The Past Simple (Regular Verbs)
A regular verb is a verb that forms its past tense by adding '-ed' to its base form.
Let's take a look at the different forms of the Past Simple tense for the verb "work".
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
I worked ...
You worked ...
She worked ...
He worked ...
It worked ...
We worked ...
You worked ...
They worked ...
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I did not / didn't work ...
You did not / didn't work ...
She did not / didn't work ...
He did not / didn't work ...
It did not / didn't work ...
We did not / didn't work ...
You did not / didn't work ...
They did not / didn't work ...
POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Did I work ...?
Did you work ...?
Did she work ...?
Did he work ...?
Did it work ...?
Did we work ...?
Did you work ...?
Did they work ...?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Did I not / Didn't I work ...?
Did you not / Didn't you work ...?
Did she not / Didn't she work ...?
Did he not / Didn't he work ...?
Did it not / Didn't it work ...?
Did we not / Didn't we work ...?
Did you not / Didn't you work ...?
Did they not / Didn't they work ...?
Short Answers
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Yes, you did. / No, you didn't.
Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.
Yes, he did. / No, he 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, and we do not add '-ed' to it.
+We stayed at home last night.
-We did not / didn't stay at home last night.
+?Did you stay at home last night?
+Didn't you stay / Did you not stay at home last night?
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
When a regular verb ends in a 'y' preceded by a consonant, we change the 'y' to 'i' before adding '-ed' to form the Past Simple tense.
study + edstudied
trytried
If a regular verb ends in an 'e,' we just add '-d' to make the Past Simple tense.
decide + eddecided
love + edloved
Another spelling rule is that for one-syllable regular verbs ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC)pattern, we double the last letter before adding "-ed".
plan + edplanned
stop + edstopped
For regular verbs that end in a /t/ or /d/ sound, the '-ed' ending sounds like /ɪd/.
decided/dɪˈsaɪdɪd/
wanted/ˈwɑːntɪd/
For regular verbs that end in /p/, /f/, /k/, /ʧ/, /ʃ/, /θ/ or /s/, the '-ed' ending sounds like /t/.
stopped/stɑːpt/
laughed/læft/
picked/pɪkt/
watched/wɑːtʃt/
washed/wɑːʃt/
passed/pæst/
earthed/ɜːrθt/
Exercises
Complete the sentences using the Past Simple form of the verbs in parentheses. Use contractions wherever possible.
1.A: ____ you ____ law at university? (study)B: No, I ____. I ____ sociology. (study)
A: Did you study law at university?B: No, I didn't. I studied sociology.
2.A: How was your trip to the island? ____ you ____ it? (like)B: Yes, we ____. we ____ to come back home. (not / want)
A: How was your trip to the island? Did you like it?B: Yes, we did. we didn't want to come back home.
3.A: ____ you ____ the football match last night? (watch)B: No, I ____. I ____ late last night. (work)
A: Did you watch the football match last night? (watch)B: No, I didn't. I worked late last night. (work)
4.A: I ____ Tom three times yesterday, but he ____. (call - not / answer)B: Maybe he ____ his phone with him. (not / have)
A: I called Tom three times yesterday, but he didn't answer.B: Maybe he didn't have his phone with him.