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 : yesterday , last night , last sunday , two years ago , 4 hours ago , ... 

` 1 `. helped 

` 2 ` . cleaned 

` 3 ` . washed 

` 4 ` . cooked 

`5 ` . wasn't 

`6 ` . was 

` 7 ` . didn't want 

` 8 ` . was

`1.` helped  

`2.` cleaned  

`3.` washed  

`4.` cooked  

`5.` wasn't  

`6.` was  

`7.` didn't want  

`8.` was

Công thức:

`(+)` S + V2/ed + O

`(-)` S + didn't + Vbare + O

`(?)` Did + S + Vbare + O?