This document provides rules for forming the past simple tense of regular verbs in English. It states that most regular verbs are made past by adding "-ed" to the base form. Exceptions include verbs ending in "e", which only add "-d", verbs ending in a consonant + "y" which change the "y" to "i" before adding "-ed", and some one-syllable verbs which double the final consonant before adding "-ed". It provides examples to demonstrate applying these rules to create the past simple form of common English verbs.

1. PASTPAST SIMPLESIMPLE

2. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● Add -ed to the base form of most verbs.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
start started
finish finished
work worked
wash washed

3. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
●
Add only -ed when the base form ends in an e.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
live lived
hate hated
die died
joke joked

4. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● If the verb ends in a consonant + y, change the y to
i and add –ed.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
study studied
carry carried
try tried
copy copied

5. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● If the verb ends in a vowel + y, do not change the
y. Just add – ed.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
play played
stay stayed
destroy destroyed
pray prayed

6. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● If the verb has one syllable and ends in a consonant + vowel
+ consonant (CVC),double the final consonant and add –ed.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
stop stopped
rob robbed
ban banned
mop mopped

7. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● Do not double final w or x.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
sew sewed
mix mixed

8. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● If the verb has two syllables, and the final syllable is
stressed, double the final consonant.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
admit admitted
occur ocurred
permit permitted

9. REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBS
● If the verb has two syllables, and the final syllable is not
stressed, do not double the final consonant.
BASE FORM PAST SIMPLE
happen happened
listen listened
open opened

10. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
● I wanted to learn English.
● You listened to music yesterday.
● He played football in Mexico.
● We lived in a flat two year ago.
● She used the correct word in this
exercise.
● They liked Rome.