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Simple Tenses

The Past Simple tense is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed at a specific time in the past.

Active Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Subject+V2 I played with my dog.
Negative Subject+did not+V1 I did not play with my dog.
Question did+Subject+V1? Did I play with my dog?

Passive Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Object+was/were+V3 The game was played by the team.
Negative Object+was/were not+V3 The game was not played.
Question was/were+Object+V3? Was the game played?
Grammar Focus
  • V2 — past form of the verb (e.g., played, watched, visited)
  • Did — used in questions and negatives; main verb stays in V1
  • Was/Were — "was" with singular subjects (he, she, it); were with plural (we, they)

The Present Simple tense is used to describe habits, routines, general truths, and things that are always true.

Active Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Subject+V1 (add s/es for he/she/it) I play with my dog every day.
Negative Subject+do/does not+V1 I do not play with my dog every day.
Question do/does+Subject+V1? Do I play with my dog every day?

Passive Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Object+is/am/are+V3 The game is played by the team every day.
Negative Object+is/am/are not+V3 The game is not played every day.
Question is/am/are+Object+V3? Is the game played every day?
Grammar Focus
  • Do/Does — "do" with I/you/we/they; "does" with he/she/it
  • Is/Are — "is" with singular; "are" with plural

The Future Simple tense is used to talk about actions that will happen at a specific time in the future.

Active Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Subject+will+V1 I will play with my dog tomorrow.
Negative Subject+will not (won't)+V1 I will not play with my dog tomorrow.
Question will+Subject+V1? Will I play with my dog tomorrow?

Passive Voice

Formula Example
Affirmative Object+will+be+V3 The game will be played by the team tomorrow.
Negative Object+will not (won't)+be+V3 The game will not be played tomorrow.
Question will+Object+be+V3? Will the game be played tomorrow?
Grammar Focus
  • Will — used to indicate a future action
  • Be — used before V3 in passive voice