The Simple Past tense is used to talk about things that happened in the past. The formula is: subject + verb (in the past form). For example, 'I walk' becomes 'I walked'.
Wakati uliopita hutumika kuzungumzia mambo yaliyotokea katika zamani. Fomula ni: somo + kitenzi (katika umbo la zamani). Kwa mfano, 'Ninaenda' inakuwa 'Nilienda'.
Mifano & Matamshi
I watched a movie last night.
Nilitazama filamu jana usiku.
Simple Past with 'watch'
My brother played soccer yesterday.
Kaka yangu alicheza soka jana.
Simple Past with 'play'
We visited our grandparents last weekend.
Tulitembelea babu na bibi yetu wikendi iliyopita.
Simple Past with 'visit'
walked
alitembea
action
ran
alikimbia
action
visited
alitembelea
action
went
alikwenda
action
ate
alikula
action
slept
alilala
action
watched
alitazama
action
listened
alisisitiza
action
helped
alimsaidia
action
learned
alijifunza
action
play
icheza
action
Zoezi: Tamka mifano hii
Soma Zaidi
Mfano (Example) 1
Yesterday, I went to the market and bought some fruits. Then, I came home and ate lunch with my family. After that, I played with my friends.
Jana, Nilikuwa sokoni na nikununua matunda machache. Kisha, Nikarudi nyumbani na kula chakula cha mchana na familia yangu. Baada ya hapo, Nilicheza na marafiki zangu.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence 'Yesterday, I went to the market', the word went is in the Simple Past form. This is because it describes an action that happened in the past. Other examples of Simple Past verbs include bought, came, and played.
Katika sentensi 'Jana, Nilikuwa sokoni', neno Nilikuwa lina umbo la zamani. Hii ni kwa sababu inaelezea kitendo kilichotokea katika zamani. Mifano mingine ya vitenzi vya zamani ni nikununua, nikarudi, na nilicheza.
Mfano (Example) 2
Ivan played soccer yesterday.
Ivan alicheza soka jana.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence Ivan played soccer yesterday, played is in the Simple Past tense. It tells us what Ivan did yesterday. We can also use watched, read or wrote.
Katika sentensi Ivan alicheza soka jana, alicheza imetumika katika Wakati wa Zamani Rahisi. Hutuambia nini Ivan alifanya jana. Tunaweza pia kutumia aliangalia, alisoma au aliandika.
Mfano (Example) 3
Hadija went to Mtwara last week.
Hadija alikwenda Mtwara juma lilopita.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Hadija went to Mtwara last week, went is in the Simple Past tense. It tells us where Hadija went. Alternatives: came, visited, travelled.
Katika Hadija alikwenda Mtwara juma lilipita, alikwenda imetumika katika Wakati wa Zamani Rahisi. Hutuambia Hadija alikwenda wapi. Mbadala: alikuja, alitembelea, alikwenda safari.
Mfano (Example) 4
Peter ate ugali for breakfast.
Peter alikula ugali kwa kifungua kinywa.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Peter ate ugali for breakfast, ate is in the Simple Past tense. It tells us what Peter did for breakfast. We can also use drank, read or watched.
Katika Peter alikula ugali kwa kifungua kinywa, alikula imetumika katika Wakati wa Zamani Rahisi. Hutuambia nini Peter alifanya kwa kifungua kinywa. Tunaweza pia kutumia akanywa, alisoma au aliangalia.
Mfano (Example) 5
Ruta and Ethan played together at school.
Ruta na Ethan walicheza pamoja shuleni.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Ruta and Ethan played together at school, played is in the Simple Past tense. It tells us what Ruta and Ethan did together. We can also use ran, jumped or sang.
Katika Ruta na Ethan walicheza pamoja shuleni, walicheza imetumika katika Wakati wa Zamani Rahisi. Hutuambia nini Ruta na Ethan walifanya pamoja. Tunaweza pia kutumia walikimbia, walipanda au walimwaga.
Maswali
1
Identify the Simple Past verb in the sentence below: (Tambua kitenzi cha zamani katika sentensi ifuatayo: )
My sister ate a big plate of ugali for breakfast.
Dada yangu alikula sahani kubwa ya ugali kwa kifungua kinywa.
ate
2
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'go': I ______ to the beach last summer.
Kwa sababu 'go' inahitaji umbo la zamani 'went'.
3
Choose the correct Simple Past verb to complete the sentence: My mom ______ a delicious meal for dinner.
Kwa sababu 'cook' inahitaji umbo la zamani 'cooked'.
4
Find the error in the sentence: Me and my friend go to the park yesterday. What is the correct sentence?
Kwa sababu inahitaji umbo la zamani 'went' na mpangilio sahihi wa somo.
5
Choose the correct form of the verb: I ___ to school yesterday.
went ni umbo sahihi la kivumishi.
6
Complete the sentence: Ivan ___ to Musoma last week.
went ni umbo sahihi la kivumishi.
7
Did you ___ your homework yesterday?
do ni umbo sahihi la kivumishi.
8
Complete the sentence: Hadija ___ not visit her grandmother last week.
did not ni umbo sahihi la kivumishi.
9
Change the sentence to the past tense: I go to school.
went ni umbo sahihi la kivumishi.
10
Correct the sentence: Me go to school yesterday.
I ni somo sahihi.
11
Which of the following verbs are in the past tense? (chagua majibu yote sahihi)