Past Simple (Irregular verbs)
Grammar learning path:Past simple formsIrregular 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
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
A1Past Simple (Irregular verbs)
30 wordsLast updated August 23, 2026