Elementary 📐 Grammar · #240 of 305

Past Simple Time Expressions

yesterday, last week, ago, in 2010 signal the past simple.

Examples

  • I met her two years ago.
  • We moved in 2019.

Key rules

  • Past simple time words: yesterday, last week, in 2010, two years ago
  • Ago comes after a period of time (three days ago)
  • Do not use present perfect with these words
  • Question: When did you...?

Common mistakes

  • I have seen him yesterday → I saw him yesterday
  • I met her before two years → I met her two years ago
💡 Tip: Finished time word means past simple.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
← Asking for and Giving DirectionsUsed To: Questions and Negatives →

Related Elementary topics

See all Elementary grammar lessons →

Past Simple: Regular Verbs

Add -ed to finish actions in the past.

Past Simple: Irregular Verbs

Many common verbs have special past forms.

Past Simple: Negatives and Questions

Use did/didn't + base verb.

Was and Were

Past forms of be.

Past Continuous

was/were + -ing for actions in progress in the past.

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Use continuous for background; simple for interrupting events.