Simple Past (pasado simple)

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Form of Simple Past

	Positive	Negative	Question
no differences	I spoke.	I did not speak.	Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

• action in the past taking place once, never or several times

  Example: He visited his parents every weekend.

• actions in the past taking place one after the other

  Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.

• action in the past taking place in the middle of another action

  Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

• if sentences type II (If I talked, …)

  Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Signal Words of Simple Past

• yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
• If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

Voz pasiva

CARACTERISTICAS

1. Se dice que una oración está en VOZ ACTIVA cuando la significación del verbo es producida por la persona gramatical a quien aquél se refiere: Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires. (Pedro de Mendoza fundó Buenos Aires).

2. Se dice que una oración está en VOZ PASIVA cuando la significación del verbo es recibida por la persona gramatical a quien aquél se refiere: Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza. (Buenos Aires fue fundada por Pedro de Mendoza).

3. Se forma con el auxiliar del verbo to be y el participio pasado del verbo que se conjuga.

4. El complemento de la oración activa pasa a sujeto de la pasiva. Como en castellano, el sujeto de la activa se puede conservar como sujeto agente.

5. Cuando un verbo tiene dos complementos se pueden hacer dos estructuras de pasiva: a) A book was sent to Tom by Mr. Smith, Un libro fue enviado a Tom por Mr. Smith. b) Tom was sent a book by Mr. Smith (pasiva idiomática). Esta estructura no es posible en castellano.