Past Simple (Regular verbs)

In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about finished actions in the past using regular verbs.

1. What is the past simple?

We use the past simple for actions finished in the past.

Example:

• “I watched a movie yesterday. (It happened in the past; it is finished now.)”

2. When do you use the past simple?

You use the past simple when you talk about a past time that is complete, for example:

• yesterday
• last night
• last week / last year
• two days ago
• in (a past year), e.g. in 2019

Examples:

• “I worked at home yesterday.”
• “She studied last night.”
• “We visited my family last weekend.”

3. What are regular verbs?

Regular verbs form the past simple by adding -ed.

Base verb: work → Past simple: worked.

Base verb: play → Past simple: played.

This lesson looks only at regular verbs. Irregular verbs are different, but you do not need them for this lesson.

Basic rule: verb + -ed.

Examples:

• work → worked
• play → played
• clean → cleaned
• watch → watched

In the past simple, the verb form is the same for I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.

Example:

• “I worked.”
• “He worked.”
• “She worked.”
• “It worked.”
• “You worked.”
• “We worked.”
• “They worked.”

4. Spelling rules for regular verbs

4.1 Add -ed (most verbs)

• work → worked
• help → helped
• listen → listened

4.2 Verbs ending in -e: add -d

• live → lived
• like → liked
• use → used

4.3 Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i +ed

• study → studied
• carry → carried
• try → tried

But:

• play → played (vowel + y, no change)

4.4 Double the final consonant (sometimes)

Sometimes double the last letter before -ed in short stressed verbs with consonant + vowel + consonant, for example:

• stop → stopped
• plan → planned

Do not double w, x, or y.

Examples:

• fix → fixed (not fixxed)
• snow → snowed (not snowwed)

5. Positive sentences (regular verbs)

Structure:

• Subject + past verb (-ed) + rest of sentence

Examples:

• “I worked yesterday.”
• “He worked yesterday.”
• “She worked yesterday.”
• “It worked yesterday.”
• “You worked yesterday.”
• “We worked yesterday.”
• “They worked yesterday.”

6. Negative sentences (regular verbs)

To make a negative sentence, use did not (didn't).

Structure:

• Subject + did not + base verb + rest of sentence

Important: After did not, use the base verb (no -ed).

Examples:

• “I did not work yesterday.” → “I didn't work yesterday.”
• “He did not work yesterday.” → “He didn't work yesterday.”
• “She did not work yesterday.” → “She didn't work yesterday.”
• “It did not work yesterday.” → “It didn't work yesterday.”
• “You did not work yesterday.” → “You didn't work yesterday.”
• “We did not work yesterday.” → “We didn't work yesterday.”
• “They did not work yesterday.” → “They didn't work yesterday.”

7. Yes/No questions (regular verbs)

Structure:

• Did + subject + base verb + rest of sentence?

Examples:

• “Did he work yesterday?”
• “Did she work yesterday?”
• “Did it work yesterday?”
• “Did you work yesterday?”
• “Did we work yesterday?”
• “Did they work yesterday?”

Short answers:

• Yes, he/she/it did.
• Yes, you/we/they did.
• No, he/she/it didn't.
• No, you/we/they didn't.

8. Common A1 regular verbs

These verbs are very common:

• work
• play
• watch
• listen
• study
• clean
• cook
• visit
• help
• walk
• talk

9. Easy way to remember

To talk about a finished action in the past, use the past simple. With regular verbs, add -ed: watch → watched. Common time words: yesterday, last night, last week. Example: I watched TV last night.