This document discusses the past tense in English. It explains that the past tense is used to talk about actions that were completed in the past. It describes the two types of past tense forms for verbs: regular verbs which are made past tense by adding "-d", "-ed", or changing the "y" to an "i" and adding "-ed"; and irregular verbs which have varying forms not predictable from the base verb. Examples of regular and irregular past tense verbs are provided. The document concludes by noting the irregular forms of verbs like "be", "do", "can/could" must be memorized.

1. VERBS
IN
PAST
TENSE
Meaning & Use
Form (structure)

2. Objective
To understand and use the past tense, to
know the form of the regular and
irregular past.

3. When do we use the Past
tense?
We use the past tense to express
the idea that an action started and
finished in the past.

4. Time Expressions
Yesterday, last week, last month,
last year, ago and so on.
I saw Maria yesterday.
Last Friday, the students took their
exam.

5. How do we form the
past tense of the verb?

6. English has two types of
verbs in the past tense:
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs

7. Regular Verbs
The past tense of a regular verbs
are formed by adding – d, ed, or
changing y to i and add ed.

8. Simple Form
Live
Place
Walk
Talk
Study
Carry
Past Tense Form
Lived
Placed
Walked
Talked
Studied
Carried
Add d
Add ed
Change y to i and
add ed

9. The past tense of some irregular
verbs are formed by having a vowel
change in the past tense.
Simple Form
Become
Give
Drive
Forget
Past Tense
Became
Gave
Drove
Forgot

10. Some irregular verbs change their
spelling entirely.
Simple Form
Teach
Bring
Leave
Hear
Buy
Past Tense Form
Taught
Brought
Left
Heard
Bought

11. Some irregular verbs don’t change
at all.
Simple Form
Hit
Put
Set
Past Tense Form
Hit
Put
Set

12. The form of the verb to be is am, is and are in
the present tense and was/were in the past.
The form of the verb to do is do, and does in the
present tense and did in the past.
As for can, will and shall in the present tense
and could, would and should in the past.

13. Unfortunately, these forms
must be memorized!
Questions?