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| e Learn English Language > Learn English > Grammar > Verbs > Simple past of regular verbs | |||||
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The simple past is used to describe an action that occurred and was completed in the past.
For regular verbs, the simple past is formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb (infinitive without to).
| base form |
+ ed = | simple past |
| walk | walked | |
| push | pushed | |
| greet | greeted | |
| cover | covered |
The simple past tense of all regular verbs is the same for
all persons.
| singular | plural | ||||||
| 1st per | I | worked | yesterday. | We | worked | yesterday. | |
| 2nd per | You | worked | yesterday. | You | worked | yesterday. | |
| 3rd per | He, She, It | worked | yesterday. | They | worked | yesterday. | |
| base form |
simple past |
| hate | hated |
| seize | seized |
| hope | hoped |
| assume | assumed |
| tie | tied |
| free | freed |
For the very few English verbs that end in a vowel other than -e, add -ed.
| base form |
simple past |
| ski | skied |
| echo | echoed |
Exceptions: The verbs DO and GO are
irregular: see below.
For regular verbs that end in a vowel+y, add -ed.
| base form |
simple past |
| play | played |
| decay | decayed |
| survey | surveyed |
| enjoy | enjoyed |
Exceptions: The verbs SAY and BUY are irregular: see below.
For regular verbs that end in a
consonant+y, change the
-y to
-i and add -ed.
| base form |
simple past |
| cry | cried |
| dirty | dirtied |
| ready | readied |
| magnify | magnified |
Exception: The verb FLY is irregular: see below.
For regular verbs ending in short vowel sounds followed by a consonant, double the final consonant before adding -ed.
| base form |
simple past |
| dam | dammed |
| beg | begged |
| sin | sinned |
| stop | stopped |
| rub | rubbed |
| base form |
incorrect | simple past |
| defer | deferred | |
| regret | regretted | |
| reship | reshipped | |
| compel | compelled |
In these words, the syllable stress is not on the final syllable, so the
consonant is not doubled.
| base form |
simple past |
incorrect |
| orbit | orbited | |
| listen | listened | |
| travel | traveled | |
| consider | considered |
Here are examples with regular verbs in the simple past.
| simple present | simple past |
| I walk to school. | I walked to school. |
| She works downtown. | She worked downtown. |
| They help on Tuesday. | They helped on Tuesday. |
| He asks a lot of questions. | He asked a lot of questions. |
Irregular verbs do not form the past tense by adding -ed. Irregular
verbs form the past tense by a change in spelling.
| base form |
simple past |
| buy | bought |
| do | did |
| fly | flew |
| forget | forgot |
| light | lit |
| go | went |
| say | said |
|
Related lessons:
Learn English Apprendre l'anglais Aprenda inglés
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English
Simple
Past: Regular Verbs