yesterday i did my homework

Mastering the Past Tense of Do: Your Ultimate Guide to Fluent English

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: September 14, 2023

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Learning English grammar can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to understanding the past tense of irregular verbs. One of the most commonly used verbs in English is “do”, and its past tense can be tricky for non-native speakers to grasp. In this article, we will explore the different forms of the past tense of do and provide examples to help you understand how to use them correctly.

Understanding the correct usage of these different forms of the past tense of “do” is essential for effective communication in English. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into each form and provide examples to help you master this important grammatical concept. So, let’s get started!

Past Tense of Do – Image

Understanding the Verb ‘Do’

In English grammar, the past tense refers to the form of a verb that indicates that an action took place in the past.

The verb ‘do’ is one of the most frequently used verbs in the English language. It is used to form questions, negatives, and to emphasize the main verb in a sentence. Understanding the correct usage of the past tense of ‘do’ is essential for effective communication in English.

Simple Past Tense of ‘Do’

The simple past tense of ‘do’ is ‘did’. It is used to talk about completed actions in the past. For example:

• I did my homework yesterday.
• She did not come to the party last night.
• Did you watch the movie last weekend?

Past Continuous Tense of ‘Do’

The past continuous tense of ‘do’ is ‘was/were doing’. It is used to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. For example:

• I was doing my homework when my friend called me.
• They were not doing anything when I arrived.
• What were you doing at 5 o’clock yesterday?

Past Perfect Tense of ‘Do’

The past perfect tense of ‘do’ is ‘had done’. It is used to talk about actions that were completed before another action in the past. For example:

• I had done my homework before I went to bed.
• She had not done her laundry when she ran out of clean clothes.
• Had you done your research before the presentation?

Past Perfect Continuous Tense of ‘Do’

The past perfect continuous tense of ‘do’ is ‘had been doing’. It is used to talk about actions that had been in progress for a period of time before another action in the past. For example:

• I had been doing my homework for two hours before I took a break.
• They had not been doing anything productive for weeks before the deadline.
• Had you been doing your exercises regularly before the injury?

In conclusion, understanding the past tense of ‘do’ is crucial for effective communication in English. Practice using the different tenses in various contexts to improve your fluency.

The Past Tense of Do

Form and Usage

In English grammar, the past tense of ‘do’ is ‘did’. ‘Did’ is used to express an action that occurred in the past. The verb ‘do’ is an irregular verb, which means that it does not follow the regular pattern of adding ‘-ed’ to the base form to form the past tense.

To form the past tense of ‘do’, we use ‘did’ as an auxiliary verb followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, “I did my homework” or “He did not eat breakfast this morning”.

Examples in Sentences

Here are some examples of ‘did’ in sentences:

• She did not like the movie.
• They did their best to finish the project on time.
• Did you finish your work before leaving the office?
• He did not want to go to the party.

It is important to note that ‘did’ is used in both affirmative and negative sentences, as well as questions. In questions, ‘did’ is placed at the beginning of the sentence followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb.

Knowing the past tense of ‘do’ is essential for anyone learning English grammar. By using ‘did’ correctly, you can accurately express actions that occurred in the past. Practice using ‘did’ in sentences and questions to improve your understanding of this important verb tense.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

When it comes to using the past tense of “do,” there are a few common mistakes and misconceptions that English learners often encounter. In this section, we’ll explore some of these common issues and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Using “did” Too Much

One common mistake that English learners make when using the past tense of “do” is using “did” too much. While “did” is the correct past tense form of “do,” it’s important to vary your language and use other forms of the past tense as well. For example, instead of always saying “did you do your homework?” try saying “have you finished your homework?” or “completed your homework?”

Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb

Another common mistake is forgetting to use the auxiliary verb “did” in questions and negatives. In English, we use “did” to form questions and negatives in the past tense. For example, instead of saying “you do your homework?” say “did you do your homework?” or instead of saying “I not do my homework,” say “I didn’t do my homework.”

Confusing “Done” and “Did”

A common misconception is that “done” is the past tense of “do.” While “done” is a form of the verb “do,” it’s actually the past participle form, not the past tense form. The past participle is used in perfect tenses, such as “I have done my homework.” The past tense form is “did,” as in “I did my homework yesterday.”

By avoiding these common mistakes and misconceptions, you can improve your use of the past tense of “do” and communicate more effectively in English.

