Past Tense and Time Expressions
When using the Past Tense, it’s common to include a time expression to specify when the action took place.
Time expressions used with Past Tense:
- Yesterday
- Last
- Ago
Examples:
There were 20 students in the class last year.
There weren’t 20 students in the class last year.
Were there 20 students in the class last year?
– Yes, there were.
– No, there weren’t.
I was in İzmir yesterday.
I wasn’t in İzmir yesterday.
Were you in İzmir yesterday?
– Yes, I was.
– No, I wasn’t.
She was ill three days ago.
She wasn’t ill three days ago.
Was she ill three days ago?
– Yes, she was.
– No, she wasn’t.
They were in Aydın last summer.
They weren’t in Aydın last summer.
Were they in Aydın last summer?
– Yes, they were.
– No, they weren’t.
There was a concert in İstanbul last night.
There wasn’t a concert in İstanbul last night.
Was there a concert in İstanbul last night?
– Yes, there was.
– No, there wasn’t.
Differences Between Past and Present Tense:
Present (Now) vs. Past (Before)
Today is Saturday. Yesterday was Friday.
This month is November. Last month was October.
I am a teacher now. I was a student five years ago.
They are in Amasya this year. They were in Bursa last year.