What Is the Past Simple?
The past simple is for an action that finished in the past. Most verbs add -ed. These are regular verbs. Verbs like go → went come in the next lesson.
PRESENT SIMPLEEvery day
Monday to Friday, every day the same.
I walk to work every day.
PAST SIMPLEYesterday
One time, already finished.
I walked to work yesterday.
HE / SHE + V-EDNo -s
My brother walked to work too.
The verb shows the past: walk → walked. Yesterday says when, but the verb still needs -ed.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Yesterday my dad blank the car."
The form and the spelling
ORDINARY VERB
SV-ed...
They painted the kitchen last month.
One form for every subject: I painted, she painted.
-ED SPELLING
- workworked
- studystudied
- stopstopped
| Word ends in | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -e | add -d | like → liked |
| consonant + y | y → i, add -ed | study → studied |
| vowel + y | add -ed | play → played |
| one vowel + one consonant (short word) | double the last letter | stop → stopped |
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u. Never double w, x or y: snowed. Negatives and questions: lesson 4.
How -ed sounds:
- /t/ after p, k, s, sh, ch, f: helped, looked, washed
- /ɪd/, an extra syllable, after t and d: wanted, needed
- /d/ after other sounds: played, opened
Don't drop the ending. I walk to work yesterday sounds like the present.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"We blank for the exam all weekend."
- Question 2
The -ed in "cooked" sounds like blank
When to use it
A finished action
I cleaned the bathroom this morning.
Started and ended in the past.
Often used with: yesterday · this morning · two days ago · in 2015
One action after another
She opened the box and smiled.
Actions in the order they happened.
Common phrases: and · then · after that
Was, Were or Verb + -ed?
Was and were are the verb be: was bored, were at home. An action verb adds -ed.
| WAS / WERE | VERB + -ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling · action | I was bored. | I phoned a friend. |
| Place · action | We were at the station. | We waited at the station. |
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I blank my homework after dinner."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:She works in a hotel last year.
Correct:She worked in a hotel last year.
Last year is over. Use the past form.
Incorrect:I was watch TV last night.
Correct:I watched TV last night.
No was before an action verb. Just add -ed.
Incorrect:He studyed all night.
Correct:He studied all night.
Consonant + y: change y to i.
Incorrect:We chated online for an hour.
Correct:We chatted online for an hour.
Chat is short and ends a-t. Double the t.
Incorrect:I asked ("ask-id") the teacher.
Correct:I asked ("askt") the teacher.
After a k sound, -ed is just /t/. No extra syllable.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct form:
My uncle lived in Japan in 2018.
- A. lived — Correct
- B. live
- C. lives
Answer: A. lived
One past form for every subject.
Choose the correct spelling:
Hương invited all her classmates to her birthday party last Saturday.
- A. invited — Correct
- B. inviteed
- C. invites
Answer: A. invited
Not two e's.
Choose the correct spelling:
We stayed at a small hotel near the beach in July.
- A. stayed — Correct
- B. staied
- C. stays
Answer: A. stayed
Only consonant + y changes to -ied.
Choose the correct spelling:
We planned the whole trip together last month.
- A. planned — Correct
- B. planed
- C. plans
Answer: A. planned
Short word, one vowel + one consonant.
In which word is -ed an extra syllable, /ɪd/?
needed
- A. needed — Correct
- B. jumped
- C. played
Answer: A. needed
need-ed. Jumped and played have one syllable.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
