Cấu trúc thì quá khứ đơn với động từ thường : 
`( + ) ` : S + V-ed / V2 
` ( - ) ` : S + didn't + V nguyên mẫu 
` ( ? ) ` : Did + S + V nguyên mẫu ? 
Cấu trúc thì quá khứ đơn với tobe 
` ( + ) ` : S + was / were + ... 
` ( - ) ` : S + wasn't / weren't + ... 
` ( ? ) ` : Was / Were + S + ... 
- Was not ` = ` Wasn't , Were not ` = ` Weren't 
` + ` I / he / she / it / chủ ngữ số ít + was ( not ) + ... 
` + ` You / we / they / chủ ngữ số nhiều + were ( not ) + ...

` - ` Dấu hiệu thì quá khứ đơn thường gặp : last night , last Sunday , ` 4 ` hours ago , ` 2 ` days ago , ... 

` 2 ` . They had dinner at nine o' clock 

` - ` V2 của have là had 

` 3 ` . Helen ate too many sweets 

` - ` V2 của eat là ate 

` 4 ` . I bought the newspaper in the shop 

` - ` V2 của buy là bought 

`5 `. We got up at eight o'clock and went to the school