Past indefinite tense with examples

 Past indefinite tense

Past indefinite tense

The past indefinite tense describes an action completed in the past. It often occurs with adverbs.

For examples

Ali left school last year

I received his letter two weeks ago 

Sometimes past indefinite tense is used without an adverb of time 

I learned English in Karachi

Ali didn’t sleep well last night

India defeated Australia at GABA

The past indefinite tense is also used for past habits

Ali studied many hours every day 

He always carried an umbrella

Formation of past indefinite tense

Past indefinite tense take the second form of the verb, and its helping verb is DID, but this helping verb does not use in affirmative sentence, and it is only used in negative and interrogative sentence

Note in some rare cases helping verb of past indefinite tense DID is also used in affirmative cases.

For example

He did steal my book

General formulas of Past indefinite tense 

Subject + 2nd form of verb + object 

Examples

Ali plucked the flowers

She told a lie

You wasted your time

Negative sentence of past indefinite tense

To form the negative sentence of past indefinite tense after subject put did not then use verb 1st  form like below.

Subject + did not + 1st form of verb + object 

Examples

He did not insult me 

We did not abuse Anwar

Ali did not jump into the river

Interrogative sentence of past indefinite tense

To form the interrogative tense of the past indefinite tense helping verb of past indefinite tense DID will take the place of subject and subject will come after the helping verb like below.

DID + SUBJECT + 1st form of verb + object 

Did Ali fail in the examination?

Did it rain yesterday?

Did you help the beggar? 

Why did you pluck the flowers?

Active voice and passive rules for past indefinite tense

To make the passive voice of past indefinite tense, we should follow three main things

1 subject will take place of object and object will be used in place in the subject 

2 helping verb will be WAS and WERE instead of did to form the passive voice of past indefinite tense

3 3rd form verb can be used to form the passive voice of past indefinite tense

Formulas to make passive voice

Subject + was / were + 3rd form of verb + by + agent 

Examples 

        

          Active voice

     Passive voice

He bought two cups

Two cups were bought by him

I met him yesterday

He was met by me yesterday

Ali did not take tea

Tea was not taken by Ali

They did not eat meat

Meat was taken by Ali

Who broke this pen

By whom was this pen broken

Why did you beat him

Why was he taken beaten by you

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