Topic Progress
0% Complete
We use the simple past when we want to talk about a past action with a definite end time that is not ongoing or continuing into the present.
• Yesterday, I went to the park. (The action of going to the park happened yesterday and is already finished.)
• She cooked dinner last night. (The action of cooking dinner happened last night and is already finished.)
• They visited their grandparents last weekend. (The action of visiting their grandparents happened last weekend and is already finished.)
| Time Marker | Examples |
|---|---|
| Yesterday | – I finished my homework yesterday. – We went to the beach yesterday. – She saw a movie yesterday. |
| Last | – She ate dinner at the restaurant last night. – They travelled to Europe last month. – We went to the beach last weekend. |
| When | – I was walking in the park when I saw an old friend. – When I was a child, I loved playing with toys. – When we visited Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower. |
| Ago | – I finished reading that book two weeks ago. – She graduated from college six years ago. – We went on vacation to Hawaii two months ago. |
| On [day/date] | – We went to the museum on Saturday. – She had a doctor’s appointment on Monday. – They had a party on New Year’s Eve. |
| In + Past Date | – She graduated in 2010. – We moved to this city in 2019. – They started their business in 2008. |
| Earlier | – They had breakfast earlier. – He left work earlier than usual. – She finished the project earlier than expected. |
| Before [event/time] | – We left before the movie started. – She finished her work before the deadline. – They arrived at the party before it got dark. |