Exercises and Practice

To reinforce your understanding of the past tense of do, we have created several interactive exercises that you can try out. These exercises are designed to help you practice using the past tense of do in different contexts and sentence structures.

Fill in the Blank : In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a blank space where the past tense of do should be. You will need to select the correct form of the past tense of do to complete the sentence.

Example: Yesterday, I __________ my homework before dinner.

Sentence Scramble : In this exercise, you will be given a scrambled sentence that contains the past tense of do. You will need to unscramble the sentence to make it grammatically correct.

Example: Yesterday, homework I did my.

Multiple Choice : In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a missing word. You will need to select the correct form of the past tense of do from a list of options.

Example: She __________ her laundry last night. a) do b) did c) does d) doing

We hope these exercises and worksheets will help you master the past tense of do. Keep practicing and you’ll be using it like a pro in no time!

Summary and Conclusion

In this article, we have covered the past tense of “do” in English grammar. We started with an overview of the verb “do” and its various forms in the present tense, before moving on to its past tense forms.

We learned that the past tense of “do” is “did,” and that it is used to talk about actions or events that occurred in the past. We also discussed the different ways in which “did” can be used, including as an auxiliary verb to form questions and negatives.

To help you better understand the past tense of “do,” we provided numerous examples throughout the article. We also included exercises for you to practice using “did” in context.

Overall, mastering the past tense of “do” is an important step in improving your English grammar skills. With practice and persistence, you can become more confident in using this verb tense correctly in your writing and speaking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the past tense form of the verb ‘do’?

The past tense form of the verb ‘do’ is ‘did’. For example, “Yesterday, I did my homework.”

Can the past tense be used with the verb ‘do’?

Yes, the past tense form of ‘do’ (‘did’) can be used in sentences where the action has already happened in the past. For example, “Did you do your homework?”

What are the different verb forms (V1, V2, V3) for the verb ‘do’?

The different verb forms for ‘do’ are:

• V1 (base form): do
• V2 (past tense): did
• V3 (past participle): done

How is the verb ‘do’ used for emphasis?

The verb ‘do’ can be used for emphasis by adding it before a verb in a sentence. For example, “I do love chocolate!”

The past tense form of the verb 'do' is 'did'. For example, \"Yesterday, I did my homework.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can the past tense be used with the verb 'do'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Yes, the past tense form of 'do' ('did') can be used in sentences where the action has already happened in the past. For example, \"He did his best to help me.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the correct past tense for the verb 'learn'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The correct past tense for the verb 'learn' is 'learned' in American English and 'learnt' in British English. For example, \"I learned a lot from that experience.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the different verb forms (V1, V2, V3) for the verb 'do'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The different verb forms for 'do' are:

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How is the verb 'do' used for emphasis?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The verb 'do' can be used for emphasis by adding it before a verb in a sentence. For example, \"I do love chocolate!\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some examples of using 'do' and 'does' in the present tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

• Do: \"Do you like pizza?\"
• Does: \"He does his homework every day.\"
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Daily Routines – Past Tense

List of Daily Routines in the Past Simple Tense in English

(You can hear the pronunciation of each daily routine in the video)

• I turned off my alarm
• I took a shower / I had a shower
• I got dressed
• I combed my hair
• I made breakfast
• I ate breakfast / I had breakfast
• I brushed my teeth
• I went to work
• I started work at 9
• I answered emails
• I ate lunch / I had lunch
• I worked on my computer
• I finished work at 5
• I went home
• I arrived home
• I fed the dog
• I cooked dinner
• I ate dinner / I had dinner
• I watched TV
• I read a book
• I went to bed
• I fell asleep

Daily routines for School

• I went to school
• I had classes
• I finished school at 3
• I did my homework

Notice how in this lesson all of these phrases are in the past simple tense and have I (first person singular) as the subject.

Practice Exercises

Video practice: At the end of the video there is a practice exercise where a cartoon of a daily routine appears on the screen. There are also three phrases in the past tense next to the cartoon and you must choose which phrase best describes that activity. The answer will appear after 5 seconds (approximately).

Summary Chart

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English Course

Past tense in english.

