Simple Past Tense Pasado Simple Por: Blanca Rosa González El pasado simple se utiliza para expresar que una acción o un evento ocurrieron en el pasado y que ya terminaron. The simple past indicates an action or event that happened in the past and it s finished. Past Simple Affirmative sentences Oraciones afirmativas en Pasado Simple En el pasado simple, el verbo (en pasado) será el mismo que se conjugue con todos los pronombres personales, lo cual podrás observar en la Figura 1 con enunciados afirmativos en pasado simple: Figura 1. Affirmative form (Soars, 2001). Nota que los verbos en pasado se encuentran en color verde aunque algunos están en su forma simple porque está en interrogativo en incluye el auxiliar did en rojo. Más adelante se explica, en esta misma lectura, la forma interrogativa. 1
Adrian: So, Monica, Where are from? Marcela: I am from Los Angeles Adrian: I am from Los Angeles too. Marcela: Where did study elementary school? Adrian: I studied at Hill Top School. Marcela: Really? Steve, my cousin, studied there too. Adrian: Sounds good. Marcela: Did live near the school? Adrian: I surely did, I lived 2 blocks away... I walked to school every day. Marcela: My school was far away. So, I never walked to school. I really enjoyed that time. Adrian: So did I. Marcela: After I graduated from High School, I moved to Portland and a big change came to my life. Adrian: Oh, really? Marcela: I have unforgettable memories! I met new friends, I had fun I learnt how to drive. I met my first boyfriend. Adrian: I have good memories too. I experienced beautiful and important moments. Marcela: When did finish high school? Adrian: I finished In 2001. How about? Marcela: I finished in 2003. 2
Simple Past Negative Sentences Oraciones negativas en Pasado Simple El verbo auxiliar did es el que lleva toda la carga del pasado simple. Para estructurar enunciados negativos en pasado simple es necesario conjugar el verbo auxiliar didn t con todos los pronombres personales y el verbo principal en su forma básica, lo cual podrás observar en la Figura 2 con enunciados negativos en pasado simple: Figura 2. Negative form (Soars, 2001). A continuación se muestra una pequeña conversación entre dos amigas, en donde verás el uso del verbo auxiliar didn t : Observa que los verbos en pasado simple se encuentran en color verde y el auxiliar did en rojo. Victoria: Let me tell that I listened to a radio program yesterday. Alejandra: What was it about? Victoria: It was a new program for children called Princess and Dragons. A doctor was interviewed and she gave some important advices. Alejandra: Like what? 3
Victoria: She said that children must not eat chocolate in the afternoons, because that makes them very active. I didn t know that. I always drank a milkshake with chocolate at night, but not anymore. Alejandra: I heard about that and I think it s true. Every time I had a piece of chocolate in the nights I spent several hours to go to sleep. Simple Past Yes /No Questions Preguntas cortas en Pasado Simple Ahora, para estructurar enunciados interrogativos en pasado simple, es necesario usar siempre el verbo auxiliar did y agregar el verbo principal en su forma simple. Observa, que la oración se inicia con el verbo auxiliar did siguiendo un orden diferente, lo cual podrás observar en la Figura 3 con enunciados interrogativos en pasado simple: Recuerda que solamente se coloca un signo de interrogación (?) y se coloca al final de la oración interrogativa. Figura 3. Interrogative form (Soars, 2001). 4
Simple Past: short answers Respuestas cortas en pasado simple Se utilizan cuando la respuesta es simplemente si o simplemente no. Respuesta afirmativa Yes, I he she It we they did. Tabla 1. Affirmative short answer (Soars, 2001). Respuesta Negativa No, I he she It we they didn t Tabla 2. Negative short answer (Soars, 2001). 5
Past Simple Questions Preguntas en Pasado simple Mediante las questions words, es posible realizar preguntas respecto al tiempo pasado que busquen obtener información más completa sobre cierto asunto y no se resuelven con tan solo una respuesta corta de sí o no. Observa el siguiente ejemplo: Now let s ask Mr. Smith what did he do yesterday? Mr. Smith what did do yesterday? I woke up at 7 o clock. What did do then? I walked with my little pet for forty minutes. What did do after that? I took a quick shower and had a light breakfast. After finished r breakfast, did read the news? No I didn t. I went to Guanajuato city. What did do in Guanajuato? I had a meeting with two friends. Where did gather? We gathered at a restaurant called Valadez. Where is that restaurant? It is in front of the Teatro Juárez. Did eat some dessert? Yes, I ate chocolate cake. Did anyone else eat dessert? Yes, my friends also ate dessert. How many hours did stay in the restaurant? I stayed two hours. What time did arrive home? I arrived home at 6 o clock. 6
Referencias Murphy, R. (1990) Essential grammar in use: a self-study reference and practice book for elementary students of English with answers. New York: Cambridge University Press. Soars, L. & Soars, J. (2001). American Headway Student Book 1. New York: Oxford University Press. 7