Grammar

This link can be a useful guide to review the grammar points that have been practiced in the classroom.


Past Simple Verb Tense

The Past Simple is used to express a past action that is finished.  

Ex.  I went to England last summer.
        I ate pizza last night for dinner.


I drove to Washington D.C. yesterday.
He/She drove to Washington D.C. yesterday.
We drove to Washington D.C. yesterday.
You drove to Washington D.C. yesterday.
They drove to Washington D.C. yesterday.

*Drove is the past tense form of drive.  Drive is considered an irregular verb.

Negative form:

Use didn't (did not) + the base form of the verb

I didn't to Washington D.C. yesterday.
He/She didn't to Washington D.C. yesterday.
We didn't to Washington D.C. yesterday.
You didn't to Washington D.C. yesterday.
They didn't to Washington D.C. yesterday.

Questions:

Use question word  +  did + subject + base form of the verb

What did they see?
Where did he go?

Yes/No questions

Use Did + subject + base form of the verb

Did you  drive to Washington D.C. yesterday?
Did you see the snow this morning?

Short answers

Yes, I did

No, I didn't


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There are several time expressions  used with the Past Simple.

last + time expression

Ex: last night                                          last month
       last week                                          year
       last Friday
     

yesterday +  time expression

Ex:  yesterday morning
        yesterday afternoon
        yesterday evening


The adverb ago.  Ago is used only with the past tense and always comes after an expression of time.

Ex:  I went on vacation two weeks ago.

      went is the completed action
      two weeks is the time expression,
      ago is the adverb that follows the time expression