• Past Simple Tense in English
• ED Spelling Rules
• Daily Routines - Past Tense
• Object Pronouns in English
• Say vs. Tell - Said vs. Told
• 101 Irregular Verbs - Past Tense in English

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Past simple exercises PDF

• English grammar PDF
• PDF worksheets
• Mixed PDF tests
• Present tenses
• Past tenses
• Future tenses
• Present perfect
• Past perfect
• Future perfect

Irregular verbs

• Modal verbs
• If-conditional
• Passive voice
• Reported speech
• Time clauses
• Relative clauses
• Indirect questions
• Question tags
• Imperative sentence
• Gerund and infinitive
• Direct | indirect object

Past simple tense

• Online exercises
• Grammar rules PDF

English grammar books PDF

PDF book 1: English grammar exercises PDF

PDF book 2: English grammar rules PDF

Past simple exercises + PDF worksheets

PDF exercises to download for free:

Past simple verbs PDF 1

Key with answers 1

• Dear Jane, How are you doing? Yesterday I ___ (do) my homework, ___ (tidy) my bedroom and ___ (decide) to go out.

Past simple verbs PDF 2

Key with answers 2

• cast, catch, cost, cut The goalkeeper ___ the ball. Our holiday in the Caribbean ___ a fortune.

Past simple was, were PDF 3

Key with answers 3

• A: ___ I often ill when I was a child? B: Not really. You ___ healthier than your brother.

Past simple was, were PDF 4

Key with answers 4

• Samuel, I hear you ___ eighteen years old last week. Yes, I ___ . I had a big birthday party.

Past simple questions PDF 5

Key with answers 5

• (Bill | arrive | on time) Did Bill arrive on time?

Past simple questions PDF 6

Key with answers 6

• Did your students their homework? or Did your students do their homework?

Past simple positive + negative PDF 7

Key with answers 7

• The Beatles were formed in London in 1960. The Beatles ___ (not be) formed in London. They ___ (start) to play together in Liverpool in 1960.

Past simple negative PDF 8

Key with answers 8

• I ___ (not have) a good day yesterday. I ___ (cannot) stay in bed late, because it was Monday and I had to go to school again.

Past simple vs. Past continuous exercises PDF

Past simple vs. Past perfect exercises PDF

Past simple vs. Present perfect exercises PDF

Past simple passive exercises PDF

Online exercises with answers:

• Complete sentences with regular and irregular verbs.

Past simple - irregular verbs 1

• Choose correct verbs from the list to complete sentences.

Past simple - irregular verbs 2

• Complete sentences with verbs in brackets.
• Correct the information in the general knowledge.
• Complete the story. (Blue Monday)
• Choose the correct questions.
• Regular and irregular verbs, negative forms and questions (three exercises).

Grammar rules PDF:

Past simple and continuous PDF rules

We add -ed to the base form of a verb to make regular past simple forms: work - worked, jump - jumped . It is the same for all persons, singular and plural.

Positive statement: I listened, he listened Negative statement: I did not listen (I didn't listen), he did not listen (he didn't listen) Question: Did you listen? Negative question: Did you not listen? (Didn't you listen?)

Spelling rules

We add -d (not -ed) to the verbs that end with -e: like - liked. If the verb ends with a consonant and -y, we change -y into -i: carry - carried, try - tried. But: play - played , because this verb ends with a vowel and -y.

If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant to keep the same pronunciation: stop - stopped . The same rule applies to the verbs that end with -l: travel - travelled .

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

We use did to make past simple questions: I cried. - Did you cry? He slept. - Did he sleep?

We do not use the auxiliary verb did with the verb to be and modal verbs. Were you a student? Was he in London? I was not at home. He was not happy. Could you sing? Could he come? I could not swim. He could not stay.

Wh- questions

The auxiliary verb did is not used in questions beginning with wh- pronouns (who, which) in case that the pronoun is the subject of the question. Who met you? (who is the subject) Which train arrived on time? (which train is the subject) But: Who did you meet? Which train did you miss? (who and which train are the objects)

The negative question normally shows a surprise. Didn't you know it?

Negative forms

We use did not or didn't to make negative forms: You did not come. Julia didn't do her homework.

• All PDF exercises and grammar rules from this website.

• 📝 VOCABULARY
• 🚀 GAMES/ACTIVITIES

Simple Past Tense (Did) – With Explanations Pictures and Exercises

Simple past tense (past simple tense) is a verb tense that describes completed actions or past habits before now. It is also used to talk about a series of events in the past. “Did” is the helping verb of simple past tense. For affirmative (positive) sentences we use past simple form of a verb.

