This document provides information about past tense verbs, including regular and irregular verbs. It discusses six spelling rules for forming the past tense of regular verbs, such as adding "ed" or changing letter combinations before adding "ed". The document also describes memorization techniques like L.T.C.W.C (Look, Think, Cover, Write, Check) and using mental images or "loci" to remember words. It includes examples and a brief quiz to test understanding of past tense verbs.

1. Going to the Past with Verbs
EDC 601 Instructional Technologies
Project 2: Hypermedia Tutorial Project
Dr. Stephen Gareau, Ph.D.
By Jorge L. Torres
Nov. 09, 2010

2. Past Tense Verb Guide
What is a verb?
Past Tense Verb
Regular and Irregular verbs
6- Spelling Rules for Regular
First rule
Second rule
Third rule
Fourth rule
Fifth rule
Sixth rule
Memorizing Techniques
L.T.C.W.C
“loci”
Summary 6-Rules
Quiz
Reference
1
2
3
4a
4b
4c
6
8
5
4d
4e
4f
5a
5b

3. What is a Verb?
The verb is perhaps the most important part of
the sentence. A verb or compound verb
(auxiliary or helping verb + verb) asserts
something about the subject of the sentence
and expresses actions, events, or states of
being (linking verbs).
The verb or compound
verb is the critical
element of the
predicate of a sentence.
Example: Dracula bites
his victims on the neck.
For more visit: http://www.learnenglish.de

4. Past Tense Verb
It is a verb tense that indicates an action
that has already occurred in the past and
which does not extend into the present. The
simple past tense of regular verbs is
marked by the ending -d, -ed, or -t.
Irregular verbs have a variety of endings.

5. Regular and Irregular Verbs
Regular verb is a verb that forms its past
tense (past tense means that the action has
already been completed) by adding -d or -ed or
in some cases –t to the base form. Contrast
with Irregular Verbs. Examples:
Last week, Susie jumped over the table.
Earlier this morning, Bob talked with his mom.
Online-related videos
http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/past-tense-regular-verbs.html
Start Stop

6. Regular and Irregular Verbs
Irregular verb is a verb that does not follow
the usual rules for verb forms. Verbs in English
are irregular if they don't have a conventional -
ed form (like asked or ended). Examples:
Yesterday, Mrs. Torres taught her students
about Halloween. Peter and Samuel ate three
apples at school for lunch two days ago.

7. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The first rule is to add the letters “ed” to the
end of the base form of most verbs. Examples:
start + ed =started
finish + ed =finished
wash + ed =washed
cook + Ed =cooked
wish + ed =wished
play + ed =played

8. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The second rule is to add only the letter “d” to
the end of the base form when it ends in an e.
Examples:
live + ed =lived
care + ed =cared
die + ed =died
hope + ed =hoped
hate + ed =hated
love + ed =loved

9. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The third rule is if the verb ends in a
consonant + “y”, change the “y” to “i”, add
“ed”. Examples:
dry replace y with i + ed = dried
carry replace y with i + ed = carried
spy replace y with i + ed = spied
try replace y with i + ed = tried

10. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The fourth rule is if the verb ends in a vowel+
“y”, do not change the “y”, just+“ed”. Examples:
pray + ed = prayed
stay + ed = stayed
destroy + ed = destroyed
play + ed = played
prey + ed = preyed
display + ed = displayed

11. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The fifth rule is if the verb has one syllable
and ends in a consonant + vowel +
consonant (CVC), double the final consonant
and add “ed” to the end. Examples:
stop + p + ed =stopped
rob + b + ed =robbed
beg + g + ed =begged

12. Spelling rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
The sixth rule is an exception to the
previous rule. When the verb ends in “w” or
“x”, do not double the final “w” or “x”. Just
add “ed”. Examples:
sew + ed =sewed
mix + ed =mixed
row + ed =rowed
mow + ed =mowed
fix + ed =fixed

13. Memorizing Techniques
Students who have a natural ability to easily
memorize facts, figures, and procedures may
have an easier time taking tests and may earn
higher scores on exams. After all, being able to
memorize more easily allows you to quickly
answer fact-based questions and provide more
detailed answers on essay questions.
Fortunately, there are different
techniques that can help you
improve your memory.

14. LOOK - THINK - COVER - WRITE – CHECK
LOOK carefully at the new word. How can you
break it into smaller bits? Do any of the smaller
bits remind you of the patterns of letters from
other words?
THINK about the parts of the words which
might cause problems - double letters for
instance, or a vowel that isn't pronounced as
you would expect.

