Simple Past

Add -ed

For most regular verbs, you need to do is add –ed. Look at the following examples.

• Jump

• Kick

• Want

Verbs that end in -e

There are some verbs that already end with an e. For these verbs, just add –d.

• Believe

• Achieve

Verbs that end with consonant -y

A few verbs end with –y. For these verbs, you drop the –y and add –ied.

• Cry

• Try

Vowel -y

For verbs that end with a vowel –y, you use the basic –ed rule.

• Play

• Stay

Conjugations…

In English, there are no conjugations in the past tense.

I passed

You passed

He/She/It passed

We passed

They passed

Use – Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.

I saw a movie yesterday.

I didn't see a movie yesterday.

Last year, I traveled to Japan.

Irregular Verbs

Unfortunately, there are many, many irregular verbs in English. You must memorize these. Use your irregular verb sheet.

Questions - Past Tense

Making questions in the simple past tense is very simple. You change “do” to “did.” Look at the example below.

He ate a lot of tamales.

Did he eat a lot of tamales?

Passive Voice

Past Tense of to be + past participle

• I studied.– I was studied.

• I saw– I was seen.

Assignment

1) Write 2 sentences using regular verbs in the simple past.

2) Write 3 sentences using irregular verbs in the simple past.

3) Change these 5 sentences into questions.