⬤ Formation of simple past tense

For affirmative sentences we use the formation of “verb + ed” . For negative sentences and questions we use the auxiliary “did” or “did not”. See the chart below to learn the structure of simple past tense.

Examples with Pictures Dialogue exercise Sentence scramble game Translation exercise

⬤ Which auxiliary (helping verb) to use for simple past tense?

The auxiliary verb in simple past tense is “ did “. However we use “ was-were ” to talk about a state in the past. Examples:

• I walked in the park.
• I didn’t walk in the park.
• Did you walk in the park?
• I was in the park.
• I wasn’t in the park.
• Were you in the park?

⬤ Positive (Affirmative) sentences

For the formation of positive sentences in simple past tense we add “ -ed “, “ -ied ” or just “ -d ” to the verb. We do not use “ did ” for the positive sentences.

• I asked a question.
• She studied maths.
• She cleaned her room.
• Jack repaired the car last week.
• A traffic accident happened yesterday.

⬤ Negative sentences

For the formation of negative sentences in simple past tense we use “ not ” together with “ did “. The short form is “ didn’t ”

• He did not want tea.
• We didn’t wait for the bus.
• I didn’t use your pen.
• Susan didn’t lie.

⬤ Interrogative sentences

For the formation of question sentences (interrogative) in simple past tense we put “ did ” before the subject.

• Did you enjoy your holiday.
• Did she write an email.
• Where did Yuto go?
• What did Ali want?

⬤ Sentence forms in simple past tense

⬤ What are the regular verbs?

Regular verbs are the verbs that gets “ -ed “, “ -ied ” or “ -d ” for the the past simple forms.

⬤ What are the irregular verbs?

Irregular verbs are the verbs which don’t get “ -ed “, “ -ied ” or “ -d ” to form past simple form or past participle form. There are a number of irregular verbs which needs to be memorized. Because the formation has no standard rule. Some verbs have the same form as bare form, past simple form or past participle form. For example “cut, put, let, hit”.

• (+) I  visit ed  my uncle. 
• (-) I  didn’t visit  my uncle yesterday. 
• (?) Did you visit your uncle yesterday? 
• (+) They found the cat.
• (-) They didn’t find the cat.
• (?) Did they find the cat?

SIMILAR PAGES: ❯❯ Learn verb to be here ❯❯ Learn simple present tense here ❯❯ Learn present continuous tense here ❯❯ Learn future simple tense (will) here ❯❯ Learn be going to future tense here ❯❯ Learn past continuous tense here ❯❯ Learn present perfect tense here

⬤ Explanations and usages of Simple Past Tense

Let’s go on with the explanations, usages and time adverbs of simple past tense:

⬤ 1- Finished actions in the past

Simple Past Tense is used to describe a finished action in a specific time in the past. Examples: I  watched  a film yesterday.  I  did n’t watch a film yesterday.  Last year, I  traveled  to Italy.  Last year, I  did n’t travel to Italy.  She  washed  her hands.  She  did n’t wash her hands.  I bought a hat yesterday. Did you like your cake? Where did you go? What did Ethan say? How did she get 100 points in the exam?

⬤ 2- A series of finished actions.

Simple Past Tense is also used to describe past actions that happen one after the other. The series of actions are all expressed in simple past tense. Examples: I  went out,  walked  to the park, and  watched  the sky silently.

He  arrived  from the airport at 11:00,  looked  for someone to ask the way, and called  a taxi.

⬤ 3- Past habits

We can also use simple past tense to talk about habits in the past. Examples: I  always played  basketball when I was a child. He  often played  the guitar. They never  went  to school, they always  skipped . She  worked  at the hospital after school.

⬤ Using “was”, “were” to talk about past states.

If you want to talk about a past state or condition we use “was, were”. The negative form is “was not, were not” or “wasn’t weren’t”. To make questions we use “was/were” before the subject.

⬤ I lived in London. ⬤ I was in London.

Examples (did) Sally worked at the hospital. Sally didn’t work at the hospital. Did Sally work at the hospital? Where did Sally work?

Examples (was-were) Sally was at the hospital. Sally wasn’t at the hospital. Was Sally at the hospital? Where was Sally?

