Master English Grammar

Past Simple – Regular Verbs (-ed)

Learn how to form the past simple tense using regular verbs with the -ed ending. Understand when and how to use these verbs in sentences.

What is the Past Simple Tense?

The past simple tense is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. Regular verbs form this tense by adding -ed to the base verb.

Why is This Important?

Mastering regular past simple verbs helps you talk about past events clearly and correctly. This is essential for storytelling and daily conversations.

Key Points

Regular verbs form the past simple with -ed
- I played football yesterday.
- She worked late last night.
Use 'did not' for negatives and 'Did' for questions
- I did not play football.
- Did she work late?

Rules for Using Past Simple Tense
Use the past simple for completed actions in the past
I visited my grandmother last week.
They worked late last night.
She cleaned the house.
Regular verbs add -ed in the past simple
We walked to the park.
He talked to his friend.
They watched a movie.
Special Cases & Exceptions:
Some regular verbs have spelling changes or special pronunciation rules.
Spelling Changes for Regular Verbs:
Verbs ending in *e*: Add -d → Love → Loved
Verbs ending in *y* (consonant + y): Change *y* to *i* and add -ed → Cry → Cried
Short CVC verbs: Double the last consonant → Stop → Stopped
Pronunciation of -ed Endings:
*/t/* sound: Worked, Watched
*/d/* sound: Played, Called
*/ɪd/* sound: Wanted, Decided

Example	Tense	Use
I played football yesterday.	Past Simple (Regular)	Completed action in the past
She worked late last night.	Past Simple (Regular)	Past completed event
They walked to the park.	Past Simple (Regular)	Past completed event

Quick Examples

Here are quick examples of past simple sentences with regular verbs.

Learn More with Video Lessons

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.