Past Simple or Past Indefinite Tense

Pronunciation

If the base verb ends in /d/ or /t/, the regular past-tense ending -ed is pronounced /ɨd/; after all other unvoiced consonants it becomes /t/, and in all remaining cases (other voiced consonants and vowels) it is pronounced /d/.

Form: regular verbs

The simple past is formed by adding -ed to the end of an infinitive and then removing the to, for example:

• to play becomes played

Verbs ending in -e add -d instead, for example:

• to place becomes placed

Verbs ending in a consonant, containing one vowel and having one syllable add a second of the last consonant and then -ed, whilst also removing the to to form the simple past, for example:

• to stop becomes stopped

Verbs of which the final letter is -y replace the y with an i. For example:

• to try becomes tried

Form: irregular verbs

All the irregular verbs have different forms: to go becomes went, to buy becomes bought, to cut becomes cut, etc.

Use

One uses the simple past for actions or situations that one has completed in the past at a definite time.
The time can be given in the sentence:
I came home at 6 o'clock.

The time is asked about:
When did they get married?

One uses the past simple for repeated actions in the past.
We walked to school every day.

The past simple is used in stories to express actions that follow each other.
Charles entered the hall, looked around, took off his coat and put it on a chair.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Past_simple

Past Simple Tense

The Simple Past Tense - Basic English Grammar

Past Simple Regular Verb Endings | Learn English | English Rules

Simple past - simple past tense