Past Simple spelling
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Grammar explanations
Past Simple diagram Past Simple forms Past Simple use Past Simple spelling Past Simple signal words Past Simple pronunciation |
Exercises Past Simple |
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Simple Past of regular verbs is built by adding -ed or -d. It is sometimes necessary to introduce small changes in spelling of the word. The changes in question are listed in the box provided below. As far as irregular verbs
are concerned it is vital to know their forms in order to be able to build Simple Past Tense correctly.
| rule | infinitive | past participle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| verbs ending with -e | -d | phone | phoned |
| smile | smiled | ||
| agree | agreed | ||
| lie | lied | ||
| verbs NOT ending with -e | -ed | ask | asked |
| clean | cleaned | ||
| follow | followed | ||
| video | videoed | ||
| verbs ending with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel double their consonant | beg | begged | |
| rub | rubbed | ||
| in two-syllable verbs the last consonant is doubled when the last syllable is stressed and it includes a single consonant preceded by a vowel | prefer | preferred | |
| refer | referred | ||
| occur | occurred | ||
| -y turns into -i when it is preceded by a consonant | -ed | carry | carried |
| deny | denied | ||
| fry | fried | ||
| try | tried |