The Past Simple: Introduction

Make the rules.
Use the links below on the left to practice the verb forms.

Fill in the gaps. When you have entered all the answers, click on the check.jpg button.
PaSi_Form_Reg.png

PaSi_Uses.jpg

Irregular Verbs: Practice

BE-DRIVEFALL-LEARNLEAVE-SHOWSHUT-WRITE


The Verb BE:

PaSi_BE.png
   affirmative      after      auxiliary      did      doesn't      don't      -ed      -ied      not a compound      questions      second      the same      two   
PaSi_Cartoon.jpg When we want to talk about the past, we mostly use the Past Simple. That's why it's called the Past Simple. Easy? Yes, it is.
So, why is it called the Past Simple? Easy again: because it's form.
This means that in we simply use the past form of the verb, without an . There are two ways to make a verb's past form:

a) Regular verbs: just add .
b) Irregular verbs: we have to learn them. The Past is the column.

Remember the Present Simple. There, for and negations you needed the auxiliary verb DO. It's in the Past Simple: You need the Past form of DO - .

So, this is the way:

She played football.
Did she play football?
She didn't play football.


Be careful with the spelling:

a) Final y becomes : She studied.
b) Final consonants short vowels are doubled: They travelled to York.
c) If the verb ends with an e, we add another one: The cat escaped.

As always, the verb BE is a bit different: it's got past forms, and it need an auxiliary verb. Look at the examples to the left.

So much for now -let's practice.