Passado Simples (Simple Past) — Inglês Intermediário

When we want to indicate that something happened at a specific time in the past, we use the past simple. We can either say when it happened, using a time adverb, or assume that the hearer already knows when it happened or can understand this from the context: [Quando nós queremos indicar que algo aconteceu em um tempo específico no passo, nós usamos o passado simples. Nós podemos tanto dizer quando isso ocorreu, usando um adiverbio temporal, ou pressupor que o ouvinte já sabe quando ocorreu ou entender isso pela seu contexto.]

• She arrived at Kennedy Airport at 2 o’clock this morning.
• Jane left just a few minutes ago.
• Jim decided to continue the course, even though it was proving very difficult.

We use the past simple for situations that existed for a period of time in the past, but not now: [Nós usamos o passado simples para situações que existiam por um período de tempo no passado, mas que não ocorre agora.]

• When I was younger I played badminton for my local team.
• The Pharaohs ruled Egypt for thousands of years.

If we are interested in when a present situation began rather than how long it has been going on for, we use the past simple. Compare: [Quando estamos interessandos em “quando” uma situação começou, ao invés de por quanto tempo ela tem existido, nós usamos o passo simples. Compare:]

• I started to get the pains three weeks ago.
• I’ve had the pains for three weeks now.
• When did you arrive in Britain?
• How long have you been in Britain?
•However, we also use the past simple to talk about how long something went on for if the action or event is no longer going on (see also Unit 4C):
• I stayed with my grandparents for six months. (= I am no longer staying there)
• ‘He spent some time in Paris when he was younger.’ ‘How long did he live there?’