MOM (0:02)

That boy from yesterday just dropped this off* for you

OLIVE'S MOM (0:37)
You know I dated a homosexual once. For a long time actually... a "long" time...
OLIVE
Dear god, dear lord, tell me you did not marry and have children with him...

*"To drop off" is a phrasal verb or phrasal preposition, in this case with the same meaning as "To leave" or "To drop".

Hope you like it and see you soon!


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