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.
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
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 to the verb.
work → worked
This lesson covers only regular verbs. You will learn irregular verbs separately.
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, then add -ed
study → studied
cry → cried
try → tried
If the verb ends in a vowel + y (e.g. play, stay), do NOT change the y — just add -ed: play → played, stay → stayed.
4.4 Double the final consonant (sometimes)
Some one-syllable verbs end in one vowel + one consonant. Double the final consonant before adding -ed.
stop → stopped
plan → planned
Double only when the verb ends in ONE vowel + ONE consonant:
- stop (o + p) → stopped ✓
- help (l + p — two consonants) → helped, NOT *helpped
- work (r + k — two consonants) → worked, NOT *workked
Do not double w, x, or y — these letters are exceptions to the doubling rule.
fix → fixed (not fixxed)
play → played (not playyed)
show → showed (not showwed)
Do NOT double the consonant in longer verbs:
- visit → visited (not visitted)
- open → opened (not openned)
5. Positive sentences (regular verbs)
The verb form is the same for I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
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)
Structure
To make a negative sentence, use did not (didn't).
- Subject + did not + base verb + rest of sentence
After did not / didn't, always use the base verb — do NOT add -ed.
✗ I didn't worked yesterday.
✓ I didn't work yesterday.
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 I work yesterday?
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, I did.
Yes, he/she/it did.
Yes, you/we/they did.
No, I didn't.
No, he/she/it didn't.
No, you/we/they didn't.
8. Summary
Remember:
- Use the past simple for finished past actions.
- Most regular verbs: add -ed → work → worked.
- Verbs ending in -e: add -d → live → lived.
- Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i, then add -ed → study → studied.
- Short verbs ending in one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant → stop → stopped.
- Common time words: yesterday, last night, last week, last year.
I worked yesterday.
She studied last night.
He stopped the car.
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Vocabulary in this lesson
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Past Simple – regular verbs
A1Past simple (Regular verbs)
27 wordsLast updated July 15, 2026