⬤ What are the time expressions in simple past tense?

⬤ yesterday   I went to the cinema yesterday.  ⬤ last  week, last  year, last  Sunday, last month etc. He bought a car last week.  ⬤ two years ago , four days ago , three minutes  ago etc. I saw her five minutes ago. ⬤ in 1995, in 2003 etc. I had an accident in 2014.

⬤ Time adverbs exercise

You can see the simple past tense time adverbs below. Click on the cards and tell the meaning of them in your native language..

⬤ Images and example sentences

You can learn simple past tense with images and example sentences below.

⬤ A conversation example

Here is a dialogue to learn simple past tense. You can make similar conversations.

Did you win the match yesterday?

Yes, we did.

How was the game?

I don’t know.

What do you mean?

Didn’t you play?

Actually I didn’t.

I had a traffic accident

so I spent the night at a hospital.

We won the match.

My teammates dedicated the goals to me.

Well. Your team needs you. Get well soon.

⬤ Translate these sentences

You will see random examples of simple past tense below. Try to translate them into your own language.

⬤ Sentence scramble game

You will see scrambled words of simple past tense sentences. Click on them in order to make a sentence.

⬤ Example sentences about simple past tense

You can see many sentences below to learn simple past tense.

➔ 10 examples of about simple past tense

• I listened to the new pop album yesterday. It’s great.
• She liked the film but she didn’t like the music.
• There was a problem with the plug.
• I was happy to see her with a smile in her face.
• Her parents travelled by train from Istanbul to Moscow.
• I phoned you four times last night but you were out.
• There were many workers waiting outside.
• We walked along the beach yesterday. It was lovely.
• I had a problem. So I asked to my mother about it.
• Last week I was in Paris. I stayed in a hotel.

⬤ Questions and with answers

Read the questions and the answers below to learn how to use about simple past tense.

➔ 10 questions and answers about simple past tense

• Did you like the film? Yes, I liked it very much.
• Did they give her a present after the ceremony? Yes, they gave her a new camera.
• When did you start playing the guitar? I started playing the guitar when I was nine.
• Was there a guard at the door? No. They let us in.
• When did you leave school? I left school when I was sixteen.
• Who invented the radio? Guglielmo Marconi invented it.
• When did you give your first concert? We gave our first concert in a wedding in Liverpool.
• How many sandwiches did he eat? He ate 3 sandwiches.
• Were you with Sally when she had an accident? Yes, I was.
• What did she do with the book? She sat on a bench and started reading.

External resources: You can go to British Council page and study simple past tense , or watch a video from the popular movies about past simple tense .

related pages

Fill in the blanks quiz for simple past tense, sentence scramble game for simple past tense, accessories vocabulary 👓 exercises pictures audio, body parts in english 👨 with games and listed images, classroom objects vocabulary in english 📕 with games, clothes vocabulary in english 👕 learn with images and flashcards, colour names in english 🎈 with tests and images, computer parts (hardware) vocabulary: pictures audio, verb to be (am, is, are) – with examples and online exercises, modal “can” – with explanations exercises and activities, present continuous tense – with usage examples and pictures, simple present tense (do-does) – with usage, pictures and example sentences.

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Past Simple in English

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The past simple is a crucial part of the English language and is one of the toughest tenses to learn for beginners. In this reference, we’ll explain what the past simple is and how you can easily master it and improve your skills!

What is the Past Simple Tense?

The past simple, also known as the simple past tense, helps us talk about actions that happened in the past. It’s often used with adverbs and adverbial phrases (yesterday, last week, three years ago, etc.). The past simple helps you talk about completed actions that took place at a specific time in the past.

The past simple is formed by using the base form of the verb and adding -ed to the end (for regular verbs ). Irregular verbs, however, need to be memorized. Let’s take a look at how the past simple is formed and how to use it.

Past Simple Formula:

Subject + verb (base form) + -ed (for regular verbs) / did / have / was.

  How to Form the Past Simple

The past simple is formed by using the base form of the verb and adding -ed to the end (for regular verbs). For example, the verb “walk” becomes “walked” in the past simple tense.

It’s also used with the auxiliary verbs “did” and “have.” For example, “I did my homework” and “I have done my homework” are both in the past simple tense.

