The past simple tense: rules, examples and exercises
The past simple is the most common past tense in English: I worked, she went, we didn't know, Did you see it? Learners keep making the same mistakes: I didn't went, Did you saw?, She buyed, before two days. Here is how to form it (-ed and irregular verbs), the negative with didn't, questions, time phrases, the difference from the present perfect — and 160 tap-to-answer exercises.
The whole past simple in one place. The form is the same for every person — no -s as in the present.
positive
negative
question
regular
I worked
I didn't work
Did you work?
irregular
she went
she didn't go
Did she go?
the verb be
we were
we weren't
Were we…?
I / you / he / she / it / we / they → worked, wentdidn't / Did + work, go
The verb be has its own past forms, was and were, and needs no did: I wasn't, Were you…?
When do you use the past simple?
The past simple is the basic past tense. Use it for anything that happened and finished in the past — usually when you know or say when.
use
example
a finished action, you know when
I met Tom at the station yesterday.
a sequence of actions
She opened the door, turned on the light and sat down.
a past habit
As a child, I walked to school every day.
a state that is over
My grandparents lived in a village for forty years.
telling a story
Once upon a time, a king lived in a big castle.
If the result now matters more than when (I've lost my keys), use the present perfect. For an action in progress (I was cooking), use the past continuous. Both are below. For what you do regularly now (I work), use the present simple.
Past simple time words: yesterday, last, ago
These words almost always mean the past simple. Watch the order: two days ago (ago after the time) and last week (no the).
time words
example
yesterday
I called my mum yesterday.
yesterday morning
She left yesterday morning.
the day before yesterday
We arrived the day before yesterday.
last night
Did you sleep well last night?
last week / month / year
They moved house last year.
two days ago
I saw him two days ago.
in 2010
She finished school in 2010.
on Monday
The parcel came on Monday.
when I was a child
When I was a child, I lived by the sea.
then, after that
We had lunch. Then we went for a walk.
Regular verbs: the -ed ending and spelling
Regular verbs add -ed. Don't add was: I was work is wrong; it's I worked.
Try the rules in the -ed Sorter game: sort verbs into the baskets + ed, + d, y → ied, double and irregular.
Irregular verbs in the past: went, had, saw
The most common verbs are irregular — learn their past forms. Never add -ed (goed, buyed) and don't use the third form (I seen, she gone). The twenty most common:
verb
past simple
be
was / were
have
had
do
did
go
went
get
got
make
made
see
saw
come
came
take
took
know
knew
say
said
give
gave
buy
bought
eat
ate
drink
drank
write
wrote
think
thought
find
found
leave
left
meet
met
Practise all three forms of irregular verbs (go – went – gone) in the irregular verbs games Word Builder, Rally and Fish Feeding.
The irregular form only in positive sentences
In negatives and questions you go back to the base form — just like regular verbs: I went → I didn't go → Did you go? So you need went, saw, had only for positive sentences.
Practise the past simple with a game
Regular and irregular A1–A2 verbs together; every game asks only for the base form and the past simple — no third form.
It works like don't in the present: I don't go → I didn't go. Use didn't + base form — the same for regular and irregular verbs. didn't carries the past, so the verb stays in the base form: she cooked → she didn't cook, she went → she didn't go. The verb be makes its own negative: wasn't, weren't.
correct
mistake
regular verbs
I didn't work
I didn't worked, I not worked
irregular verbs
I didn't go
I didn't went, I not went
the verb be
it wasn't cold
it didn't was cold
Questions: Did you…? and short answers
It works like Do you…? in the present: Do you go? → Did you go? A question needs did — the same for regular and irregular verbs: Did you cook? Did you go? A question word goes before did: Where did you go? After did use the base form — not Did you cooked?, Did you went?
question
short answer
yes / no, regular
Did you call him?
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
yes / no, irregular
Did you see him?
Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
with a question word
Where did you go?
—
the verb be
Was it good?
Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't.
All together: regular and irregular verbs, negatives and questions
In negatives and questions it doesn't matter whether a verb is regular or irregular: always didn't / Did + base form (didn't work, didn't go, Did you see?). The difference is only in positive sentences: worked, but went.
regular
irregular
positive
I worked
I went
negative
I didn't work
I didn't go
question
Did you work?
Did you go?
The past simple in a short story
This is the past simple in a real text. The past verbs are in bold.
Last Saturday, Anna woke up late. She looked at the clock and jumped out of bed. She didn't have time for breakfast, so she took an apple and ran to the bus stop. The bus was late too! When she arrived at the office, her boss smiled. “Did you forget?” he asked. “It's Saturday!” Anna laughed and went home.
Regular (-ed): looked, jumped, arrived, smiled, asked, laughed. Irregular: woke, took, ran, went. Be: was. Negative and question: didn't have, Did you forget?
Who called? Subject questions without did A2
When you ask who or what did something, there is no did: Who called? What happened? When you ask about the object, you need did: Who did you call?
who
what
who did it (subject)
Who called?
What happened?
who / what to (object)
Who did you call?
What did you buy?
