The past simple in English: how to form it

The past simple describes something that happened and finished in the past: “I visited my grandmother last weekend.” Regular verbs add -ed (visit → visited), while irregular verbs have their own past form that needs to be learned (go → went). Negatives and questions use “did”, and the main verb goes back to its base form.

Regular verbs: the -ed ending

Most verbs add -ed: play → played, watch → watched. If the verb ends in -e, add only -d: like → liked. If it ends in a consonant + y, the y becomes i: study → studied. Short one-syllable verbs ending in a single vowel + a single consonant double the last letter: stop → stopped (but rain → rained, play → played).

Irregular verbs

Many common verbs are irregular: go → went, eat → ate, see → saw, buy → bought, have → had, make → made. Instead of memorising them from a list one by one, it is easier to learn them inside your own sentences: “I bought a new bag.”, “We ate pizza.”

Negatives and questions

In negatives, use “didn't” and keep the verb in its base form: “She didn't go to school.” (not “didn't went”). In questions, “Did” comes first: “Did you see the film?” Short answers: “Yes, I did.” / “No, I didn't.” The verb “be” is different: it uses “was/were” and does not need “did”: “Were you at home?”

A short exercise

Write three things you did last weekend: “Last weekend I…”. Then add one thing you didn't do with “I didn't…”, and prepare one “Did you…?” question for a friend. Mark which verbs are regular and which are irregular.

To keep going, see Present perfect with “for” and “since” and Will or going to? Talking about the future in English.

Frequently asked questions

How should I learn irregular verbs? Start with the most common ones instead of long lists and use each one in a sentence of your own: “I went to the market.”

Why don't we say “didn't went”? “Did” already shows the past, so the main verb stays in its base form: “I didn't go.”