In this article, I have explained the past indefinite tense with simple. examples. I have explained the positive sentence, negative sentences, interrogative sentences. I have explained the structure of positive, negative, and interrogative sentences. I have also given the exercise of the past indefinite tense.
Past Indefinite Tense
Past Indefinite tense is used when we talk about the past. The past indefinite tense is often used in speaking and writing.
- The action happens in the past.
- An action that happened in the past
- An action that is just completed.
- An action has done a little time ago.
Structure
In the past indefinite tense, we used the past form of the main verb. In a simple sentence, helping is not used. In negative and interrogative sentences helping verb Did is used which is the past form of the auxiliary do.1. Positive sentences
In positive sentences, the second form of the main verb is used. Helping the verb is not used in positive sentences. The structure of positive sentences is the following. The general structure of all tenses is Subject + helping verb+ Main verb + Object. In positive sentences of past Indefinite tense helping verb is not used and the past form of the main verb is used.Subject +auxilairy + Main verb + Object
Subject + No + VII + Object
Examples
- He ate an apple.
- I ate an apple.
- She ate an apple.
- They went to England.
- We went to school.
- You saw a lion.
2. Negative Sentences
In negative sentences Not is added with the helping verb did. In negative sentences, first of all, the subject is written. After the subject did not is written then the first form of the main verb is used. After the Second verb of the main verb object is written. In negative sentences, the important point to remember is that the base form is used instead of 2nd form of the main verb. The structure of negative sentences of past indefinite tense is following.Subject +Helping Verb + Main verb + Object
Subject + did not + VI + Object.
- He did not eat an apple.
- I did not eat an apple.
- She did not eat an apple.
- We did not go to school.
- They did not go to school.
- It did not rain last night.
- You did not go to school.
3. Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences start with the helping verb did. After did we used the subject and then the base form of the main verb. At the end of the sentence, an object is written. The important point to remember is that in interrogative sentences we used the base form of the main verb instead of the second or past form of a verb. The structure of interrogative sentences is following.Subject + Helping Verb +Main Verb + Object
Did + Subject + VI +Object
Examples
- Did I eat apples?
- Did we eat apples?
- Did you eat apples?
- Did she eat apples?
- Did they eat apples?
- Did he eat apples?
- Did it rain last night?
4. Interrogative +Negative Sentences
Interrogative + Negative sentences start with helping verb did, after did subject is written, not is added after the subject and then the first form of the main verb is used. At the end of the sentences, the object is written. The structure of interrogative + negative sentences is the following.Auxiliary + Subject + Not + Main Verb + Object
Auxiliary Did + Subject + Not + VI + Object
Examples
- Did he not eat apples?
- Did she not eat apples?
- Did I not eat apples?
- Did they not eat apples?
- Did we not eat apples?
- Did you not eat apples?
- Did it not rain last night?
(WH) Interrogative Sentences
In (WH) Interrogative sentence stats with WH words then helping verb did is used, the first form of a verb is used instead of the second form of a verb. The structure of WH Interrogative sentences is following.WH + Helping Verb + Subject + Object
When + Did + Subject + VI + Object
Examples
- Why did he eat apples?
- Why did you eat apples?
- When did they eat apples?
- How did we eat apples?
- Where did she eat apples?
Hints
These words give us hints.
Last, Previous, Ago, Yesterday, 1990.etc
Exercise
1. I passed the exam last year.
I did not pass the exam last year.
Did I pass the exam last year?
Did I not pass the exam?
when did I pass the exam?
2. We played a match last Sunday.
We did not play a match last Sunday.
Did we play a match last Sunday?
Did we not play a match last Sunday?
Why did we play a match last Sunday?
3. You helped the poor.
You did not help the poor.
Did you help the poor?
Did you not help the poor?
How did you help the poor?
4. They worked hard.
They did not work hard.
Did they work hard?
Did they not work hard?
How did they work hard?
5. He saw a lion in the forest.
He did not see a lion.
Did he see a lion?
Did he not see a lion?
When did he not see a lion?
6. She liked him.
She did not like him.
Did she like him?
Did she not like him?
Why did she like him?
7. It rained last night.
It did not rain last night.
Did it rain last night?
Did it not rain the last night?
How did it rain last night?
I did not pass the exam last year.
Did I pass the exam last year?
Did I not pass the exam?
when did I pass the exam?
2. We played a match last Sunday.
We did not play a match last Sunday.
Did we play a match last Sunday?
Did we not play a match last Sunday?
Why did we play a match last Sunday?
3. You helped the poor.
You did not help the poor.
Did you help the poor?
Did you not help the poor?
How did you help the poor?
4. They worked hard.
They did not work hard.
Did they work hard?
Did they not work hard?
How did they work hard?
5. He saw a lion in the forest.
He did not see a lion.
Did he see a lion?
Did he not see a lion?
When did he not see a lion?
6. She liked him.
She did not like him.
Did she like him?
Did she not like him?
Why did she like him?
7. It rained last night.
It did not rain last night.
Did it rain last night?
Did it not rain the last night?
How did it rain last night?
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