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 |