Past simple

(irregular verbs)
Function: When do we use it?
1. To talk about completed or finished actions in the past.

He travelled in the past. The

Last year, I travelled to France by train. action is completed. He isn’t
travelling now.

2. To describe states or feelings from a specific time in the past.

It was fun! I really liked France. He had these feelings at this

specific time in the past (last year).

3. Often used with past time expressions (which refer to specific times).

Other past time expressions used

with the past simple are:
1. Yesterday Irregular verbs in
Last year, I travelled to France by train. 2. Last month/year/week the past simple.
3. 10 years/a month ago
4. In 1997
Function and form: Irregular verbs
I went shopping last
I made a cake for my
week and bought a I did my homework
friend’s birthday and sang
new dress. yesterday evening.
happy birthday.

I had a drink in a small café verb infinitive verb past simple

last month and saw a famous
footballer.
sing sang
I won a singing competition at
do did
school two days ago and they
wrote about it in the local go went
newspaper.
have had
I knew my boss before I started know knew
working at the shop.
see saw
make made
Look at the statements above. Find the buy bought
past simple irregular forms of the verbs to
complete the table. The first one is done win won
for you.
write wrote
Function and form: irregular verbs
I went shopping last I made a cake for my I had a drink in a small café
I did my homework last month and saw a
week and bought a friend’s birthday and sang
yesterday evening. famous footballer.
new dress. happy birthday.

verb infinitive verb past simple

I won a singing competition at I knew my boss before I
school two days ago and they started working at the
sing sang wrote about it in the local shop.
do did newspaper.

go went
have had
These are just a few examples
know knew
of past simple irregular verbs.
see saw
make made
buy bought
Make a list of all the different
win won irregular verbs you find. You Making
need to learn them! questions in the
write wrote past simple...
Practice activities
Complete the gaps using the verbs in brackets.

did get bought

1. A: Where…………………Tina…………………..(get) her new car? B: She…………………..(buy) it at the local garage.

saw Did say

2. A: I…………………………….(see) your aunt last week. B: …………………….she……………………(say) hello?

Did win won

3. A: …………………..you……………………..(win) the race last month? B: No, I didn’t. A girl from Germany…………(win).

did do went
4. A: What……………..your family……………….(do) at the weekend? B: They…………………..(go) to a museum.

wrote
5. A: I didn’t write to you last week! Sorry! B: Don’t worry! Your brother……………….(write) me an email.

sang Did cry

6. A: Taylor……………………(sing) at a wedding three days ago. It was beautiful! B: ………………you…………….(cry)?