What do we use the past simple for?
We use the past simple to talk about completed actions in the past, For example:
I went abroad on holiday last year.
Form: how to create your own sentences
In the affirmative:
| SUBJECT | PAST VERB |
| I | WALKED |
| YOU | WALKED |
| HE/SHE/IT | WALKED |
| THEY | WALKED |
| WE | WALKED |
| YOU (ALL) | WALKED |
For example:
I walked to school every day when I was a child.
In the negative:
| SUBJECT | AUXILIARY | VERB |
| I | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
| YOU | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
| HE/SHE/IT | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
| THEY | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
| WE | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
| YOU (ALL) | DID NOT/DIDN´T | WALK |
For example:
I didn´t walk home from work last night.
In the interrogative:
| AUXILIARY | SUBJECT | VERB + ? |
| DID | I | WALK? |
| DID | YOU | WALK? |
| DID | HE/SHE/IT | WALK? |
| DID | THEY | WALK? |
| DID | WE | WALK? |
| DID | YOU (ALL) | WALK? |
For example:
Did you go walk to work yesterday?
Regular and irregular verbs
In the English language there are both regular and irregular verbs. The regular verbs are easy as they all end in ed, for example walked, listened and decided. The only difficulty occurs with pronunciation as there are three ways of doing this, /id/ /t/ /d/. Irregular verbs on the other hand are more difficult as no real pattern seems to occur, therefore you must study this list extensively. The good news is that verb conjugations are easy in the past, for instance, go = went. Look at how the verb is conjugated.
Regular verbs always end in …ed, but they are pronounced /id/ /t/ /d/
Practice exercises in PDF
(NEW) GAPS FILL: IRREGULAR VERBS
(NEW) IRREGULAR VERBS GAPS FILL: PAST SIMPLE 2
Irregular verbs
The best thing to do is memorize the irregular verbs with example sentences. Practice writing them in the affirmative, negative and interrogative
| SUBJECT | TO GO | PAST |
| I | GO | WENT |
| YOU | GO | WENT |
| HE/SHE/IT | GOES | WENT |
| WE | GO | WENT |
| YOU (ALL) | GO | WENT |
| THEY | GO | WENT |
It is worth remembering that the verb to be in the past is a little different:
| SUBJECT | TO BE |
| I | WAS |
| YOU | WERE |
| HE/SHE/IT | WAS |
| WE | WERE |
| YOU (ALL) | WERE |
| THEY | WERE |
Participle: BEEN
You can see here that verbs are not conjugated in the past and you only need to learn one form (APART FROM THE VERB TO BE). Be careful with the negative as it is not I didn´t went but I didn´t go
We have provided a list of the essential 100 IRREGULAR VERBS that you need to memorize to be able to master the English language. They are in alphabetical order to make the more organised and easier to remember. It is a good idea to memorise the participle also so that you can form phrases in the present perfect. REMEMBER THAT YOU SHOULD LEARN NEW WORDS AS A PHRASE:
Choose:
I always choose pizza at a restaurant.
I chose a sandwich yesterday in the canteen.
I have chosen German instead of French at university.
