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Joy English

A2 Grammar

A2Past tense12 min

Past simple: regular and irregular verbs

Talk about finished actions in the past with regular -ed verbs, common irregular verbs and did.

We use the past simple for actions and situations that started and finished in the past. We often say when they happened: yesterday, last week, two days ago, in 2019.

Regular verbs

Regular verbs add -ed: work → worked, visit → visited. Verbs that end in -e add only -d: live → lived. When a verb ends in a consonant + y, change y to -ied: study → studied. Short verbs that end in one vowel + one consonant double the last letter: stop → stopped, plan → planned.

Common irregular verbs

Many common verbs are irregular. There is no rule for them, so it is a good idea to learn them in a list.

VerbPast simpleVerbPast simple
gowentbuybought
havehadseesaw
makemadetaketook
getgoteatate
comecamewritewrote
meetmetleaveleft

Negatives and questions

For negatives and questions, use did or didn't with the base form of the verb. This is the same for regular and irregular verbs, and for every subject.

  • Lena visited her cousins in Valencia last summer.
  • We went to the lake on Sunday and had a picnic.
  • Ravi didn't finish his homework yesterday.
  • Did you see the fireworks? Yes, I did.
  • Where did Aiko buy that lamp?

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the correct past form

Choose the correct word or words to complete each sentence.

  1. We _____ a great film at the cinema last night.

  2. Kofi _____ his grandparents two weeks ago.

  3. I _____ my keys this morning, so I was late for work.

  4. _____ you enjoy the concert last Friday?

  5. Mina didn't _____ to the party because she was ill.

  6. The bus _____ suddenly, and everyone fell forward.

  7. When _____ to this city?

  8. Sofia _____ a long email to her teacher yesterday.

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Write the past simple

Type the verb in the past simple. Use the words in brackets.

  1. Jamal (buy) a new jacket at the market.

  2. We (study) for the test all weekend.

  3. I (not / have) breakfast this morning.

  4. Tomás (plan) a surprise for his mother's birthday.

  5. (you / meet) Aiko at the station yesterday?

  6. The children (eat) all the biscuits!

  7. Lena (not / come) to class on Monday.

  8. My parents (leave) home at seven o'clock this morning.

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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