This document provides information about forming the simple past tense in English. It discusses spelling rules for regular verbs, which add "-ed" or "-d" depending on the verb ending. Irregular verb forms are also listed. The simple past is used to talk about completed past actions. It discusses forming negative statements and yes/no and information questions in the past tense. Examples are provided throughout.

1. The Simple Past tense:
Spelling rules for
regular verbs

2. Form the past tense of most verbs by adding
-es to the base form.
play played
For verbs ending in –e or –ie, add -d.
smile smileed

3. play played
return
like
change
travel
rain
wait
return
like
change
travel
rain
wait
ed
ed
ed
ed
ed
ed
PRACTICE
arrive arriveed

4. For verbs ending in a consonant and –y , change
the y to –i and add –ed.
stop stop edp
plan plan edn
For one-syllable verbs ending in one vowel
+ one consonant double the consonant and
add –ed.
study studied

5. If the second syllable is stressed, doublé
the consonant and add -ed.
prefer prefer edr
For two syllable verbs ending in one vowel +
one consonant: If the first syllable is stressed,
add -ed.
visit visited

6. Be careful !!!
Do not use –ed for
irregular verbs.

7. IRREGULAR VERBS
eat ate
drink
swim
go
write
meet
run
begin
drank
swam
went
wrote
met
ran
began
buy
understood
read
pay
read
paid
understand
bought

8. The Simple Past tense:
Usage and form

9. Use the SIMPLE PAST TENSE to talk about
completed actions in the past.
My grandparents went to Paris in April.
Last year, we played tennis and did aerobics every day.

10. NEGATIVE FORMS
He didn’t go out last weekend.
Use didn’t + the base form of a verb
They didn’t have a good time.
He didn’t went out last weekend.NOT
NOT
They didn’t had a good time.

11. QUESTIONS
Did you go swimming every day?
Begin yes/no questions with Did.
Use the base form of the verb.
Did you went swimming everyday.NOT

12. Begin information questions with a question Word
followed by did.
Use the base form of the verb.
Where did you go shopping?
When did he arrive?
What did they eat everyday?

13. Change each affirmative statement into
a negative statement.
I slept all night.
I didn’t sleep all night.
We went swimming.
We didn’t go swimming.
She ate a lot of food.
She didn’t eat a lot of food.

14. They drank a lot of coffee.
They didn’t drink a lot of coffee.
We had dinner at eight.
We didn’t have dinner at eight.
He bought postcards.
He didn’t buy postcards.

15. Thank you…
Patricia Saavedra Incháustegui