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The past simple, part 3 of 4
Past Simple Affirmative: Sentences with Yesterday, Last, and Ago
An affirmative past sentence is subject + past verb, with no did and no was: I called you yesterday.
The idea
What a past sentence is
It is telling something that already happened in a full sentence: who, what they did, and usually when. The past verb already says it is over.
- When gives the context. A time word makes it clear that it is over: We met last year.
- You tell it in order. Several actions in a row all go in the past: I got home and made dinner.
- It works for short or long things, one call or ten years, if it is over: She lived in Peru for ten years.
When to use it
To tell a full story: what happened, who did it, and when it happened. These expressions go with it:
With ago
- three days ago
- a long time ago
- a few minutes ago
- ten years ago
With last
- last Friday
- last Monday
- last time
- last Christmas
With a date or a time
- in May
- in 2010
- on my birthday
- at six o'clock
Earlier today
- this afternoon
- earlier today
- just now
Examples
- The weekend
I visited my grandparents last weekend.
- A while ago
We moved to Bogotá five years ago.
- A date
She started her new job in March.
- This morning
I had coffee with Ana this morning.
- A story
He got up, made coffee and left.
- Last night
My friends called me last night.
How to build it
4 steps
- Start with whoA person, a name, or a pronoun:My brother
- Put the verb in the past, with no did or wasIt is the same form for everyone (except be: I was, you were):My brother called
- Add who or whatWhat comes after the verb:My brother called me
- At the end, whenUsually at the end. With ago, first how long and then ago:My brother called me two days ago.
Affirmative
- SubjectI
- past verbvisited
- complementmy aunt
- whentwo days ago.
The rule
More sentences, piece by piece
| Who | Past verb | What | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | finished | my homework | an hour ago. |
| She | went | to Cancún | in May. |
| We | had | pizza | on Friday. |
| They | bought | a car | last year. |
How to pronounce it
yesterday
/ˈjɛstərdeɪ/Three syllables, stress on the first: YES-ter-day.
ago
/əˈgoʊ/The a is very weak, and the stress is on go.
last
/læst/In American English the a is short and open: /æ/.
Check
Which sentence is correct?
Don't confuse it with the negative
They got lost.
Affirmative: past verb
They didn't get lost.
Negative: didn't + base verb
In the affirmative there is no did, and the verb is in the past. In the negative, didn't appears and the verb goes back to its base form.
Part 4: negatives and questionsIn real life
In fast speech, the a of ago is very weak and links to the word before: two days ago /tu ˈdeɪz əˈgoʊ/. If you hear that final /goʊ/, it is something that already happened.
Frequently asked questions
Where does yesterday go in a past sentence?
Usually at the end: I called her yesterday. It can also go at the beginning to highlight the time: Yesterday, I called her. What you don't do is put it between the verb and what follows.
What is the difference between ago and before?
Ago counts back from today: three days ago. Before counts from another moment or goes before a word: before lunch, two days before the party.
Do this morning and today go with the past simple?
Yes, when you talk about something that is finished: I ran this morning, She called today. What matters is that the action is over.
When do I use was and when do I use a past verb?
Was and were are the past of be: I was tired, we were at home. For any other action, use the past verb alone: I worked, we went. Saying I was worked to talk about what you did is a mistake.
In short
- Subject + past verb + the rest: She called me.
- No did or was: I worked (not I was worked).
- When usually goes at the end: We met last week.
- Ago goes after the time: two days ago.