Past simple positive (all verbs)

We add -ed to the end of the verb to form the past simple:

watch → watched

start → started

end → ended

Mind the spelling!

If the verb ends with a consonant + -y, then "y" changes to "i" when we add -ed at the end:

study → studied

try → tried

copy → copied

But if it is vowel + -y, we simply add -ed.

play → played

destroy → destroyed

If the verb has one vowel and ends in a consonant, then this consonant doubles when we add -ed ending. Otherwise, we wouldn't keep the pronunciation:

stop → stopped

plan → planned

Irregular verbs

Unfortunately, we can't always apply the rule with -ed ending. In English, there is a special group of verbs — the irregular verbs. They have their unique past forms. You must gradually learn and remember them. For the past simple tense, we use the second form.

Here is the list of the most common irregular verbs:

InfinitivePast SimplePast Participle
become became become
begin began begun
break broke broken
bring brought brought
build built built
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
come came come
cost cost cost
do did done
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feel felt felt
find found found
fly flew flown
forget forgot forgotten
get got got
give gave given
go went gone
have had had
hear heard heard
know knew known
leave left left
lose lost lost
make made made
meet met met
pay paid paid
put put put
read read read
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
show showed shown
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
stand stood stood
swim swam swum
take took taken
tell told told
think thought thought
understand understood understood
wear wore worn
win won won
write wrote written

Examples

Yesterday we had breakfast and then went for a walk.

Henry took his coat, said goodbye and left.

Miranda wrote an email and sent it to the business partner.

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