The past simple – regular verbs
The past simple – regular verbs
As you watch the video, look at the examples of regular past simple 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, regular past simple verbs correctly.
The past simple is the most common way of talking about past events or states which have finished. It is often used with past time references (e.g. yesterday, two years ago).
Please explain past events or states!
A past event could be one thing that happened in the past, or a repeated thing.
I stopped at a zebra crossing.
We carried on with the test.
We played tennis every day in August.
A state is a situation without an action happening.
We stayed at my grandparents' house last summer.
How do you form the past simple?
Regular past simple forms are formed by adding –ed to the infinitive of the verb.
start → started
kill → killed
jump → jumped
That seems easy!
Yes, but there are some spelling rules. If a verb ends in –e, you add –d.
agree → agreed
like → liked
escape → escaped
If a verb ends in a vowel and a consonant, the consonant is usually doubled before –ed.
stop → stopped
plan → planned
If a verb ends in consonant and –y, you take off the y and add –ied.
try → tried
carry → carried
But if the word ends in a vowel and –y, you add –ed.
play → played
enjoy → enjoyed
OK, not quite so easy! But the past simple form doesn't change at all for I, you, he, she, we and they, does it?
No, the form doesn't change. See, it is easy!
What about the pronunciation of the –ed ending?
There are three kinds of pronunciation /d/ /t/, and /ɪd/. Look at the table below.
| /d/ | /t/ | /ɪd/ |
|---|---|---|
| arrived | asked | wanted |
| failed | crossed | decided |
| agreed | stopped | started |
Aaagh! How do I know how to pronounce each one?
Good question. Well, really all you need to know is that /d/ is easier to say after arrive, and /t/ is easier to say after ask. For /ɪd/, the infinitive ends in a /d/ or a /t/ sound already so you must add an extra syllable for these verbs.
All right, that makes sense, but how do you form questions and negatives?
With the verb did (do in the past) + the infinitive.
Did you pass?
You didn't fail, did you?
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Right, thanks, I've got it now!
Good. But you also need to learn the irregular past simple forms.
You mean there are verbs that don't end in –ed in the past?
Yes, they don't all end in –ed. Have a look at the past simple irregular verbs too.
Comments
i can't see this video.
Hi Silver, This video works OK on my computer, I've just checked. Can you see the other videos in Grammar Snacks? We'll try to help you solve the problem.
Joanna (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Hi Joanna..i can't see this video too
and actually i can't see all of them.
.why????
Hi marila2013,
The video seems to be working fine. Can you give us some more information please? Which browser are you using? Can you watch the videos OK in Video UK and Video zone?
Let us know and we'll try to help you. Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
thank you
Real good Lesson)))))
I like this grammar snack. Yesterday I played computer games and ate my dinner, and did my homework. My day was OK , but today I have a litlle problem with my Chemistry.
Mmm...... Let me think
Yesterday I study Math for 4hours. It was really boring because I hate Math. It's too confusing..
After studying Math I played games. It was really fun. The time past so fast.
Yea, I think - this lesson is good, but I learned it on English course, but I must remeber it, so - You did good job. (^w^)
Yesterday I was alive and alive and alive. And I slept. \(^o^)/
i learned a lot from this video thank you britishcouncil
i like this grammar snack
yes i like it
is beautiful
I was at home the mostly of the day yesterday; I had to study so much for today and I had to postpone everything, including my friend's party, which I regret so much, but I didn't have a choice. My chemistry teacher is so severe, so if I hadn't studied, she'd kill me:). I'll have to make it up to my friend.
I studied chemistry for 3,5 hours-we had so many lessons to learn, and than I studied history and physics for an hour. And I went to dance classes-it was so relaxing and it lasted for 2 hours, as usually.
Than I came back home, had a dinner and went sleep.
I was tired and exhausted, but it was worth of it-I got A at chemistry:)
Congratulations on the A grade in Chemistry. :) It was worth all the hard work and studying!
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Thanks, JoEditor:).