The Past Simple (Irregular Verbs)
An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the usual Simple Past pattern (-ed), and its form changes in the Simple Past tense.
Examples:
eat (v)
ate (p)
go (v)went (p)
have (v)had (p)
Let's take a look at the different forms of the Past Simple tense for the irregular verb "go".
Positive
I went ... .
You went ... .
He went ... .
She went ... .
It went ... .
We went ... .
You went ... .
They went ... .
Negative
I did not go ... . / I didn't go ... .
You did not go ... . / You didn't go ... .
He did not go ... . / He didn't go ... .
She did not go ... . / She didn't go ... .
It did not go ... . / It didn't go ... .
We did not go ... . / We didn't go ... .
You did not go ... . / You didn't go ... .
They did not go ... . / They 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 go ...? / Didn't I go ... ?
Did you not go ... ? / Didn't you go ... ?
Did he not go ... ? / Didn't he go ... ?
Did she not go ... ? / Didn't she go ... ?
Did it not go ... ? / Didn't it go ... ?
Did we not go ... ? / Didn't we go ... ?
Did you not go ... ? / Didn't you go ... ?
Did they not go ... ? / 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.
Examples:
+She had a great time.
-She didn't have a great time.
+?Did she have a great time?
-?Didn't she have a great time? / Did she not 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 Simple Past form of the verbs in parentheses. Use contractions wherever possible.
1"____ you ____ out last night?" (go)"Yes, we ____ to a new restaurant, and we ____ pasta." (go - have)
"Did you go out last night?""Yes, we went to a new restaurant, and we had pasta."
2"____ you ____ Jenny last night?" (see)"No, I ____, but I ____ her brother. He ____ Jenny didn't feel well." (see - say)
"Did you see Jenny last night?""No, I didn't, but I saw her brother. He said Jenny didn't feel well."
3"____ you ____ your homework yesterday?" (do)"Yes, I ____, but I ____ some questions difficult." (find)
"
4"____ Sarah ____ to the park in the morning?" (go)"No, she ____. She ____ to the library to study." (go)
"Did Sarah go to the park in the morning?""No, she didn't. She went to the library to study."