THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE IN ENGLISH: STRUCTURE, USAGE, AND PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

The Past Simple tense is one of the fundamental aspects of English grammar, essential for describing completed actions and events in the past. It serves as a core grammatical structure that allows speakers to communicate temporal relationships, narrate experiences, and convey factual information. This article provides a scientific and analytical overview of the Past Simple tense, focusing on its grammatical formation, affirmative, negative, and interrogative structures, irregular verb forms, and contextual usage. Drawing on linguistic theory and educational research, the study highlights common learner difficulties and offers pedagogical strategies to facilitate effective acquisition and usage of the Past Simple tense in both spoken and written English.