100 Examples of Simple Past Tense Sentences

What Is the Simple Past Tense?

The simple past tense (also called the past simple or preterite) is used to describe completed actions or events that happened in the past.

Examples:

• She watched a movie yesterday.
• They traveled to London last summer.
• He didn’t go to school yesterday.

In this lesson, you will find 100 examples of simple past tense sentences — including regular and irregular verbs, as well as affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms.

How to Form the Simple Past Tense

Regular Verbs

Add –ed to the base form of the verb.

play → played
visit → visited
work → worked

Irregular Verbs

Change the verb form completely.

go → went
see → saw
eat → ate

Negatives and Questions

Use the auxiliary verb did:

• Negative → did not (didn’t) + base verb
• Question → Did + subject + base verb?

Examples of Simple Past Tense – Regular Verbs

1. I watched a movie last night.
2. She played tennis with her friends.
3. We visited the museum on Sunday.
4. They worked hard all week.
5. He cleaned his room yesterday.
6. I cooked dinner for my family.
7. She walked to school this morning.
8. We painted the walls last weekend.
9. He washed the car on Saturday.
10. They opened their gifts eagerly.
11. I helped my brother with his homework.
12. She listened to her favorite song.
13. We studied for the English exam.
14. He called his friend yesterday.
15. They waited for the bus in the rain.
16. I finished reading that novel.
17. She danced beautifully at the party.
18. We watched the football match together.
19. He visited his grandparents last summer.
20. They enjoyed their trip to Spain.

Examples of Simple Past Tense – Irregular Verbs

21. I went to the supermarket.
22. She saw a shooting star.
23. We ate pizza for dinner.
24. They came home late.
25. He drank orange juice this morning.
26. I bought a new book yesterday.
27. She took many photos at the beach.
28. We met our teacher at the library.
29. He wrote a message to his friend.
30. They ran in the park after school.
31. I gave him a birthday present.
32. She spoke to her parents about it.
33. We built a sandcastle on the beach.
34. He found a coin on the ground.
35. They flew to Paris last year.
36. I read an interesting article.
37. She broke her phone by accident.
38. We sang our favorite song.
39. He drove to work this morning.
40. They chose the red dress.

Negative Sentences in the Simple Past

41. I didn’t watch TV yesterday.
42. She didn’t visit her aunt.
43. We didn’t eat breakfast today.
44. They didn’t play football.
45. He didn’t study for the exam.
46. I didn’t go to the party.
47. She didn’t call me back.
48. We didn’t open the window.
49. He didn’t like the food.
50. They didn’t finish their project.
51. I didn’t meet my friends.
52. She didn’t drive to work.
53. We didn’t have time to rest.
54. He didn’t take his medicine.
55. They didn’t read the instructions.
56. I didn’t sleep well last night.
57. She didn’t speak loudly.
58. We didn’t buy any gifts.
59. He didn’t come to school.
60. They didn’t clean their room.

Questions in the Simple Past

61. Did you watch the movie last night?
62. Did she finish her homework?
63. Did they visit London last year?
64. Did he play the guitar?
65. Did you see that new restaurant?
66. Did we win the game?
67. Did she write the report?
68. Did he drive to the office?
69. Did they go swimming?
70. Did you eat breakfast?
71. Did she call her mother?
72. Did we study enough?
73. Did he come on time?
74. Did they speak to the teacher?
75. Did you take your umbrella?
76. Did she dance at the wedding?
77. Did we travel by train?
78. Did he tell the truth?
79. Did you buy any food?
80. Did they enjoy the concert?

Mixed Examples of Regular and Irregular Verbs

81. I lived in Paris for two years.
82. She drove to the mountains.
83. We talked about our childhood.
84. They built a new house last year.
85. He watched the sunrise from the hill.
86. I met her at the café.
87. She studied all night.
88. We went for a walk after dinner.
89. He played the piano beautifully.
90. They saw a rainbow after the storm.
91. I cooked pasta for lunch.
92. She wrote a letter to her cousin.
93. We painted the living room blue.
94. He took photos during the trip.
95. They visited their grandparents yesterday.
96. I read that book last month.
97. She cleaned the kitchen this morning.
98. We drank coffee together.
99. He watched a funny video online.
100. They went to the zoo on Sunday.

Summary of Simple Past Rules

Related Lessons

• Simple Past Exercises
• Past Tense of “To Be”
• Past Continuous vs Simple Past Quiz
• Simple Present Vs Simple Past Quiz
• Past Perfect Vs Simple Past Exercises With Answers
• Review of English Tenses
• Examples of English Tenses
• List of Irregular Verbs

More information about the past simple tense!