Past Simple (Regular verbs)
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?
The past simple is used to talk about:
- actions that happened before now
- actions that are finished
- “I watched a movie yesterday.”
(The action is finished.)
2. When Do You Use the Past Simple?
You use the past simple when the time is finished, for example:
- yesterday
- last night
- last week / last year
- two days ago
- in 2023
Examples:
- “I worked yesterday.”
- “She studied last night.”
- “We visited my family last weekend.”
3. What Are Regular Verbs?
Regular verbs are verbs that form the past simple by adding -ed.
This is good news!
Because most English verbs are regular.
Basic Rule:
Verb + -ed
Examples:
- work → worked
- play → played
- clean → cleaned
- watch → watched
The verb does not change for:
I / you / he / she / it / we / 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
- live → lived
- like → liked
- use → used
- study → studied
- carry → carried
- try → tried
- play → played (vowel + y, no change)
- stop → stopped
- plan → planned
5. Positive Sentences (Regular Verbs)
Structure:
Subject + past verb (-ed) + rest of sentence
Examples:
- “I watched TV.”
- “She cleaned the house.”
- “They played football.”
6. Negative Sentences (Regular Verbs)
To make a negative sentence, use did not (didn’t).
Structure:
Subject + did not + base verb
Important rule:
→ After did not, the verb is in the base form (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?
Examples:
- “Did you work yesterday?”
- “Did he/she/it work yesterday?”
- “Did you/we/they work yesterday?”
- Yes → “Yes, I did.”
→ ”Yes, you/we/they did.”
- No → “No, I 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
Past simple = finished action
If you see:
- yesterday
- last night
- last week
Use the past simple
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge with interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises
Past simple – regular verbs
A1Ready to practice Past simple – regular verbs? Take these exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic
Past simple – regular verbs
A1Past simple (Regular verbs)
25 wordsworked
played
verb
To engage in an activity for enjoyment or recreation.
I played soccer with my friends yesterday.
watched
talked
verb
To speak or communicate with someone using words.
I talked to my friend about the movie.
asked
verb
To say something in order to get information or to request something.
She asked me about my weekend plans.
helped
verb
Past tense of 'help'; to assist someone in doing something.
She helped her brother with his homework.
wanted
needed
verb
To require something because it is essential or very important.
I need some help with my homework.
called
verb
To give a name to someone or something.
They called their dog Max.
tried
studied
noun
The act of learning or examining a subject
I have a study session every Saturday.
lived
verb
To have life; to exist.
I live in a small town.
loved
noun
A strong feeling of affection for someone or something.
My love for my family is very strong.
looked
verb
To direct one's gaze in a specified direction.
She looked at the beautiful painting.
cooked
adjective
Food that has been prepared by heating.
I prefer cooked vegetables to raw ones.
walked
opened
verb
To move something so that it is no longer closed.
Please open the window; it’s too hot in here.
closed
adjective
Not open; shut
The store is closed on Sundays.
started
verb
To begin something.
I will start my homework after dinner.
finished
adjective
Completed or done.
I am finished with my homework.
learned
adjective
Having acquired knowledge, especially through study.
He is a learned scholar who has published many papers.
visited
arrived
verb
To reach a place or destination.
The train arrived at the station on time.
stayed
verb
To remain in a particular place or position.
I stayed at my friend's house for the weekend.
decided
verb
To make a choice or reach a conclusion about something.
I decided to go to the party.