Substitution table Past Simple Tense
Here's a complete lesson-friendly substitution table for Subject + Past Verb + Object along with simple explanations, rules, and classroom tips — all in easy English for elementary ESL students in India.
🟢 Simple Past Tense: Introduction
🔶 What is Simple Past Tense?
We use simple past tense to talk about:
-
Things that happened yesterday
-
Things that happened last week/year/month
-
Things that are over or finished
🕓 Examples of Time Words:
-
yesterday
-
last night
-
last Sunday
-
two days ago
-
in 2020
🟡 Sentence Pattern (Syntax)
✅ Subject + Past Verb + Object
Part | Example |
---|---|
Subject | He, She, I, Rani |
Past Verb | ate, saw, read |
Object | a mango, a book |
He ate a mango.
🔵 Substitution Table: Subject + Past Verb + Object + Time
🟢 Example Sentences
-
I ate a banana yesterday.
-
You played cricket last Sunday.
-
We saw a rainbow in the morning.
-
They watched a movie last night.
-
He read a story two days ago.
-
She wrote a letter last week.
-
Raju drank milk yesterday morning.
-
Sita sang a song last evening.
-
The children drew a picture in art class.
-
My teacher taught English on Monday.
I ate a banana yesterday.
You played cricket last Sunday.
We saw a rainbow in the morning.
They watched a movie last night.
He read a story two days ago.
She wrote a letter last week.
Raju drank milk yesterday morning.
Sita sang a song last evening.
The children drew a picture in art class.
My teacher taught English on Monday.
🟣 How to Teach It (For You, the Teacher)
🧩 Step-by-Step:
-
Introduce the rule: "Past tense means it already happened."
-
Use real-life examples:
👉 “Yesterday, I ate rice.”
👉 “Last Sunday, we played cricket.” -
Teach the pattern: Subject + Past Verb + Object.
-
Use the table to make sentences together.
-
Let children pick from the columns and read their sentences aloud.
🟠 Classroom Activities
✅ Flashcards – Write subjects, past verbs, and objects on cards.
✅ Fill in the blanks – “She _____ a story.” (read)
✅ Speaking practice – Ask each student:
-
“What did you do yesterday?”
👉 “I watched TV.”
✅ Pair work – Let two students ask and answer:
-
A: “What did you eat yesterday?”
-
B: “I ate dosa.”
Substitution table Past Simple Tense
Here's a complete lesson-friendly substitution table for Subject + Past Verb + Object along with simple explanations, rules, and classroom tips — all in easy English for elementary ESL students in India.
🟢 Simple Past Tense: Introduction
🔶 What is Simple Past Tense?
We use simple past tense to talk about:
-
Things that happened yesterday
-
Things that happened last week/year/month
-
Things that are over or finished
🕓 Examples of Time Words:
-
yesterday
-
last night
-
last Sunday
-
two days ago
-
in 2020
🟡 Sentence Pattern (Syntax)
✅ Subject + Past Verb + Object
Part | Example |
---|---|
Subject | He, She, I, Rani |
Past Verb | ate, saw, read |
Object | a mango, a book |
He ate a mango.
🔵 Substitution Table: Subject + Past Verb + Object + Time
🟢 Example Sentences
-
I ate a banana yesterday.
-
You played cricket last Sunday.
-
We saw a rainbow in the morning.
-
They watched a movie last night.
-
He read a story two days ago.
-
She wrote a letter last week.
-
Raju drank milk yesterday morning.
-
Sita sang a song last evening.
-
The children drew a picture in art class.
-
My teacher taught English on Monday.
I ate a banana yesterday.
You played cricket last Sunday.
We saw a rainbow in the morning.
They watched a movie last night.
He read a story two days ago.
She wrote a letter last week.
Raju drank milk yesterday morning.
Sita sang a song last evening.
The children drew a picture in art class.
My teacher taught English on Monday.
🟣 How to Teach It (For You, the Teacher)
🧩 Step-by-Step:
-
Introduce the rule: "Past tense means it already happened."
-
Use real-life examples:
👉 “Yesterday, I ate rice.”
👉 “Last Sunday, we played cricket.” -
Teach the pattern: Subject + Past Verb + Object.
-
Use the table to make sentences together.
-
Let children pick from the columns and read their sentences aloud.
🟠 Classroom Activities
✅ Flashcards – Write subjects, past verbs, and objects on cards.
✅ Fill in the blanks – “She _____ a story.” (read)
✅ Speaking practice – Ask each student:
-
“What did you do yesterday?”
👉 “I watched TV.”
✅ Pair work – Let two students ask and answer:
-
A: “What did you eat yesterday?”
-
B: “I ate dosa.”