PAST SIMPLE

OF REGULAR AND
IRREGULAR VERBS
 We use the Past Simple for
actions that started and
finished in the past.

E.g. Julia and I watched a film last week.

My mother prepared dinner yesterday.
 We use the Past Simple for actions
happening one after the other in the past.

E.g. He washed his hands and dried them.

She got up, took her bag and left.
They went to the cinema, bought
popcorn and watched a movie.
 THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF VERBS:
REGULAR VERBS
IRREGULAR VERBS
 The difference between a regular
verb and an irregular verb is the formation
of the Past Simple and Past Participle.
 The Past Simple and Past Participle of
regular verbs end in “-ed” while the Past
Simple and Past Participle of irregular
verbs can end in a variety of ways, with no
consistent pattern.
 REGULAR VERBS
 We form the Past Simple of
regular verbs by adding the
suffix “–ed” to the infinitive.
E.g. I walked to school yesterday.
The concert started at 10 o’clock.
Mark listened to music last night.
 Verbs ending in –e, add –d.
E.g. arrive arrived; change changed
dance danced; receive received
Verbs ending in a consonant + - y, change the –y to –i and add
–ed.
E.g. study studied; try tried;
carry carried; cry cried;
Verbs ending in a vowel + - y, add – ed.
E.g. play played; stay stayed
 Verbs ending in a consonant after a stressed vowel,
double the consonant and add –ed.
E.g. stop stopped; clap clapped
plan planned;

Verbs ending in –l, double the –l and add

–ed.
E.g. travel travelled;
 IRREGULAR VERBS
Past Simple of irregular verbs can end in
a variety of ways, with no consistent pattern.
Irregular verbs have special forms at Past
Simple.
E.g. build built; buy bought;
come came; do did;
eat ate; forgive forgave
know knew; fall fell;
 Typical expressions used
with Past Simple Tense:
• yesterday
• the day before
• two days ago
• last week / month / Sunday / year
• in 2010
• a year ago
• 3 years ago
• then
• once
 We use the the same form of the verb every
time regardless the subject.

regular verbs : irregular verbs :

•I played football. •I went to the supermarket.
•She talked with him. •He wrote this book.
•They travelled to London.
London •We bought a car yesterday.
yesterday
 We use the auxiliary did (Simple Past
of do) every time regardless the subject.

regular verbs: irregular verbs :

•I did not play football. •I did not go to the supermarket
•She did not talk with him. •He did not write this book.

NOTE!: We often use short forms in

negative sentences in the Simple
Past.
regular verbs: irregular verbs :
•I didn't play football. •I didn’t go to the supermarket
•She didn’t talk with him. •He didn’t write this book.
 We use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every
time regardless the subject.

regular verbs : irregular verbs:

•Did you play football? •Did I go to the supermarket?
•Did she talk with him? •Did he write this book?
• Did they travel to London? •Did you break your leg
yesterday?
 We use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every
time regardless the subject.
Did I eat breakfast? Yes, I did. No, I didn't.
Did he eat breakfast? Yes, he did. No, he didn't.

Did she eat breakfast? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.

Did it eat breakfast? Yes, it did. No, it didn't.

Did we eat breakfast? Yes, we did. No, we didn't.
Did you eat breakfast? Yes, you did. No, you didn't.
Did they eat breakfast? Yes, they did. No, they didn't.