The simple past tense Form (structure) Meaning & Use Pronunciation

subjectauxiliary verbmain verb+Iwentto school.Youworkedvery hard.-Shedidnotgowith me.Wedidnotworkyesterday.?Didyougoto London?Didtheyworkat home?

subjectmain verb+I, he/she/itwashere.You, we, theywerein London.-I, he/she/itwasnotthere.You, we, theywerenothappy.?WasI, he/she/itright?Wereyou, we, theylate?

How do we form the simple past tense . . .?English has two types of verbs in the past tense:

taughtwalkedstudiedgavebecamecriedliveddid Look at the following list of past tense verbs which verbs are regular, and which are irregular?

Regular verbs Irregular verbs

Regular verbs are verbs that .

Simple FormPast TenseWalk

Study

Cry

Live

end with ed

Irregular verbs are verbs that . . . .DONT end with edsome irregular verbsHave a vowel change in the past tense:Simple FormPast Tensebecomebecamegivegavedrive droveforgetforgot

other irregular verbsHave a different kind of change:SimplePastteachtaughtbring broughtLeave leftHear heardBuy bought

And some irregular verbsdont change at all . . .SimplePasthithitputputsetset

The children set the table every Sunday.The children set the table last night.

For regular verbs, simply use the ed form of the verb in a positive sentence.When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.

Donna ______________ and _______________ in Paris when she was younger.

For irregular verbs, use the correct past tense form in positive sentences.

Last week, I ___________ you a letter.

The students _____________ a speech in English. They __________ a great job!

For negative sentences,USE

I went to work yesterday. Carl didnt go to work because he was sick.

Exception = VERB BE!The verb be is special. Never use DID NOT or DIDNT with the verb BE. Instead, just use:

Meaning & UseIn what situations do English speakers usethe simple past tense? Completed actions in the past What are some common time expressions used with the past tense?

Examples:I saw Maria yesterday.

Last Friday, the students took their spelling and vocabulary tests.

They got married two years ago.

pronunciationThe ed ending in English has:

Some regular verbs end with a t sound:WalkedLaughedWashedTalkedjumped

Some regular verbs end with a d sound:plannedplayedlearnedansweredloved

Other regular verbs end with an id sound:These verbs have an extra syllable:Simple FormPast Tense

There are rules that tell us how to pronounce the ed.However,Its a good idea for students to make a list of which ed verbs have a t sound, which have a d sound, and which have an id sound.

And with practice, you can start to learn and memorize correct pronunciation.

Rule 2: The past tense marker -ed is pronounced [id], in IPA format, as an unstressed separate syllable when added to verbs ending in /d/ or /t/ as in:added counted dictated faded landed invited created loaded greeted wanted planted folded Rule 3:The past tense marker -ed is pronounced like [t] in IPA format, when added to verbs ending in a voiceless consonants (c, ch, f, k, p, s, sh, x, ) or their sounds as in:placedt watchedt laughedt askedt stoppedt tapedt pickedt passedt faxedt blessedtwashedt mixedt closedt Note: Be careful not to make a vowel sound before the [ t ].

Rule 4:The past tense marker -ed is pronounced like [d] in IPA format, in all other cases, that is, when added to verbs ending in a vowel sound, or one of the voiced consonants (b, g, l, m, n, r, v, w, y, z), or their sounds as in:rubbedchanged warmed orderedbegged called cried glued snowed loved followed playedblazed learned