The Past Simple Tense

Questions

We use the auxiliary verb (helping verb) did in questions.

Did is the past form of do.

For closed questions (yes and no answers):

Auxiliary	Subject	Infinitive			Yes/No	Subject	Auxiliary
Did	I	pass	last week?	⇒	Yes,	you	did.
Did	you	play	yesterday?	⇒	Yes,	I	did.
Did	he	walk	this morning?	⇒	Yes,	he	did.
Did	she	listen	last Monday?	⇒	No,	she	didn't.
Did	it	rain	last night?	⇒	Yes,	it	did.
Did	we	help	yesterday afternoon?	⇒	Yes,	we	did.
Did	they	work	last year?	⇒	No,	they	didn't.

Tip!
* We use the inifinitive of the main verb for questions:
Did he played yesterday? ✘
Did he play yestarday? ✔

For open questions (many possible answers) we use a question word:

Question	Auxiliary	Subject	infinitive		Subject	Verb	Answer
What	did	I	pass?	⇒	You	passed	everything.
Where	did	you	play?	⇒	I	played	in the park.
When	did	he	start?	⇒	He	started	last week.
Who	did	she	help?	⇒	She	helped	everyone.
When	did	it	rain?	⇒	It	rained	last night.
How	did	we	dance?	⇒	You	danced	well.
When	did	they	finish?	⇒	They	finished	last Friday.

Now try the quiz below!

Back: The Past Simple Tense - Negatives

Next: The Past Simple Tense - Short Answers

The Past Simple Tense - Regular Verbs

The Past Simple Tense - Irregular Verbs

The Past Simple Tense - Negatives

The Past Simple Tense - Questions

The Past Simple Tense - Short Answers

The Past Simple Tense - Time Phrases

The Past Simple Tense - Review