The document discusses the different types of verbs in English, including regular verbs which form the past tense by adding "d" or "ed" and irregular verbs which are unpredictable in how they change form in the past tense. It provides tips for properly forming regular and irregular past tense verbs as well as past participles. Examples are given to illustrate the rules for forming different verb tenses and avoiding common mistakes.

1. Past Tense Verbs:
BY WILSON MORILLO

2. English has only two kinds of verbs, each
with the same three main parts.
(1) REGULAR (2) IRREGULAR
Infinitive: to WALK Infinitive: to FLY
Past tense: WALKED Past tense: FLEW
(no helping verb used) (no helping verb used)
Past participle: Past participle:
WALKED FLOWN
(always with helping verb) (always with helping
verb)

3. Every verb tense in English is formed from these
three principal parts.
I love you.
I will love you always.
I loved you in the past, but at the time you didn’t
love me.
I had loved you long before you spoke to me in our
writing class.
I wanted you to love me for myself, not for my
ability to correct comma splices.

4. What’s the difference between a regular
and an irregular verb?
A regular verb never changes the main verb itself;
it just adds a d or an ed when describing past
actions:
 dance—danced talk—talked
Irregular verbs are unpredictable. When
describing past actions, they might (1) stay the
same, (2) change just a part of the word, or (3)
change the whole word:
 cut— cut grow—grew think— thought

5. Regular past tense verbs: Tip #1
Remember to add the d or ed endings to mark
the past, especially those endings that we don’t
hear clearly!
 Every day, I walk to work.
 Yesterday, I walked to work.
 For weeks now, I have walked to work.
 Every night, we dance till dawn.
 Last night, we danced till dawn.
 On many nights, we have danced till dawn.

6. REGULAR past tense verbs: Tip #2
Be extra careful when the word “to” follows a past
tense verb; it’s easy to forget the verb ending because
we don’t hear it.
 Grammar use to be easy.
 This is suppose to be fun.
d
d

7. Regular past tense verbs:Tip #3
Remember to use the “change y to i when you add –
ed ” rule!
Present Past
We testify. We testified.
They apply. They have
applied.

8. Irregular past tense verbs:Tip #1
Some verbs stay the same in the present and the
past. Don’t be tempted to add an ending.
Present Past
I quit! Yesterday I quit!
They cost a lot Earlier, they had
nowadays. cost a lot.

9. Irregular past tense verbs: Tip #2
The past tense of “TO BE” has both a singular and
a plural form. Watch the subject/verb agreement.
Present Past
Singular Today she is Yesterday she
happy. was happy.
Plural Today they are Yesterday they
happy. were happy

10. What About Other Tenses?
All other past-tense verbs are formed from the past
participle and some kind of a helping verb like has/
have/ had/ is/ was/ were:
 He has asked the $64,000 question.
 The case was decided in their favor.
 She had written a prize-winning essay.
 You have been selected to enter the Publishers Clearinghouse
sweepstakes!

11. Past participles of regular verbs end in d
or ed, just as the past tense verb does.
Present Past Past
Participle
talk talked (has) talked
depend depended (has) depended
testify testified (has) testified
scare scared (has) scared

12. Unfortunately, the past participles of
irregular verbs are as unpredictable as the
past tense is.
Present Past Past Present Past Past
participle participle
begin began begun go went gone
become became become see saw seen
choose chose chosen forget forgot forgotten
cut cut cut give gave given
lead led led do did done

13. And just to make things really
confusing, there’s always…
Present Past Past Participle
lie (=recline) lay has lain
lay (=put) laid has laid
sit sat has sat
set (=place) set has set

14. Warning: Potential Trouble Spot!
Past participles are often used as adjectives, to
describe other words. Remember the –ed ending!
 What is the prescribe solution?
( = the solution which someone has prescribed)
 You seem shock . d
( = something has shocked you)
ed

15. Try some out! Are there any missing endings
below?
She appears to be a very prejudice person.
d
My critical thinking teacher was astonish that I
finished the quiz so early. ed
I think everything is finally settle to everyone’s
satisfaction. d

16. Warning: Potential Trouble Spot #2!
Don’t confuse the past tense of the irregular verbs
(no helping verb) with the past participle (with
helping verb).
 I begun my homework early this week.
X
began: past tense
 He had gave me his address.
begun: past participle
X
gave: past tense
given: past participle

17. Warning: Potential Trouble Spot #3!
Watch the passive verbs (= a combination of is,
are, was, were, be, been, or being plus the past
participle). Be sure to use the participle form.
 My heart is broken.
(not is broke)
 The course was well designed.
(not was well design)
 The report will soon be written.
(not will soon be wrote).

18. And that’s all there is to it!
Verbs are easy, when you
understand the system!