Past Indefinite Tense in English (Rules, Formula & Examples) PDF

Past Indefinite Tense with Rules, Formula & Examples (Download PDF) is also known as Simple Past Tense which shows the action in past, to understand carefully, we have given all types of examples like affirmative, interrogative, WH questions, and negative sentences with rules and examples, so that students can easily understand them.

Now we will see, how to make sentences for (Simple) Past Indefinite Tense, what its rules, examples, and how to make them while making the sentence, so let’s start.

Past Indefinite Tense Rules

First of all, we know the basic formulas & rules.

Formula –

• Affirmative – Sub + 2nd form of verb (v2) + Obj.
• Negative – Sub + did not + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.
• Interrogative – Did + Sub + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.
• WH Questions – WH + did + Sub + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.

1. Affirmative Past Indefinite Tense

Read the rules carefully given below:

• In the Past Indefinite Tense, we use the 2nd form of the main verb.
• This is the only tense with its own stage of action in which the second form of the main verb is used.
• Remember that the second form of the main verb is used with the subject and any person or number.

The formula for Affirmative sentences.

Sub + 2nd form of verb (v2) + Obj.

We have given below 15 examples of Affirmative sentences for Past Indefinite Tense so that you can easily understand them.

Examples –

1. You went there to study.
2. Ramesh ate mango at the market.
3. You reached there in time.
4. I slept in the afternoon.
5. He walked on the road. 
6. You wrote a letter.
7. I gave him a book.
8. He caught a bird.
9. He abused you.
10. Neha taught the students.
11. I received your telegram yesterday.
12. He solved the sum.
13. India became independent in 1947.
14. I won the first prize.
15. Rahul went to Delhi.  

2. Negative Past Indefinite Tense

Read the rules carefully given below:

• In the Past Indefinite Tense (negative sentences) we use did not + first form of the main verb.
• Remember that whenever never is used, don’t use did not ever. It will be right to say that – I never went there.

The formula for Negative sentences.

Sub + did not + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.

We have given below 15 examples of negative sentences for Past Indefinite Tense so that you can easily understand them.

Examples –

1. You did not go there to study.
2. Ramesh did not eat mango at the market.
3. You did not reach there in time.
4. I did not sleep in the afternoon.
5. He did not walk on the road. 
6. You did not write a letter.
7. I did not give him a book.
8. He did not catch a bird.
9. He did not abuse you.
10. Neha did not teach the students.
11. I did not receive your telegram yesterday.
12. He never solved the sum.
13. India did not become independent in 1947.
14. I never won the first prize.
15. Rahul did not go to Delhi.  

3. Past Indefinite Tense Interrogative Sentences – Interro Negative Sentences

Read the rules carefully given below:

• In Past Indefinite Tense/interrogative sentences Did is placed before the subject, and after the subject’s 1st form of the main verb is used, and a question mark (?) is put at the end of the sentence.
• In Interro-negative sentences we used did + sub + not + first form of the main verb.
• We use did to emphasize a thing or a fact, we use did just in the affirmative sentence, and the first form of the main verb is used – like, I did talk to her on this subject.

The formula for interrogative sentences.

Did + Sub + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.

We have given below 15 examples of interrogative sentences for Past Indefinite Tense so that you can easily understand them.

Examples –

1. Did you go there to study?
2. Did Ramesh eat mango at the market?
3. Did you reach there in time?
4. Did I not sleep in the afternoon?
5. Did he walk on the road?
6. Did you write a letter?
7. Did I give him a book?
8. Did he not catch a bird?
9. Did he abuse you?
10. Did Neha teach the students?
11. Did I receive your telegram yesterday?
12. Did he not solve the sum?
13. Did India become independent in 1947?
14. Did I win the first prize?
15. Did Rahul not go to Delhi?

4.  WH-Questions in Past Indefinite Tense

WH – There are sentences whose answer requires more information. WH – are related, how, who, when, who, why, where, how many.

To form a WH-question, start with the WH-word, and then add did then Subject followed by the base form of the verb, and only then add the rest of the sentence.

The formula for WH-Questions.

WH + did + Sub + 1^st form of verb (v1) + Obj.

We have given below 5 examples of WH-Questions sentences for Past Indefinite Tense so that you can easily understand them.

Examples –

1. When did you go there to study?
2. How did Ramesh eat mango at the market?
3. When did you reach there in time?
4. Why did I sleep in the afternoon?
5. Where did he walk on the road?

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All these Past Indefinite Tense rules will help you to understand how to make sentences and when and where to use these kinds of tenses.

Read also –

• All Tenses Chart with rules and Examples
• Present indefinite Tense with Examples
• Present Continuous Tense with Examples
• Present Perfect Tense With Examples
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense with Examples