Past simple tense

The past simple tense is used:

1) To express an action that took place in the past;

* Neil Armstrong landed on the moon July 21, 1967.

2) To express an action that went on for some time in the past; as,

* While I slept (was sleeping) she watched (was watching) a feature film on T.V set.

3) To express a habitual action in the past; as,

* I taught (used to teach) students for sixteen hours a day for thirty years.

4) To express a repeated act in the past; as,

* He took tea every morning.
* She danced every night.

** The past tense cannot be used with an adverb or any other word which expresses the present time;

E.g.

Incorrect: I did not pay the telephone bill yet.
Correct: I have not paid the telephone bill yet.

- Study the following sentences carefully.

* The rain stopped (not has stopped) yesterday.
* He died (not has died) of cold last night.
* She caught (not has caught) cold last night.

Examples:

* I found a wrist watch lying on the foot path last night.
* We swam in the river day before yesterday.
* You stole my pen last week.
* He made many errors in the composition.
* She insulted me on many occasions.
* It broke my heart into pieces.
* They sold out their old car.
* Robert bought a new color T.V set.
* Britney sang sweetly.
* Children watched cricket match at the stadium.
* A gang of robbers broke into the house last night.
* A poisonous snake bit him on the foot.
* The train stopped at the important stations only.
* The doctor saved the life of a young man by performing a major operation in the nick of time.
* He deposited a large amount in savings bank account.