the past simple

We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past.

We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

• 
  She came back last Friday.
  
• 
  I saw her in the street.
  
• 
  They didn't agree to the deal.
  

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

• 
  She lived in Tokyo for seven years.
  
• 
  They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.
  
• 
  When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.
  

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:

• 
  Yesterday
  
• 
  three weeks ago
  
• 
  last year
  
• 
  in 2002
  
• 
  from March to June
  
• 
  for a long time
  
• 
  for 6 weeks
  
• 
  in the 1980s
  
• 
  in the last century
  
• 
  in the past