The Simple Past Tense

By:
Marichel Robinson

Patricia Salom

How do we form the simple past tense?

There are two types of verbs in the past tense:
REGULAR VERBS AND IRREGULAR VERBS

Look at the following list of past tense verbs

Which verbs are REGULAR and which are
IRREGULAR?
needed regular
came
irregular
played
regular
bought
irregular
studied regular
became irregular
jumped regular
caught
irregular

Regular verbs are verbs that

end with ed.
Simple Form
play
jump
bury
study

Past Form
played
jumped
buried
studied

Irregular verbs are verbs that

dont end with ed.

Some Irregular verbs have a vowel change in

the past tense:
Simple Form
Past Tense
become
became
give
gave
drive
drove
forget
forgot

Other irregular verbs have a different

kind of change.

Example:
Simple Form
teach
sell
take
drive
build

Past Form
taught
sold
took
drove
built

And some Irregular Verbs dont

change at all
Example:
Simple Form
hit
put
set

Past
hit
put
set

Elizabeth sets the table everyday.

Elizabeth set the table yesterday.

For Regular Verbs, simply use the ed form of

the verb in a positive sentence.
Example:
Yesterday, mom worked at the office until eight
oclock.

Melissa lived and studied in Piura when she was a

child.
Be careful with spelling changes!

For Irregular Verbs use the correct past

tense form in positive sentences.
Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!

Last week, I sent you a present for your birthday.

The girl gave a speech in English.

She did a great job!

For negative sentences use

Did not

or

didnt

+ verb
simple form

I went to the party yesterday.

Andrea didnt go to the party yesterday

because she was sick.

Exception = Verb to be !

The verb to be is special.

Never use did not or didnt with the verb to
be.

Instead, just use:

Was or were + not

Meaning and Use

Examples:
I met Jimena yesterday.

Last Friday, we went to the party together.

My parents were married ten years ago.
These actions are over, finished!

Pronunciation of Regular Verbs

The ed ending has:
Three different sounds
t d - id
Some regular verbs end with a t sound.
Example:
walked, laughed, washed, jumped, and
talked.

Some regular verbs end with

d sound.
Example:
planned, played, learned,
loved, and answered.

Other regular verbs end with an id

sound.

Example:
Simple form
invite
wait
decide
need

Past form
invited
waited
decided
needed

Practice
Now make a list of which ed verbs have a t
sound, which have a d sound and which
have an id sound.
With practice you can start to learn and
memorize correct pronunciation.