DOWNLOAD THE IRREGULAR VERB LIST HERE
| INFINITIVE | PAST | PARTICIPLE |
| BE | WAS/WERE | BEEN |
| BECOME | BECAME | BECOME |
| BEGIN | BEGAN | BEGUN |
| BET | BET | BET |
| BITE | BIT | BITTEN |
| BLEED | BLED | BLED |
| BLOW | BLEW | BLOWN |
| BREAK | BROKE | BROKEN |
| BRING | BROUGHT | BROUGHT |
| BUILD | BUILT | BUILT |
| BURN | BURNT | BURNT |
| BUY | BOUGHT | BOUGHT |
| CATCH | CAUGHT | CAUGHT |
| CHOOSE | CHOSE | CHOSEN |
| COME | CAME | COME |
| COST | COST | COST |
| CUT | CUT | CUT |
| DEAL | DEALT | DEALT |
| DIG | DUG | DUG |
| DO | DID | DONE |
| INFINITIVE | PAST | PARTICIPLE |
| DRAW | DREW | DRAWN |
| DREAM | DREAMT/DREAMED | DREAMT/DREAMED |
| DRINK | DRANK | DRUNK |
| DRIVE | DROVE | DRIVEN |
| EAT | ATE | EATEN |
| FALL | FELL | FALLEN |
| FEED | FED | FED |
| FEEL | FELT | FELT |
| FIGHT | FOUGHT | FOUGHT |
| FIND | FOUND | FOUND |
| FLY | FLEW | FLOWN |
| FORGET | FORGOT | FORGOTTEN |
| FORGIVE | FORGAVE | FORGIVEN |
| FREEZE | FROZE | FROZEN |
| GET | GOT | GOT/GOTTEN |
| GIVE | GAVE | GIVEN |
| GO | WENT | GONE |
| GROW | GREW | GROWN |
| HANG | HUNG | HUNG |
| HAVE | HAD | HAD |
| INFINITIVE | PAST | PARTICIPLE |
| HEAR | HEARD | HEARD |
| HIDE | HID | HIDDEN |
| HIT | HIT | HIT |
| HOLD | HELD | HELD |
| HURT | HURT | HURT |
| KEEP | KEPT | KEPT |
| KNOW | KNEW | KNOWN |
| LEAVE | LEFT | LEFT |
| LEAD | LED | LED |
| LEARN | LEARNT/LEARNED | LEARNT/LEARNED |
| LEND | LENT | LENT |
| LET | LET | LET |
| LIGHT | LIT | LIT |
| LOSE | LOST | LOST |
| MAKE | MADE | MADE |
| MEAN | MEANT | MEANT |
| MEET | MET | MET |
| PAY | PAID | PAID |
| PUT | PUT | PUT |
| READ | READ /RED/ | READ /RED/ |
| INFINITIVE | PAST | PARTICIPLE |
| RIDE | RODE | RIDDEN |
| RING | RANG | RUNG |
| RISE | ROSE | RISEN |
| RUN | RAN | RUN |
| SAY | SAID | SAID |
| SEE | SAW | SEEN |
| SELL | SOLD | SOLD |
| SEND | SENT | SENT |
| SET | SET | SET |
| SEW | SEWED | SEWN |
| SHAKE | SHOOK | SHAKEN |
| SHINE | SHONE | SHONE |
| SHOOT | SHOT | SHOT |
| SHOW | SHOWED | SHOWN |
| SHUT | SHUT | SHUT |
| SING | SANG | SUNG |
| SINK | SANK | SUNK |
| SIT | SAT | SAT |
| SLEEP | SLEPT | SLEPT |
| SPEAK | SPOKE | SPOKEN |
| INFINITIVE | PAST | PARTICIPLE |
| SPELL | SPELT | SPELT |
| SPEND | SPENT | SPENT |
| SPOIL | SPOILT/SPOILED | SPOILT/SPOILED |
| STAND | STOOD | STOOD |
| STEAL | STOLE | STOLEN |
| STICK | STUCK | STUCK |
| SWEAR | SWORE | SWORN |
| SWEEP | SWEPT | SWEPT |
| SWIM | SWAM | SWUM |
| TAKE | TOOK | TAKEN |
| TEACH | TAUGHT | TAUGHT |
| TEAR | TORE | TORN |
| TELL | TOLD | TOLD |
| THINK | THOUGHT | THOUGHT |
| THROW | THREW | THROWN |
| UNDERSTAND | UNDERSTOOD | UNDERSTOOD |
| WAKE | WOKE | WOKEN |
| WEAR | WORE | WORN |
| WIN | WON | WON |
| WRITE | WROTE | WRITTEN |
DOWNLOAD THE IRREGULAR VERB LIST HERE
