Past Simple
The Past Simple tense describes actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. Regular verbs add -ed, while irregular verbs have unique past forms you need to memorize. Use time expressions like yesterday, last week, or in 2020.
WHEN TO USE
Use for completed actions at a specific time in the past, a sequence of past events, or past habits and states that no longer exist.
STRUCTURE
S + V(past) + OShe visited Paris last summer.
S + didn't + V (base)She didn't visit Rome.
Did + S + V (base)?Did she visit Paris?
SIGNAL WORDS
- yesterday
- last week
- last year
- ago
- in 2010
- when I was young
- the other day
EXAMPLES
I watched a great film last night.
She went to Paris two years ago.
They played tennis every Sunday when they were young.
He didn't come to the party.
Did you see that movie?
SPELLING RULES (HE/SHE/IT)
| Most regular verbs | add -ed | play → played, work → worked |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in -e | add -d | live → lived, love → loved |
| Ends in consonant + y | change y → ied | study → studied, carry → carried |
| Short verb ending in consonant-vowel-consonant | double final consonant + -ed | stop → stopped, plan → planned |
COMMON MISTAKES
I didn't went to school.
I didn't go to school.
After didn't, use the base form (not past form) of the verb
She goed to the store.
She went to the store.
'Go' is irregular — its past form is 'went', not 'goed'
Tip
For irregular verbs, there's no shortcut — you need to memorize them. Try learning them in groups of similar patterns: buy/bought, think/thought, bring/brought.