Simple past (prétérit)

EnglishFrench
The simple past tense is used for completed action in the past
Verb + ed
The simple past form for irrregular verbs:
Refer to your irregular verbs list

The simple past form for regular verbs:
Verb + ed
The simple past form for irrregular verbs:
Refer to your irregular verbs list

  • Often, sometimes, always…
  • Last week, when I was a child, six weeks ago…
  • The other day, ages ago, a long time ago…

When I was a child I often played football.

Last week, I was sick.

They broke up a long time ago.

PRETERIT RECAP

Verbes réguliers +ED
ex : She walked to the train station
Verbes irréguliers deuxième colonne de la liste
ex: buy bought bought
ex: Yesterday, he bought a new car.
Auxilliaire: did nécessaire pour questions et négations*
Questions:
ex: did she walk to the train station?
ex: when did he buy a new car?
Négations:
ex: She didn’t walk to the train station
ex: He didn’t buy a new car.
* la marque du temps passé est prise par l’auxiliaire: quand did est utilisé le verbe principal prend sa forme infinitive (sans to).

Common verbs exercise

Irregular verbs exercises

Irregular verbs from A to B exercise (simple past):

Simple past interrogative form exercise:

Irregular verbs from C to D exercise (simple past):

Simple past interrogative form exercise: