past tense

past tense (plural past tenses)

1. (grammar) A form of language (and, in many languages, of a verb) used to refer to an event, transaction, or occurrence that did happen or had happened, or an object that existed, at a point in time before now.

   Example: "I saw the #5 bus across the street. I won’t make it."

2. (grammar) A form of language used in a hypothetical expression to refer to a remote possibility.

   Example: "If I spoke Japanese I would be happy to visit Japan."

• be
• is
• was