The Past Simple (Irregular Verbs)
An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the usual Past Simple pattern (-ed), and its form changes in the Past Simple tense.
eatate
gowent
havehad
Let's take a look at the different forms of the Past Simple tense for the irregular verb "go" as an example.
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
I went ...
You went ...
He went ...
She went ...
It went ...
We went ...
You went ...
They went ...
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I did not / didn't go ...
You did not / didn't go ...
He did not / didn't go ...
She did not / didn't go ...
It did not / didn't go ...
We did not / didn't go ...
You did not / didn't go ...
They did not / didn't go ...
POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Did I go ...?
Did you go ...?
Did he go ...?
Did she go ...?
Did it go ...?
Did we go ...?
Did you go ...?
Did they go ...?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Did I not / Didn't I go ...?
Did you not / Didn't you go ...?
Did he not / Didn't he go ...?
Did she not / Didn't she go ...?
Did it not / Didn't it go ...?
Did we not / Didn't we go ...?
Did you not / Didn't you go ...?
Did they not / Didn't they go ...?
SHORT ANSWERS
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Yes, you did. / No, you didn't.
Yes, he did. / No, he didn't.
Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.
Yes, it did. / No, it didn't.
Yes, we did. / No, we didn't.
Yes, you did. / No, you didn't.
Yes, they did. / No, they didn't.
In the Past Simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb 'did' to form negative sentences and questions. When 'did' is used, the main verb returns to its base form.
+She had a great time.
-She did not / didn't have a great time.
+Did she have a great time?
?Did she not / Didn't she have a great time?
Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.
We need to memorize the past forms of irregular verbs. A good dictionary is the best place to check them. Below is a list of the most common irregular verbs in English.
| Base Form | Past Form |
|---|---|
| become | became |
| begin | began |
| break | broke |
| bring | brought |
| build | built |
| buy | bought |
| catch | caught |
| come | came |
| cost | cost |
| do | did |
| drink | drank |
| drive | drove |
| eat | ate |
| fall | fell |
| feel | felt |
| find | found |
| fly | flew |
| forget | forgot |
| get | got |
| give | gave |
| go | went |
| have | had |
| hear | heard |
| know | knew |
| leave | left |
| lose | lost |
| make | made |
| meet | met |
| pay | paid |
| put | put |
| read | read |
| run | ran |
| say | said |
| see | saw |
| send | sent |
| sing | sang |
| sit | sat |
| sleep | slept |
| speak | spoke |
| spend | spent |
| stand | stood |
| swim | swam |
| teach | taught |
| take | took |
| tell | told |
| think | thought |
| understand | understood |
| wake | woke |
| wear | wore |
| win | won |
| write | wrote |
Exercises
Complete the sentences using the Past Simple form of the verbs in parentheses. Use contractions wherever possible.
1.A: ____ you ____ out last night? (go)B: Yes, we ____ to a new restaurant, and we ____ pasta. (go - have)
A: Did you go out last night? (go)B: Yes, we went to a new restaurant, and we had pasta. (go - have)
2.A: ____ you ____ Jenny last night? (see)B: No, I ____, but I ____ her brother. He ____ Jenny didn't feel well. (see - say)
A: Did you see Jenny last night? (see)B: No, I didn't, but I saw her brother. He saidJenny didn't feel well. (see - say)
3.A: ____ you ____ your homework yesterday? (do)B: Yes, I ____, but I ____ some questions difficult. (find)
A: Did you do your homework yesterday? (do)B: Yes, I did, but I found some questions difficult. (find)
4.A: ____ Sarah ____ to the park in the morning? (go)B: No, she ____. She ____ to the library to study. (go)
A: Did Sarah go to the park in the morning? (go)B: No, she didn't. She went to the library to study. (go)