The past simple is used for actionA general term expressing that somebody or something does somethings which are completed at a definiteRelating to a specific or determined person, thing, idea or time. E.g.: I know the guy you are talking about. ("the guy you are talking about") point of timeA particular moment in time. E.g.: She came home at six. ("six") I was born in 1980. ("1980") in the past. This point can be implied, or expressed with a time expressionA word or group of words used in a particular situation. E.g.: Good morning, at six, on the sofa or a clauseA group of related words containing a subject and a verb.:

I bought a car yesterday.
She was born in 1990.
Columbus discovered America. (i.e. in 1492)
How did it happen? (i.e. when it happened)
When I got home I went to bed straight away.

Examples of time expressions referring to a definite time in the past:

a year/two months/a few weeks/three days/etc. ago
at 5 o'clock
yesterday
earlier today/this week/this month
last week/month/year

Diagrams

Form: past simple
Past simple Past simple for past habits and states