Simple Past form

© Beni Suárez Prado (2011-2012)

Simple Past tenseThings to remember about the past tense:

We use the same form for all the subjects

I dancedShe dancedWe danced

I dancedShe dancedWe danced

In affirmative sentences we clasify English verbs in two

groups:

REGULAR VERBS

IRREGULAR VERBS

There is no distinction in negative and interrogative sentences

Regular verbs

REGULAR VERBS

PRONUN-CIATION

FORM

SPELLING RULES

We form the past tense adding –ED to the verb:

work----- worked

open----- opened

paint---- painted

The suffix –ED has three different pronunciations:

/ - t / worked, stopped,

/ - d / robbed, played, danced

/ - id / painted, needed

When the verb:

• ends in Cons+y Study---- stud-i-ed * play ---- play-ed

• has 1 syllable, ends in cons + v + cons stop ------ stop – p - ed

rob ------- rob- b - ed

• ends in –e dance----- dance-d

Irregular verbs

There isn’t any rule to form irregular forms but we can clasify them:

Some verbs change only one form: (usually a vowell)

Run – ran – runCome – came - comeSome verbs change

the simple past and past participple forms:

Bring- brought – broughtStand – stood - stood

Some verbs have three different forms:

Swim – swam – swumEat – ate – eaten

Some verbs don’t change its form:

Put – put – putCost – cost -cost

Regular and irregular verbs

Let’s revise what you have leraned with some exercises. You can also find them in the school website:

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS

SOME GAMES WITH IRREGULAR VERBS

To be: an irregular verb

It is the only verb that changes its form depending on the person

I WAS

YOU WERE

HE WASSHE WASIT WAS

WE WERE

YOU WERE

THEY WERE

WASN’T

WEREN’T

WASN’T

WEREN’T

Negative sentences

There is NO DISTINCTION between regular and irregular verbs

As in the present simple we need the auxiliar verb DO but in its past form : DID and the negative NOT We use the infinitive form of the verb

She ate some doughnuts for breakfast yesterday

She some doughnuts for breakfast yesterday

DIDN’T

EAT

DIDN’T

Interrogative sentences

Again, there is NO DISTINCTION between regular and irregular verbsWe also need the auxiliary verb DO in its past form DID before the subject

Rose Saw Peter at the cinema yesterday

Rose Peter at the cinema yesterday? DID

SEE

Yes, she did

1. YES / NO QUESTIONS

Interrogative sentences

2. WH- QUESTIONS Rose Saw Peter at the cinema

yesterday1. Where?

2. When?

3. Who?

Where Rose Peter yesterday?

DID

DID

When Rose Peter at the cinema ?

Who Rose at the cinema yesterday?

DID

SEE

SEE

SEE