The Past in English: A Complete Guide

The passé composé is one of the most commonly used verb tenses in English. It is used to talk about past actions and express past events. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced English speaker, it is essential to understand its usage and rules. In this article, we will explore in detail the passé composé, its formation, its different uses, and common mistakes to avoid.

1. What is the past tense?

The preterite, also called "past simple", is a past tense that expresses a completed action. It is usually accompanied by temporal indicators such as "yesterday", "last week" or "two years ago".

Examples:

• “I visited my grandmother yesterday.”
• "She finished her work last night." (She finished her work last night.)

2. Formation of the preterite

The formation of the preterite depends on the type of verb: regular or irregular.

1. a) Regular verbs

Regular verbs follow a simple rule: add “-ed” to the verb base.

Examples:

• "I played football yesterday." (I played football yesterday.)
• “She walked to school.”

Pay attention to special spellings:

• Verbs ending in "e" only add "-d" (e.g., love → loved).
• Short verbs with a final consonant double that consonant before "-ed" (e.g. stop → arrête).

1. b) Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow a fixed rule and must be learned by heart.

Examples:

• "She went to the cinema last night." (She went to the cinema last night.)
• “They had pizza for dinner.”

3. Uses of the preterite
4. a) Action performed in the past

The preterite is used to talk about an action that happened at a specific time in the past.

Example :

• “He bought a new car last month.”

1. b) Past habits

The preterite can also express past habits that are no longer current.

Example :

• “When I was a child, I played outside every day.”

1. c) Stories and tales

The preterite is the main tense used to tell a story or a past event.

Example :

• “Yesterday I woke up late, missed the bus and arrived late for work.”

4. Interrogative and negative sentences
5. a) Interrogative form

To ask a question in the past tense, we use the auxiliary verb "did" followed by the verb base of the main verb.

Examples:

• “Have you watched the movie?”
• "Did she call you?" (Did she call you?)

1. b) Negative form

For negation, we use "did not" (or "didn't") followed by the verb base.

Examples:

• "I didn't go to the party."
• “She didn't like the food.”

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
6. a) Do not use “did” with a verb conjugated in the preterite.

Incorrect: “Did you go to the store?” Correct: “Did you go to the store?”…

1. b) Forget the preterite marker for regular verbs

Incorrect: “Yesterday he played football.” Correct: “Yesterday he played football.”…

1. c) Confusing “was/were” and “did”

“Was/were” is used with the verb “to be”, while “did” is used for other verbs.

Example :

• "I was at home yesterday."
• "I did my homework yesterday."

6. Tips for better mastering the passé composé

• Learn irregular verbs gradually : make lists and review them regularly.
• Practice writing and speaking : write sentences in the past tense and practice telling stories.
• Watching movies and reading in English : Expose yourself to texts and dialogues to better assimilate the use of the preterite.

Conclusion

The past tense is an essential tense for talking about the past in English. By understanding its formation, uses, and rules, you will be able to accurately express past events. Practice regularly and use it in your conversations to master it perfectly!