What Is the Simple Past Tense?

Having trouble viewing this message? [Click here to view it online.]( To unsubscribe or change contact details, scroll to the bottom and follow the link. [GrammarBook.com]( Your #1 Source for Grammar and Punctuation What Is the Simple Past Tense? English (and language in general) uses tense to indicate the timing of a verb's action in the present, the past, or the future. The simple past tense in English communicates that an action occurred at an earlier time. The action has been completed, and it is not continuing in the present or into the future. Examples John walked to the hardware store. Fyodor opened a checking account. Cara threw a penny into the well. Simple Past Tense: Regular Verbs To form the simple past tense with regular verbs, we add -ed to the verb root or -d if the verb ends in e. Verb Root Suffix Simple Past Tense  Verb Root Suffix Simple Past Tense call -ed called live -d lived fix -ed fixed move -d moved mow -ed mowed produce -d produced wash -ed washed revise -d revised The simple past tense for regular verbs is the same for the first, second, and third persons. Examples I called you (plural) called you called we called he/she/it called they called If a regular verb of one syllable ends with a sequence of consonant-vowel-consonant, we double the final consonant and add -ed: bat > batted, plop > plopped. The exception is when the final consonant is a w, x, or y: mix > mixed, spray > sprayed. If a longer verb's last syllable is stressed and it ends with consonant-vowel-consonant, we double the last consonant and add -ed: demur > demurred, refer > referred. If a longer verb's first syllable is stressed and it ends with consonant-vowel-consonant, we add just -ed: borrow > borrowed, center > centered. If a regular verb ends in consonant + y, change the y to an i and add -ed: marry > married, study > studied. Simple Past Tense: Irregular Verbs English includes hundreds of irregular verbs, which are verbs that do not form their simple past tense and past participle with the standard endings used for regular verbs. Because irregular verbs have no set format for conjugation, accurately forming the simple past tense for them requires [getting familiar with them](. The following table includes examples of irregular verbs in the simple past tense. Verb Root Simple Past Tense  Verb Root Simple Past Tense be am, were, was fall fell catch caught give gave cost cost hang hung drive drove hit hit As with regular verbs, the simple past tense of irregular verbs is the same for the first, second, and third persons. Examples I fell you (plural) fell you fell we fell he/she/it fell they fell Simple Past Tense: Forming the Negative To form the negative of the simple past tense, we use the past tense of the irregular verb do (did), the word not, and the root of the verb, i.e., did + not + verb. Examples Robert did not fix the broken doorknob. The sales team did not produce the targeted numbers this quarter. Amanda did not catch as many fish as she would have liked. Terry did not hang the picture on the wall yesterday. The negative form of the simple past tense also can be [contracted](. Examples Robert didn't fix the broken doorknob. Amanda didn't catch as many fish as she would have liked. An exception to these guidelines is the verb be. Be does not include did to form the negative in the simple past tense. The verb also comes before the negative, i.e., simple past tense of be + not. Examples I was not a participant in the shuffleboard tournament. You were not available when I tried to call. They were not qualified to fix the leak in the pipe. Related Topics [What Is a Past Participle?]( [Past Perfect Tense]( [English Verb Conjugation]( [View and comment on this article on our website.]( [Click here to watch our video on Irregular Verbs]( Pop Quiz Change each verb in parentheses to the simple past tense. 1. The Bransons (drive) 600 miles without stopping to get there on time. 2. I remember you (live) two floors down from mine in the dorm. 3. Bobby (hit) 24 home runs last season. 4. Do you recall when your father (give) you that? 5. The manufacturer (produce) eight million units of the new music-streaming device. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus The Authority on English Grammar! Twelfth Edition Now Available An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders. Available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2,000 copies are purchased every month! 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