Concetti Chiave
- The Past Simple tense is used for actions completed at a specific time in the past, regardless of duration.
- This tense is commonly used in storytelling to narrate past events or sequences.
- Pronunciation of the "-ed" ending in past tense verbs varies; usually add a /d/ or /t/ sound, excluding the vowel.
- For verbs ending in -d or -t, the "-ed" ending is pronounced as an additional syllable /ɪd/.
- Examples illustrate usage in contexts like personal experiences and storytelling.
Uso del past simple
Past Simple is used to describe an event that began and ended in the past. Whether the action happened over a short, brief time period or was repeated over a longer period, Past Simple indicates the action has now stopped.
Ex: When Julie visited Europe for a month last spring, her favorite city was Paris for its history and culture.
Ex: As a child, John played the piano. In his twenties, he learned how to play the drums. Now he plays the guitar.
Stories are also usually told in Past Simple.
Ex: Once upon a time, a beautiful princess left her mother and father's kingdom and traveled to a foreign land.
Ex: After the two business leaders had met many times, they finally made a deal and combined their companies.
Pronuncia del suffisso -ed
When pronouncing the ¬ed ending of past tense verbs, add a /d/ or /t/ sound to most words. Do not pronounce the vowel e.
Ex: The doctor delivered the baby by Caesarean section, and it cried when it emerged from its mother's stomach.
Ex: The small child begged the arrogant bully not to hurt him, but as the crowd gathered, the nasty bully closed his hand into a fist.
If the verb ends in ¬d or ¬t, pronounce the ¬ed as an additional syllable /ɪd/.
Ex: The arrogant athlete boasted to his teammates that no runner came within ten feet of him until the race ended.
Ex: When the plane landed in Alaska, I expected it to be cold and snowy. Instead, I found it was sunny and as warm as a spring day.