The past simple
-ed, irregular verbs, and «did» for questions and negatives.
The past simple describes a finished action at a specific time in the past. Regular verbs: -ed for every person.
| Form | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | verb + -ed / irregular form | I worked. She went home. |
| Negative | didn't + base form | I didn't work. She didn't go. |
| Question | Did + subject + base form | Did you work? Did she go? |
The most common irregular verbs
| Base | Past | Base | Past |
|---|---|---|---|
| be | was / were | have | had |
| go | went | do | did |
| see | saw | come | came |
| get | got | make | made |
| say | said | take | took |
| buy | bought | think | thought |
| eat | ate | drink | drank |
| write | wrote | know | knew |
Pronouncing -ed
[t] after a voiceless sound (worked, stopped), [d] after a voiced sound (played, lived), [ɪd] only after t / d (wanted, needed). Don't say «work-ED»!
Test yourself
-
Past of «buy»?
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bought -
Make negative: She saw the film.
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She didn't see the film. -
Make a question: They went to Spain.
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Did they go to Spain? -
How is «-ed» pronounced in «wanted»?
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[ɪd] (an extra syllable)