THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR: A COMPARATIVE ANALYTICAL STUDY

Abstract

This article presents a comparative and analytical study of the Past Simple tense in English grammar based on the perspectives of leading pedagogical grammarians, including Raymond Murphy, Betty Schrampfer Azar, Michael Swan, as well as Oxford and Cambridge grammar traditions. The paper examines how the Past Simple tense is conceptualized in terms of form, meaning, and use, with particular attention to time reference, completed past actions, irregular verb forms, and pedagogical presentation. By analyzing these approaches sequentially, the study identifies both shared principles and methodological differences in the explanation and teaching of the Past Simple tense. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating grammatical accuracy with semantic, contextual, and communicative interpretation in teaching and learning the Past Simple tense. The article concludes with generalizations relevant to grammar instruction and applied linguistics research.