Time phrases: ago, last, before, in, on, for
two days ago counts back from now (ago comes after the time); before lunch means before something. last week has no the and no in.
when
examples
ago
back from now
two days ago, a year ago
before
before something
before lunch, before I left
last
the previous
last night, last week, last summer
in
year, month
in 2015, in March
on
day, date
on Monday, on 3 May
for
how long
for two hours, for ten years
Past simple or present perfect? A2
If you know when (yesterday, ago, last, in 2019, When…?) — past simple. No time, important now (ever, never, just, already, so far) — present perfect.
tense
example
you know when
past simple
I saw it yesterday. When did you arrive?
no time, matters now
present perfect
I've seen it. Have you ever been to Rome?
And I was cooking? That's the past continuous: an action in progress at a moment in the past.
Common mistakes in the past simple
The past twice
I didn't went. → I didn't go.
Did you saw it? → Did you see it?
An extra was
I was work yesterday. → I worked yesterday.
She wasn't come. → She didn't come.
-ed on irregular verbs
He buyed a car. → He bought a car.
I seen her. → I saw her.
A question without did
Where you went? → Where did you go?
What did happen? → What happened?
Two days ago
before two days → two days ago
in the last week → last week
Present perfect with a time
I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday.
When have you arrived? → When did you arrive?
Past simple exercises and test
Past simple — answer key for teachers and printing
In the exercises above you can show the answers directly. Here are all 160 items in one place — for teachers, to project or to print as a worksheet.
Show all 160 answersListen: is there an extra syllable? · 8
wanted → /ɪd/ +1
walked → /t/ · /d/
needed → /ɪd/ +1
played → /t/ · /d/
started → /ɪd/ +1
cooked → /t/ · /d/
decided → /ɪd/ +1
closed → /t/ · /d/
Past or present? · 8
My parents work in a hospital. → present
My parents worked in a hospital. → past
The library closes at six. → present
The library closed at eight. → past
I play the guitar. → present
Tom played the drums. → past
They live near the station. → present
They lived near the river. → past
Spelling: how do you add -ed? · 12
+ -ed / -d — hope, cook, smile, stay, phone
y → -ied — marry, hurry, copy, tidy
double + -ed — jog, hug, skip
Regular verbs in the past · 10
Last month my cousin visited us from Canada.
The concert finished an hour late last night.
When I was little, I loved dinosaurs.
In 2018 my parents adopted a dog from a shelter.
We prepared for the exam all weekend.
She helped me with my CV yesterday.
Somebody knocked at the door at midnight.
I phoned my grandma on Sunday.
They painted the living room last weekend.
Our teacher checked the tests two days ago.
Irregular verbs: went, had, saw… · 12
We had a lovely time at the wedding.
My little brother broke his arm last winter.
She wore a beautiful dress to the party.
The kids made a snowman in the garden.
Dad drove us to the airport.
I met an old friend at the market.
We drank all the lemonade.
Mum gave me a new phone for my birthday.
He caught the 7:15 bus to work.
The phone rang in the middle of the lesson.
My aunt wrote a letter to the mayor.
Our team won the final!
Negative: didn't or wasn't? · 10
I didn't check the weather forecast, so I got wet.
The printer didn't work this morning.
We didn't buy any souvenirs in Rome.
She wasn't at the party.
My parents didn't report the accident to the police.
He didn't say a word all evening.
The hotel wasn't very clean.
You didn't invite me to the party!
I didn't see you at the station.
The kids weren't tired after the trip.
Build the question · 10
Did you sleep on the train?
What did the doctor say?
Where did you study English?
Did your parents like the hotel?
How did you get home?
When did she leave the company?
Why did they cancel the trip?
What did you cook for the guests?
Did it snow in the mountains?
Who did you go with?
Fix the question: You went? → Did you go? · 6
You went to Prague? → Did you go to Prague?
She liked the film? → Did she like the film?
Where you bought it? → Where did you buy it?
They called you? → Did they call you?
What you said? → What did you say?
Your sister won? → Did your sister win?
Short answers: Yes, I did. No, she didn't. · 10
Did you enjoy the film? — Yes, I did.
Did Lucy pass her driving test? — No, she didn't.
Did the kids behave? — Yes, they did.
Were you at home last night? — No, I wasn't.
Did it hurt? — No, it didn't.
Did your grandparents come? — Yes, they did.
Did I wake you up? — No, you didn't.
Was the exam hard? — Yes, it was.
Did you and Petra win? — Yes, we did.
Did he say sorry? — No, he didn't.
Mix: regular and irregular, negatives and questions · 10
In June we flew to Malta.
I didn't take my keys, so I called my wife.
Did you see the new Batman film?
She missed the bus and walked to work.
Where did you buy those boots?
They took a lot of photos in Paris.
He didn't do his homework last night.
Did you send the email?
We didn't cook dinner because we weren't hungry.
Who made the cake? It was delicious!
Questions about the story · 8
Did Anna wake up early? — No, she didn't.
Did she have breakfast? — No, she didn't.
What did she take? — She took an apple.
Did the bus come on time? — No, it didn't.
