Past Simple

Basic · Verb Tenses

The past simple is your main storytelling tense. Use it for actions that started and finished at a definite time in the past: yesterday, last year, two minutes ago.

Regular verbs just add -ed. The challenge is the irregular verbs, which change completely (go → went) and simply have to be memorized.

How to build it

regular: verb + -ed · (?) did + subject + base verb · (–) did + not + base verb

Rules & examples

1. Regular verbs add -ed.

   Some spelling shifts: -y → -ied, and short verbs double the consonant.

   • work → worked
   • play → played
   • study → studied
   • stop → stopped
2. Many common verbs are irregular and must be learned.

   There is no rule — memorize the most frequent ones first.

   • go → went
   • see → saw
   • buy → bought
   • take → took
   • have → had
3. A finished action at a specific past time.

   Usually with a clear time reference.

   • I visited Rome last year.
   • She called you yesterday.
4. A sequence of finished events (in a story).

   One action after another in the past.

   • He woke up, got dressed, and left.
5. Questions and negatives use "did" + the base verb.

   After "did", the main verb goes back to its base form.

   • I didn't go.
   • Did you see it?
   • Where did she go?

Tips to remember

• Signal words: yesterday, last night/week/year, ago, in 2010, when I was young.
• After "did/didn't", never use the past form: "Did you went?" ✗ → "Did you go?" ✓.

Common mistakes

• ✗ I didn't went there. → ✓ I didn't go there. — After "didn't", use the base verb (go), not the past form (went).
• ✗ She buyed a car. → ✓ She bought a car. — "Buy" is irregular: buy → bought.