The Simple Past Tense
By:
Marichel Robinson
Patricia Salom
How do we form the simple past tense?
There are two types of verbs in the past tense:
REGULAR VERBS AND IRREGULAR VERBS
Look at the following list of past tense verbs…
Which verbs are REGULAR and which are
IRREGULAR?
needed regular
came
irregular
played
regular
bought
irregular
studied regular
became irregular
jumped regular
caught
irregular
Regular verbs are verbs that…
end with –ed.
Simple Form
• play
• jump
• bury
• study
Past Form
played
jumped
buried
studied
Irregular verbs are verbs that…
don’t end with –ed.
•
•
•
•
Some Irregular verbs have a vowel change in
the past tense:
Simple Form
Past Tense
become
became
give
gave
drive
drove
forget
forgot
Other irregular verbs have a different
kind of change.
•
•
•
•
•
Example:
Simple Form
teach
sell
take
drive
build
Past Form
taught
sold
took
drove
built
And some Irregular Verbs don’t change
at all…
Example:
Simple Form
• hit
• put
• set
Past
hit
put
set
• Elizabeth sets the table everyday.
• Elizabeth set the table yesterday.
For Regular Verbs, simply use the –ed form of
the verb in a positive sentence.
Example:
Yesterday, mom worked at the office until eight
o’clock.
Melissa lived and studied in Piura when she was a
child.
Be careful with spelling changes!
For Irregular Verbs use the correct past
tense form in positive sentences.
Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!
Last week, I sent you a present for your birthday.
The girl gave a speech in English.
She did a great job!
For negative sentences use…
Did not
or
didn’t
+ verb
simple form
I went to the party yesterday.
Andrea didn’t go to the party yesterday
because she was sick.
Exception = Verb to be !
The verb “to be” is special.
Never use did not or didn’t with the verb “to
be.”
Instead, just use:
Was or were + not
Meaning and Use
Examples:
I met Jimena yesterday.
Last Friday, we went to the party together.
My parents were married ten years ago.
These actions are over, finished!
Pronunciation of Regular Verbs…
The –ed ending has:
Three different sounds
t – d - id
Some regular verbs end with a “t” sound.
Example:
walked, laughed, washed, jumped, and
talked.
Some regular verbs end with
“d” sound.
Example:
planned, played, learned,
loved, and answered.
Other regular verbs end with an “id”
sound.
•
•
•
•
Example:
Simple form
invite
wait
decide
need
Past form
invited
waited
decided
needed
Practice
• Now make a list of which –ed verbs have a “t”
sound, which have a “d” sound and which
have an “id” sound.
• With practice you can start to learn and
memorize correct pronunciation.