A2 · Lesson 20 · 20 min
Past simple: common irregular verbs
In this lesson
- I can use common irregular past forms for finished events.
- I can make past simple questions and negatives with irregular verbs.
Grammar in context
Yesterday, Mia went to the market after work. She bought fruit, saw her neighbour and took a bus home. In the evening, she made soup and had dinner with her sister.
Which verbs show that Mia's activities are finished?
Irregular verbs for finished events
Use the past simple for an event that started and finished in the past. Many common verbs do not add -ed. Learn their past forms as new words: go becomes went, see becomes saw, buy becomes bought, take becomes took, have becomes had, and make becomes made. Time words such as yesterday, last night and on Saturday often show a finished time.
- We went to the beach last Saturday.
- I saw a great film yesterday evening.
Positive past simple sentences
In a normal positive sentence, use the past form after the subject. It is the same with I, you, he, she, it, we and they: She bought a jacket. You do not need did in this pattern. Never use did bought: after did, use the base form buy. A past time expression can go at the beginning or end.
- Leo took his camera to the park.
- They had coffee after the meeting.
Negatives and questions with did
For negatives, use did not or didn't plus the base verb: didn't go, didn't see, didn't buy. For questions, use Did + subject + base verb? The irregular past form is not used after did or didn't. Give short answers with did: Yes, I did. No, I didn't. This pattern works with regular verbs too.
- Nora didn't make breakfast this morning.
- Did you have lunch at school?
Common mistakes
Compare the incorrect and corrected forms.
Avoid
Did Amir went to the shop?
Use
Did Amir go to the shop?
After did, use the base verb go, not went.
Avoid
We didn't bought any tickets.
Use
We didn't buy any tickets.
After didn't, use the base verb buy, not bought.
Put it into practice
Try the exercises, write your own examples and check your understanding.