Where did she go? — She went to the office.
Who smiled at Anna? — Her boss.
Was it a working day? — No, it wasn't.
What did Anna do at the end? — She laughed and went home.
Who called? Questions without did · 10
Who ate the last biscuit?
Who did you meet at the airport?
What happened to the old cinema?
What did you visit in Paris?
Who left the lights on?
Who did you ask for help?
Which bus went to the zoo?
What made her so angry?
Who did you tell about the party?
How many people came to the meeting?
Ago, before, last, in, on, for · 10
My sister got married five years ago.
I felt nervous before the job interview.
We went skiing last winter.
The shop opened in 1995.
My son was born on 12 April.
They lived in Ostrava for six years.
I talked to him a few minutes ago.
She finished university last year.
We had a picnic on Saturday afternoon.
I tidied my room before the guests arrived.
Past simple or present perfect? · 10
I left my wallet on the tram yesterday.
We have had three different flats so far.
Shakespeare died in 1616.
When did you last see a doctor?
I washed the dishes an hour ago.
She has run three marathons in her life.
We drove to Croatia in August.
They have known each other since school.
I have cleaned my room, so can I go out now?
The Titanic sank in 1912.
Right or wrong? · 14
My brother buyed a new laptop. → My brother bought a new laptop.
We didn't saw the sunrise. → We didn't see the sunrise.
Did you went to the gym? → Did you go to the gym?
She was arrive at nine. → She arrived at nine.
I met Jana three weeks ago. ✓
What did happen at the meeting? → What happened at the meeting?
They moved to Leeds before five years. → They moved to Leeds five years ago.
Who did you phone? ✓
I have seen her in the shop yesterday. → I saw her in the shop yesterday.
He tryed to call you. → He tried to call you.
We stopped for lunch in a small village. ✓
Where you found that puppy? → Where did you find that puppy?
Did your sister like it? — Yes, she liked. → Did your sister like it? — Yes, she did.
The plane landed on time. ✓
Final test · 12
I got a parcel from my aunt yesterday.
Did you watch the news last night?
We didn't have any milk, so I went to the shop.
Who left the window open?
She started the job two weeks ago.
My grandparents got married in 1965.
When did your train leave?
The children enjoyed the zoo very much.
I'm sorry, I didn't see your message.
It rained all day on Sunday.
Did you call Martin? — No, I didn't.
We moved here a year ago.
Want more? Practise grammar and your own vocabulary with spaced repetition in the VocabMint app — on the web and on your phone.
Regular verbs add -ed: work → worked, play → played. Irregular verbs have their own form: go → went, see → saw, buy → bought. The form is the same for every person.
When do you use the past simple?
For a finished action in the past when you know or say when: yesterday, last week, two days ago, in 2015. Also for a sequence of actions: I got up, had a shower and left.
How do you make the past simple negative?
didn't (did not) + base form: I didn't go, she didn't buy. didn't carries the past, so not I didn't went. The exception is be: I wasn't, they weren't.
How do you ask questions in the past simple?
Did + subject + base form: Did you go? Did she call? With a question word: Where did you go? Short answer: Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Do irregular verbs change in negatives and questions?
No. The irregular form (went, saw, had) is used only in positive sentences. In negatives and questions did carries the past, so the verb is in the base form — regular and irregular alike: I went → I didn't go → Did you go? Not I didn't went, not Did you went?
Why is there no did in Who called?
When you ask who or what did something (the subject), there is no did: Who called? What happened? When you ask about the object, you need did: Who did you call?
What is the difference between ago and before?
ago counts back from now and comes after the time: two days ago. before means before something else: before lunch. Not before two days.
What is the difference between the past simple and the present perfect?
Past simple when you know or say when: I saw it yesterday. Present perfect for the past without a time, important now: I've seen it. Never present perfect with yesterday, ago, last or in 2019.
What is the difference between the past simple and the past continuous?
Past simple is a finished action (I cooked dinner), past continuous an action in progress (I was cooking when the phone rang). The two often come together: the long action in the past continuous, the short one that interrupts it in the past simple.
How do you pronounce -ed?
Three ways: /t/ after voiceless sounds (worked), /d/ after voiced sounds (played) and /ɪd/ after t and d (wanted, needed). Only the last one adds a syllable.
Which irregular verbs should I learn first?
About 150 are in common use, but 20–30 cover everyday speech: be, have, do, go, get, make, see, come, take, know, say, give, buy, eat… Practise all three forms in the irregular verbs Word Builder.
What is the past of go, have and be?
go → went, have → had, be → was / were. Not goed or haved. Negatives and questions use the base form: I didn't go, Did you have…? Only be has no did: I wasn't, Were you…?
Past simple or used to?
Both can describe a past habit: As a child I walked / I used to walk to school.Used to stresses that it's no longer true. For one specific event only the past simple works: Yesterday I walked to school.
How do I know if a verb is regular or irregular?
You can't tell from its shape — irregular verbs have to be learned. There are few of them and they are the most common ones (go, have, see, take…). Dictionaries list their three forms: go – went – gone. All other verbs take -ed.
