Past simple — finished actions · Passé simple — actions terminées
Talking about the past
- The past simple describes finished actions in the past.
- I watched a film yesterday. We went to Beijing last year.
- Often used with yesterday, last week, … ago, in 2019.
I lost my keys yesterday; they did not write a postcard.
Parler du passé
- Le passé simple décrit des actions terminées dans le passé.
- J'ai regardé un film hier. Nous sommes allés à Pékin l'année dernière.
- Souvent utilisé avec yesterday, last week, … ago, in 2019.
J'ai perdu mes clés hier ; elles n'ont pas écrit de carte postale.
Regular verbs: add -ed
- Most verbs add -ed: work → worked, play → played.
- Ending in -e: add only -d → like → liked.
- Consonant + y: change y to i, add -ed → study → studied.
- The form is the same for every subject: I worked, she worked.
Verbes réguliers : ajouter -ed
- La plupart des verbes ajoutent -ed : work → worked, play → played.
- Se terminant par -e : n'ajouter que -d → like → liked.
- Consonne + y : changer y en i, ajouter -ed → study → studied.
- La forme est la même pour tous les sujets : I worked, she worked.
What is the past simple of “study”? · Quel est le passé simple de « study » ?
Consonant + y → change y to i, then add -ed: study → studied. · Consonne + y → changez y en i, puis ajoutez -ed : study → studied.
Irregular verbs (learn these!)
- Many common verbs are irregular — no -ed:
- go → went, have → had, see → saw, get → got, make → made, eat → ate.
- There is no rule — you must memorise them.
Verbes irréguliers (à apprendre !)
- De nombreux verbes courants sont irréguliers — pas de -ed :
- go → went, have → had, see → saw, get → got, make → made, eat → ate.
- Pas de règle — il faut les mémoriser.
Regular or irregular past? · Régulier ou irrégulier ?
Regular verbs add -ed; irregular verbs change in their own way and must be learned. · Les verbes réguliers ajoutent -ed ; les verbes irréguliers changent de manière spécifique et doivent être appris.
Write the past simple of “go”. · Écrivez le passé simple de « go ».
“go” is irregular: go → went (not “goed”). · « go » est irrégulier : go → went (pas « goed »).
Negatives & questions: did
- Negative: didn't + base verb → I didn't go.
- Question: Did + subject + base verb → Did you see it?
- After did / didn't, the verb returns to its base form (no -ed).
Négations et questions : did
- Négation : didn't + verbe à l'infinitif → I didn't go.
- Question : Did + sujet + verbe à l'infinitif → Did you see it?
- Après did / didn't, le verbe revient à sa forme infinitive (pas de -ed).
Put the words in order to make a past question. · Mettez les mots dans l'ordre pour former une question au passé.
Past questions use Did + subject + base verb: “Did you see the film?” · Les questions au passé utilisent Did + sujet + verbe à l'infinitif : « Did you see the film? »
Translate into English: 我昨天看了一部电影。 · Traduisez en anglais : 我昨天看了一部电影。
A finished past action → past simple: “I watched a film yesterday.” · Une action passée terminée → passé simple : « I watched a film yesterday. »
Common mistakes
- ❌ I go to Beijing last month. → ✓ I went to Beijing last month. — past time → past form.
- ❌ She buyed a phone. → ✓ She bought a phone. — irregular verbs don't take -ed.
- ❌ yesterday night → ✓ last night — but yesterday morning is fine.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ I go to Beijing last month. → ✓ I went to Beijing last month. — temps passé → forme passée.
- ❌ She buyed a phone. → ✓ She bought a phone. — les verbes irréguliers ne prennent pas -ed.
- ❌ yesterday night → ✓ last night — mais yesterday morning est correct.
Match the verb to its past simple. · Reliez le verbe à son passé simple.
All irregular — learn them in pairs: buy → bought, think → thought, take → took, come → came. · Tous irréguliers — apprenez-les par paires : buy → bought, think → thought, take → took, come → came.
Which sentence is correct? · Quelle phrase est correcte ?
didn't already shows the past — the verb goes back to go. · didn't porte déjà le passé — le verbe revient à go.
- Past simple = a finished past action.
- Regular verbs: + -ed; irregular verbs: learn each one.
- Negatives and questions use did / didn't + the base verb.
- Past simple = une action du passé terminée.
- Verbes réguliers : + -ed ; verbes irréguliers : apprendre chacun d'eux.
- Les négations et les questions utilisent did / didn't + le verbe à l'infinitif.
Write one sentence about something you did yesterday. Use the past simple. · Écrivez une phrase sur quelque chose que vous avez fait hier. Utilisez le passé simple.
Example: “I played basketball with my friends.” (play → played) · Exemple : « I played basketball with my friends. » (play → played)