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Past Simple (Irregular verbs)

Grammar learning path:Past simple forms
By the flumi team About 5 min read 30 vocabulary wordsPractice exercises
Past simple forms

Irregular verbs are very common in English.

Unlike regular verbs, they do not form the past simple by adding -ed. Instead, each irregular verb has its own past form.

In this lesson, you will learn:

  • what irregular verbs are
  • some of the most common irregular verbs
  • how to make positive sentences, negatives, and questions
  • the special rule for the verb be
  • common time words used with the past simple

1. What Are Irregular Verbs?

Regular verbs form the past simple by adding -ed.

Irregular verbs are different. They change in their own way, so you need to learn each past form individually.

Base verb Past simple
walk walked
play played
go went
eat ate
see saw

There is no single rule for irregular verbs.

The best way to learn them is to practice a few new verbs every day.

2. Common Irregular Verbs

Here are some of the most common irregular verbs in English.

Base verb Past simple
be was / were
have had
do did
go went
get got
make made
come came
see saw
eat ate
drink drank
take took
give gave
say said
sit sat

The only common exception is the verb be, which has two past forms: was and were. You will learn these in Section 6.

3. Making Positive Sentences

In positive sentences, use the past form of the irregular verb.

Pattern
Subject + irregular past verb + (object / place / time)

I went home.

She ate breakfast.

They saw the teacher.

We came early.

Most irregular verbs use the same past form with every subject — there is no extra change.

  • I went
  • She went
  • They went

4. Making Negative Sentences

For almost all verbs, use didn't + base verb.

The irregular verb changes back to its base form.

The verb didn't also stays the same for every subject.

Pattern
Subject + didn't + base verb

I didn't go.

She didn't eat breakfast.

They didn't see the teacher.

After did or didn't, always use the base verb.

✓ I didn't go.

✗ I didn't went.

Quick check

Try one question now

1
Last summer, I to Spain with my family.

Check your answer when you are ready.

5. Asking Questions

Questions use the same pattern.

Pattern
Did + subject + base verb?

Did you go to school?

Did she eat breakfast?

Did they see the teacher?

Short Answers

Question Yes No
Did you go? Yes, I did. No, I didn't.
Did she eat? Yes, she did. No, she didn't.

Wh- Questions

To ask for more information, use:

Wh-word + did + subject + base verb?

Where did you go?

What did she eat?

When did they come home?

6. The Special Case: Be

The verb be is different.

It does not use did in the past.

Positive Negative Question
She was tired. She wasn't tired. Was she tired?
They were late. They weren't late. Were they late?

Never use did with was or were.

✓ Was she tired?

✓ She wasn't tired.

✗ Did she was tired?

✗ She didn't was tired.

7. Time Words That Show the Past

These time expressions often tell you that you need the past simple.

Time word Example
yesterday I went yesterday.
last night She saw him last night.
last weekend They came last weekend.
two days ago We came back two days ago.
in 2022 He went there in 2022.

8. Quick Summary

When you use an irregular verb, follow these simple rules.

Sentence type Rule
Positive Use the irregular past form.
Negative Use didn't + base verb.
Question Use Did + subject + base verb?
Verb be Use was / were, wasn't / weren't, Was...? / Were...?

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Past simple forms

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Past Simple (Irregular verbs)

30 words

Last updated August 23, 2026