The past simple can also be used with the verb “be.” For example, “I was at the park yesterday” is in the past simple tense.

Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple

There are different irregular verbs in the past simple tense. The most common ones are go/went, do/did, have/had, and be/was. These verbs need to be memorized, as they do not follow the regular pattern of adding -ed to the end of the verb.

It’s important to note that some verbs can be both regular and irregular depending on the context. For example, the verb “read” can be regular or irregular depending on the sentence. “I read a book” is regular, but “I read the book” is irregular.

Past Simple vs. Past Participle

The past simple is often confused with the past participle. The past participle also helps us talk about completed actions in the past, but it is not used with adverbs or adverbial phrases . For example, “I have finished my homework” is in the past participle, but “I finished my homework yesterday” is in the past simple.

Examples of Past Simple Sentences

Here are some examples of sentences in the past simple:

• I went to the store yesterday.
• She did her homework last night.
• We had dinner at a restaurant last week.
• He was at the park yesterday.
• They read a book last month.

Uses of the Past Simple

The past simple helps us talk about completed actions that took place at a specific time in the past. It is also used to talk about habitual actions in the past, such as “I used to go to the park every weekend.” The past simple is also used to talk about past facts and past states. For example, “I knew her since we were kids” and “I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years”.

Past Simple in Complex Sentences

The past simple can also be used in complex sentences. For example, “She said she had done her homework, but I didn’t believe her.” This sentence has two clauses, both of which are in the past simple tense.

Here are 5 more complex sentences for you to learn from:

• He told me he was at the park yesterday.
• I asked if she had done her homework.
• We wondered if they had read the book.
• She asked if he had gone to the store.
• They asked if we had had dinner at a restaurant.

Past simple can be hard to start, but once you understand the formula, it all falls into place. Remember that it's just your subject + verb + -ed (for regular verbs) / did / have / was.

So, there you have it! Now you know all about the past simple in English. With enough practice, you’ll be able to master the past simple and use it like a native speaker. Good luck!

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More helpful references:

Sentences and questions in the Simple Past – Exercise 1

Task no. 4123.

Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use Simple Past . Watch the punctuation and form sentences or questions.

  she   the Internet? (to surf)

Did she surf the Internet?

Do you need help?

Form of the Simple Past

• I my maths homework yesterday. (to do)
• Susan to England by plane? (to go)
• They a farm two weeks ago. (to visit)
• Jenny and Peggy their brother. (not/to help)
• The children at home last weekend. (not/to be)
• When you this wonderful skirt? (to design)
• My mother into the van. (not/to crash)
• The boys the mudguards of their bicycles. (to take off)
• you your aunt last week? (to phone)
• He milk at school. (not/to drink)
• You are here:
• Grammar Exercises

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Which to use did or do?

How should I say when I am telling someone about things I did yesterday?

1) Then, I do my homework.

2) Then, I did my homework.

Of course that when we are talking about past we should use a past tense word but for this I'm a little bit confused. For this I will normally use a sentence like I did my homework yesterday.

The sentence "Then, I do my homework." Since it is in present tense, it suggests that this is a routine. On the other hand, "Then, I did my homework." suggests that you did something a while ago. Hence, if you wanted to tell someone about what you did yesterday, you should use "did".

• Though it's a little bit confusing but refer to your answer, it should be the number 2, right? –  Emerald Commented Feb 19, 2018 at 8:25

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I have done my homework yesterday.

• Thread starter I am a Chinese boy
• Start date May 30, 2018

I am a Chinese boy

• May 30, 2018

Hi all, I was told not to say "I have done my homework yesterday", because yesterday is considered a time point instead of a time period . Grammar books say, perfect tense can only be used with time period such as since and for. So, maybe, I can only say, I did my homework yesterday. Is that 100% right? no exception to use perfect tense with accurate time point? Thanks to all  

Senior Member

Hi. I can't think of any exceptions to what the grammar books told you. If you use something like "yesterday", the present perfect isn't the tense you want. If you want to use an adverb like "now" to mark the present moment, then the present perfect sounds normal to me: Now I've seen everything.  

owlman5 said: Hi. I can't think of any exceptions to what the grammar books told you. If you use something like "yesterday", the present perfect isn't the tense you want. If you want to use an adverb like "now" to mark the present moment, then the present perfect sounds normal to me: Now I've seen everything. Click to expand...

