Uses
This tense is used to talk about completed actions.
Past simple.
He (to run) to the shop before it closed.
He ran / was running to the shop before it closed.
Yes, I had cereal and milk.
Did you have breakfast?
I was waking up early this morning.
I woke up early this morning.
Become.
Became / become.
This tense is used to talk about continuous actions.
Past continuous.
We (to finish) the film.
We finished / were finishing the film.
Yes, we finished our homework.
Did you (plural) finish your homework?
Sorry, we eated all of the cake before you arrived.
Sorry, we ate all of the cake before you arrived.
Choose.
Chose / chosen.
This tense can be used to add a description to a story and to show that a longer action was interrupted.
Past continuous.
I (to talk) with my mum on the phone.
I talked/was talking with my mum on the phone.
Yes, I watched it.
Did you watch it?
Doesn´t he lose his job?
Didn he lose his job?
Fly.
Flew / flown.
Name 3 words or phrases associated with the past simple tense.
Yesterday, last month, last week, last summer, in 2010, a long time ago, on Monday, on February etc.
They (to work) very hard.
They worked/were working very hard.
No, I drove to work today.
Did you walk to work?
He losed the race.
He lost the race.
Know.
Knew / known.
Name 2 words or phrases associated with the past continous tense.
While and when.
She (to give) her sister a bouquet of flowers.
She gave her sister a bouquet of flowers.
I took five books.
How many books did you take?
I was jumping the most high at the competition.
I jumped the highest at the competition.
Be.
Was and were / been.