The Past Simple Tense

Uses:
1. It is used for actions completed in the past ast a definite time.
I met her yesterday.

2. It is used when the time is asked about.
When did you meet her?

3. When the action clearly took place at a definite time, even though this time is not mentioned.
The bus was twenty minutes late.

Special Notes
The Past Simple Tense is generally used with past time expressions, such as yesterday, last (week, month, year, etc) ago, the previous day.
She went to Paris last week.
The ship sank five years ago.