Moderato con anima (English Only)

It is possible to consider yesterday a time period, but because it is a time period in the past, you need to say 'I had done my homework yesterday'. (And 'I did my homework yesterday' is also possible. There is a difference in meaning between those sentences.)  

natkretep said: It is possible to consider yesterday a time period, but because it is a time period in the past, you need to say 'I had done my homework yesterday'. (And 'I did my homework yesterday' is also possible. There is a difference in meaning between those sentences.) Click to expand...

Yes, that's right, Chinese boy.  

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finished, have finished, be finished, be done, ,have done, did,

I'd like to know the exact difference of those.

I finished my homework.

I am finished with my homework.

I have finished my homework.

I did my homework.

I am done with my homework.

I have done my homework.

Do they have different meanings? You might say those are slitely the same, but what if the objects are replaced with other things.

3 Answers 3

This sentence uses past simple. Your homework was completed in the past.

In this sentence, finished is an adjective. Just like the word "done", it means that you are not requiring any work at it.

This is present perfect tense. Your work is completed. But the consequence probably exists in presence as the current state. For more information, please read The Pragmatic Meaning of the Perfect

Finished and Done are interchangeable here, there is no significant difference. But sometimes, done can be meant to be tired. For example, I'm done with your excuses means I'm tired with your excuses .

• "done", in my opinion, tends to be a more american usage in this scenario (I wouldn't use it so much in Britain, anyway) –  simonalexander2005 Commented Nov 28, 2016 at 10:11

The first three mean the same thing.

"I did my homework" means only that you have worked on your homework, but maybe not completed (finished) it. Maybe you still have some left.

Note however that when most people say "I did my homework" they will often mean that they finished it.

"I am done with my homework" means that you have had enough of doing your homework and will not continue doing it at this moment. Again, it doesn't necessarily mean you finished all your homework, although it is more finalising that "I did my homework."

"I have done my homework" means, like the first three, that you have finished it.

Actually, while here below we are discussing “those”, you were above asking about “these”. Does that make sense?

Either way the examples do have broadly similar meanings but there are significant differences, including these below:

I finished my homework. I completed my homework at some time in the past. I might have started the work previously and set it aside, but during the session in question, I completed the work.

I am finished with my homework. I completed whatever homework I had and I do not expect any more; not in the immediate future and not impossibly, never.

I have finished my homework. I have just now completed my homework, seconds or at most minutes ago.

I did my homework. Very much the same as “I finished my homework.” Some might say "did" could as easily mean "finished" or simply "worked on". Some might say “finished” could indicate a session resumed and “did”, completion in a single session.

I am done with my homework. Not just similar; probably identical to “I am finished with my homework.

I have done my homework. Very much the same as “I have finished my homework” but rather less immediate. “Done” is more likely than “finished” to imply “I did it yesterday”.

Further, “I am done / finished with my (anything)” are anchored within the same range of meaning only by that possessive “my”.

With the possessive “my” the sentence is a specific, factual report about the fate of a concrete and measurable thing.

Without the possessive “my” it would become instead a generic philosophical statement of intent about an abstract and unmeasurable subject.

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I ……………………. (do) my homework yesterday.

C. were doing

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I finished my homework yesterday. vs I had finished my homework yesterday.

Last updated: April 01, 2024

I finished my homework yesterday.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the completion of homework the day before.

• I finished my homework yesterday, so I could relax in the evening.
• She finished her homework yesterday and went out with her friends.
• Did you finish your homework yesterday?
• He always finishes his homework on time.
• We finished our homework yesterday morning.

Alternatives:

• I completed my homework yesterday.
• I did my homework yesterday.
• Yesterday, I finished my homework.
• My homework was finished yesterday.
• Yesterday, my homework was completed.

I had finished my homework yesterday.

This phrase is correct and is used when referring to an action that was completed before another past action or point in time.

• I had finished my homework yesterday when you called.
• She had finished her homework yesterday before going to bed.
• Had you finished your homework yesterday before the teacher collected it?
• He had finished his homework yesterday by the time I arrived.
• By yesterday afternoon, I had finished my homework.
• I had completed my homework yesterday.
• Yesterday, I had finished my homework.
• My homework had been finished yesterday.
• Yesterday, my homework had been completed.
• I had done my homework yesterday.

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