The Past Simple (Regular Verbs)
A regular verb is a verb that forms its past tense by adding '-ed' to its base form.
Examples:
work (v)
worked (p)
play (v)played (p)
Let's take a look at the different forms of the Past Simple tense for the verb "work".
Positive
I worked ... .
You worked ... .
He worked ... .
She worked ... .
It worked ... .
We worked ... .
You worked ... .
They worked ... .
Negative
I did not work ... . / I didn't work ... .
You did not work ... . / You didn't work ... .
He did not work ... . / He didn't work ... .
She did not work ... . / She didn't work ... .
It did not work ... . / It didn't work ... .
We did not work ... . / We didn't work ... .
You did not work ... . / You didn't work ... .
They did not work ... . / They didn't work ... .
Positive Questions
Did I work ... ?
Did you work ... ?
Did he work ... ?
Did she work ... ?
Did it work ... ?
Did we work ... ?
Did you work... ?
Did they work ... ?
Negative Questions
Did I not work ...? / Didn't I work ... ?
Did you not work ... ? / Didn't you work ... ?
Did he not work ... ? / Didn't he work ... ?
Did she not work ... ? / Didn't she work ... ?
Did it not work ... ? / Didn't it work ... ?
Did we not work ... ? / Didn't we work ... ?
Did you not work ... ? / Didn't you work ... ?
Did they not work ... ? / Didn't they work ... ?
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, and we do not add '-ed' to it.
Examples:
+We stayed at home last night.
-We didn't stay at home last night.
+?Did you stay at home last night?
-?Didn't you stay at home last night? / Did you not stay at home last night?
Yes, we did. / No, we didn't.
When a regular verb ends in 'y' preceded by a consonant, we change the 'y' to 'i' before adding '-ed' to form the Past Simple tense.
Examples:
studystudied
trytried
If a regular verb ends in 'e,' we just add '-d' to make the Past Simple tense.
Examples:
decidedecided
loveloved
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".
Examples:
planplanned
stopstopped
For regular verbs that end in a /t/ or /d/ sound, the '-ed' ending sounds like /ɪd/.
Examples:
decided/dɪˈsaɪdɪd/
wanted/ˈwɑːntɪd/
For regular verbs that end in /p/, /f/, /k/, /ʧ/, /ʃ/, or /s/, the '-ed' ending sounds like /t/.
Examples:
stopped/stɑːpt/
laughed/læft/
picked/pɪkt/
watched/wɑːtʃt/
washed/wɑːʃt/
passed/pæst/
Exercises
Complete the sentences using the Simple Past form of the verbs in parentheses. Use contractions wherever possible.
1"____ you ____ law at university?" (study)"No, I ____. I ____ sociology." (study)
"Did you study law at university?""No, I didn't. I studied sociology."
2"How was your trip to the island? ____ you ____ it?" (like)"Yes, we ____. we ____ to come back home." (not / want)
"How was your trip to the island? Did you like it?""Yes, we did. We didn't want to come back home."
3"____ you ____ the football match last night?" (watch)"No, I ____. I ____ late last night." (work)
"Did you watch the football match last night?""No, I didn't. I worked late last night."
4"I ____ Tom three times yesterday, but he ____." (call - not / answer)"Maybe his phone ____." (not / work)
"I called Tom three times yesterday, but he didn't answer.""Maybe his phone didn't work."