15. LOOK - THINK - COVER - WRITE – CHECK
COVER the word and close your eyes. Try to
see it in your mind's eye.
WRITE the word down without looking back.
CHECK to see if you're right. If not, look
carefully at where you went wrong and try
again.
Repeat the entire process with every word that
you want to memorize.

16. “loci”
There are many theories and ideas about
improving memory, but there is one mnemonic
method that has been around since ancient
times. Ancient accounts show that early Greek
and Roman orators used the "loci" method of
remembering long speeches and lists. You may
be able to use this method to enhance your
memory at test time.

17. The term ”loci” refers to places or locations. To
use the loci system, you will first need to think
of a place or route that you can picture in your
head very clearly. It can be your house, your
school bus route, or any place
“loci”
that contains clear landmarks
or rooms. Then relate each
word with such
place/location.

18. Summary 6-Rules
• Add “ed” at the end of most verbs
• Add “d” if verb ends in an “e”.
• When verb ends in “y” replace with “i”,+“ed”.
• When verb ends in a vowel + “y”, just +“ed”.
• One syllable verb ends in CVC, double final C
+“ed”.
• When verb ends in “w” or “x”, do not double
it. Just add “ed”

19. Quiz
The first sentence in each set contains a verb in
the present tense. Complete the second
sentence in each set by adding -d or -ed to the
verb in parentheses to form the past tense.
When you're done, check your responses.
Start quiz

20. Carrot Top uses unusual props in his comedy
act. Recently he (use) a double-wide toilet
seat.
Halley's Comet appears every 76 years. It last
(appear) in 1986.
We rarely punish the children. However, we
(punish) them yesterday for spray-painting
the dog.
Wallace likes knitting and reading the
newspaper. Even as a boy, he (like) to invent
things.
Quiz
1
2
3
4

21. Wallace enjoys Wensleydale cheese and a nice
cup of tea. When he was younger, Wallace
(enjoy) cheddar cheese.
I usually purchase a season ticket from the
box office. Yesterday I (purchase) a ticket
over the Internet.
Gromit graduates from college today. Last
year he (graduate) from Dogwarts University.
Please carry this invention upstairs for me. I
(carry) it into the house.
Quiz
5
6
7
8

22. Mookie and Buddy cry when they are hungry.
Last night they (cry) for over an hour.
Gromit tries very hard to be helpful. He (try)
too hard last week.
Quiz
9
10

23. References
Concepts
Verb concept. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/verbs.html
Past Tense Verb, Regular, and Irregular verb concept.
Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from http://grammar.about.com
Spelling rules. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5810860/Spelling-Rules-for-Regular-Past-Tense-
Verbs
http://www.kwiznet.com/p/takeQuiz.php?ChapterID=415&CurriculumID=15
Memorizing Techniques. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.studyguidezone.com/memorizationtechniques.htm
Eyes. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Big_eyes.gif
“loci” technique. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/loc
i.htm

24. Look-Think-Cover-Write-Check technique. Retrieved Oct
25, 2010 from http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/#memorizing
Graphics
Old car. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from http://www.johnson-
mortimer.co.uk/2004/gall_pics/car1blend.jpg
Categories of Verbs. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/what-is-a-verb.html
Bulb and head. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.gakusen.ac.jp/faculty/alagna/AlagnaCourse.html%20Fol
ders/ALAGNA.ENG.%201+2.htmFolder/AlagnaSuccessfulHabitsHPFold
er/IdeaLightBulb02.GIF
Girl covering eyes. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.dgcommunity.net/dgcommunity//xMWimages/8025.jpg
References

25. Pen and paper. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3600000/a-
thoughtfull-pen-writing-3647581-2560-1702.jpg
Hand and Magnifier. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.webdesign.org/img_articles/13819/step1.gif
Ancient Greek. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://www.greeceindex.com/greece-ecards/images/greece-
20628535.jpg
“loci” example. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from
http://img.medscape.com/fullsize/migrated/580/273/jnn580273.fig2.gif
Stock Xchange. Note. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from.
http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/f/ft/ftibor/491366_note_paper.jpg
Sounds
Amazing Sounds (2001). Human Generated Sounds. Vehicles.
Retrieved Oct 25, 2010 from http://amazingsounds.iespana.es/en/
References