Past Indefinite Tense | Formation, Examples Download PDF

Past Indefinite Tense

Past indefinite tense shows that the routine of some action in the past. The second form of the verb is used in simple sentences. In the case of negative or interrogative sentences “did” is used as a helping verb. But remember one thing when you have used “did” as a helping verb now we will not use 2^nd form of the verb. Instead, we use the 1^st form of the verb.

Affirmative sentences 

Simply 2^nd form of a verb is used in positive or affirmative sentences of this tense.

Formation :

Sub + 2^nd form of verb + object

Examples:

• I wrote a letter.
• He ate an apple.
• Ali watched an interesting movie.
• They played a football match.
• She threw a ball.
• We kicked him.
• You played wrong.
• Lee and leone watched a play “First year at Harrow”.

Negative of past indefinite tense

When we have to make negative sentences, we use “not” after did as a helping verb. But remember one thing when you have used “did” as a helping verb now we will not use 2^nd form of the verb. Instead, we use 1^st form of a verb.

Formation :

Subject + helping verb (did) + not + 1^st form of verb + object

Examples:

• I did not write a letter.
• He did not eat an apple.
• Ali did not watch an interesting movie.
• They did not play a football match.
• She did not throw a ball.
• We did not kick him.
• You did not play wrong.
• Lee and leone did not watch the play “The first year at Harrow”.

Interrogative sentences

When we have to make interrogative sentences, we use the helping verb before the subject. Did is used as a helping verb. But remember one thing when you have used “did” as a helping verb now we will not use 2^nd form of the verb. Instead, we use 1^st form of the verb.

Formation :

Helping verb ( did ) + Subject + 1^st form of verb + object + ?

Examples

Did They play football matches?

Did Lee and leone watch a play “The first year at Harrow”?

what is the past indefinite tense helping verb?

Did is used as helping verb in past indefinite tense.

Past indefinite Tense Examples

• You used to shop in that market.
• We watched a movie in this Cineplex yesterday.
• We enjoyed the program thoroughly.
• We came for shopping in this market last week.
• They played football in that field.
• They played cricket in that field last week.
• The poet wrote a romantic poem.
• The lyricist wrote a realistic song for the program.
• She preferred coffee to tea.
• I wrote articles on different topics.
• I went to the Dhaka International Trade Fair with my elder brother.
• I sang different kinds of songs, especially modern.
• I listened to melodious songs last evening.
• I helped him to do the task.
• I could not attend the program because of my busy schedule.
• He went to the library yesterday.
• He was a man of parts.
• He read various kinds of books.
• He loved to travel around the world.
• Did you go to the concert of realistic songs?

English tenses PDF

Past Indefinite Tense

Present Indefinite Tense

Present continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Past continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Indefinite Tense
Future continuous Tense
Future Perfect Tense
Future Perfect Continuous Tense