Simple Past

Used in connection with a specified time that is finished.

I did a lot of work today.
(It’s evening, and I’m no longer doing work.)

Thomas lived in Sweden as a child.
(He’s not living there any more.)

It didn’t rain last week.
(It might be raining this week.)

She was with us until 1995.
(She is no longer with us.)

I missed my deadline yesterday.
(The mistake took place at a point in the past.)

Did you see the news on television last night?
(The specific programme is now over.)

When did they make their decision?
(Asking about a specific time in the past.)

Signal words: as a child, last week, last night, until, yesterday, when

Used for things that happened a long time ago and cannot continue to the present.

Marco Polo travelled extensively.
(He is long dead and no longer travelling.)

Agatha Christie wrote numerous novels.
(She is dead and no longer writing.)

Used to talk about past events that have been followed by newer information.

Tim finished his project, and is now working on a new one.

I opened the window, but now someone seems to have closed it again.

I found the technical documentation, but then lost all my notes.

Fred left the company and came back the following year.