The past simple – irregular verbs
The past simple – irregular verbs
As you watch the video, look at the examples of past simple irregular verbs. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, the past simple irregular verbs.
Some verbs are irregular. Their past forms do not end in –ed.
So how do I know which verbs are regular and which are irregular?
You have to learn them!
Learn them from the list, oh no!
It's not so bad. There aren't really so many verbs to learn and remember that English is much easier than many languages. The past forms don't change.
I took a taxi to the airport. (take – took)
That was when we spoke. (speak – spoke)
One person gave me his last bar of chocolate. (give – gave)
I see what you mean. I made, you made, he made, she made, it made, we made, they made!
Exactly! They're all the same. And the negatives are all formed with did + not + the infinitive without to. The question forms are very similar - did + subject pronoun + the infinitive without to.
What did you do all day in the airport?
Did you have enough food?
We didn't think you would get home in time for your birthday.
OK, you're right, that's not too bad. Are there any exceptions?
Yes the verb to be. The past form is was for I, he, she and it, but were for you, we and they.
It was horrible not being able to phone you two!
There wasn't any food. I was so hungry!
We were stuck in the airport.
So what about this verb list?
Right, here it is!
| Present | Past Simple | Present | Past Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| be | was / were | begin | began |
| break | broke | bring | brought |
| build | built | buy | bought |
| catch | caught | choose | chose |
| come | came | cost | cost |
| cut | cut | do | did |
| draw | drew | drink | drank |
| drive | drove | eat | ate |
| fall | fell | feel | felt |
| fight | fought | find | found |
| fly | flew | forget | forgot |
| freeze | froze | get | got |
| give | gave | go | went |
| have | had | hear | heard |
| hold | held | hit | hit |
| keep | kept | know | knew |
| learn | learnt | leave | left |
| lead | led | let | let |
| lie | lay | lose | lost |
| make | made | mean | meant |
| meet | met | pay | paid |
| put | put | read | read |
| ride | rode | run | ran |
| say | said | see | saw |
| sell | sold | send | sent |
| set | set | shut | shut |
| sing | sang | sit | sat |
| sleep | slept | speak | spoke |
| spend | spent | stand | stood |
| steal | stole | swim | swam |
| take | took | teach | taught |
| tell | told | think | thought |
| understand | understood | wake | woke |
| wear | wore | win | won |
| write | wrote |
Wow! OK, so how do I learn these verbs?
There are lots of things you can try:
- Make cards to test yourself – put the infinitive on one side and the past on the other.
- Write sentences with different verbs in them. Include some negatives.
- Make up stories and record yourself. The story could just be about what you did last weekend.
- Do practice activities online. You can start by doing the ones below on this page!
OK, I'm going to start learning them now!
Comments
it is very easy.
when i do an exercice true. i feel happy.( thank you so much for this web site)
Hi Mimi, Thanks for your comment - great to hear you like the site! Well done for this exercise. The more you do, the more your English will improve. Good work!
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
It is a little bit difficult to remember every verb ;/
I Have three mistakes :s , But I Like the exercise <3', Thank you
This Truly Is the best website ever !!
Thanks 3bcar! It's great to hear you like it. Enjoy!
Joanna (LearnEnglishTeens team)
Thanks. The website is verry useful for people who is learning English. I hope can improve my English Skill, thanks again.
To easy !!
And yeah I forget to tell you that this exercise is very great , I like it
Hi Mnara, Thanks for your comments, I'm glad you like the exercise. If you want something more challenging, why don't your try something from English Skills Practice - Improve your reading Level 2 or 3, for example? Let us know how it goes.
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
That was quite easy for me, but I think that these exercises are really useful!!! Thank you so much! :)
Thank you lady96 - glad to hear the Grammar snacks are useful. :)
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
I really like it(:
Quite nice way to understand about the past simple tense.
Like it very much.... I learn new things...
I like this Grammar Snack))))Good lesson))))
hi my english is not so good . but i want to learn english. this exercise is very help full. i want to learn future tenses can you please help me
Hi jojo 001. Thanks for your comment! Why not try this page and exercise (going to / will / present continuous) on the LearnEnglish website. You can also try this more difficult one (future continuous and future perfect). Good luck with your English, and let us know if they helped you!
Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
games are very fun
all answers were correct
site is very fun and useful!!!!!!!!!
Yes, games is great, becuse the check us knowlegle. (^w^)
Good! :D
I really like Grammer Snacks.
It's fun.
I should learn it :( But it is so easy in this page :) Thanks ;)
very beautiful
the web is really useful, and the questions helped me a lot :)
i love so much this web. here i can practice my english
when i want
I like to learn the irregular verbs, it's very interesting. Since I already know all those verbs, I was wondering if there are any other verbs that can be useful.