In the past simple tense, questions are formed by using the past simple form of the auxiliary verb “do” (did), along with the base form of the main verb.
Here’s how to construct past simple questions:
Structure:
Did + \[ Subject + Base Form of the Verb + Complements or additional Information
Examples:
Did you play tennis yesterday?
Did she go to the party?
Did we visit the museum last week?
Did they study Spanish?
Did he watch a movie last night?
Table: Past simple tense – Question (Interrogative form)
| Subject Pronoun | Past Simple Interrogative | Examples | Short answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Did + base form | Did I finish your homework yesterday? | Yes, you did / No, you didn’t |
| You | Did + base form | Did you attend the event last night? | Yes, I did / No, I didn’t |
| He/She/It | Did + base form | Did she visit her grandparents over the weekend? | Yes, she did / No, she didn’t |
| We | Did + base form | Did we go to the beach last summer? | Yes, you did / No, you didn’t |
| You (plural) | Did + base form | Did you enjoy the concert? | Yes, we did / No, we didn’t |
| They | Did + base form | Did they complete the project on time? | Yes, they did / No, they didn’t |
Usage:
Asking about completed actions:
Used to inquire about actions or events that happened and were completed in the past.
Example:
Did you see the movie last night?
Inquiring about specific times:
Often used with time expressions to indicate when the action took place.
Example:
Did you visit your grandparents during the holidays?
Asking for details in past narration:
Used in storytelling or recounting events to seek details about past actions.
Example:
What did she say when you told her?
Understanding how to form and use past simple questions allows you to inquire about completed actions, states, or events that occurred in the past. Practice constructing questions in the past simple tense to enhance your language skills. Happy learning!
