By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1
- Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2
- Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3
- Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4
- Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5
- Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6
Simple explanation
Combine related structures in one review. Recall patterns without the table, then use separate practice and exam banks. Revisit the linked lessons when needed.
Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1
I visited my aunt yesterday. For most regular verbs, add -ed to the base form: work → worked, clean → cleaned, visit → visited.
Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2
I ate an apple yesterday. In an affirmative past simple sentence, an irregular verb uses its special past form: go → went, eat → ate and buy → bought.
Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3
I didn't see him yesterday. For most verbs, use subject + didn’t + base verb: We didn’t stay long. She didn’t understand the question.
Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4
Were you watching TV when I called? Move was or were before the subject: Was she working? Were they studying?
Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5
Was she sleeping when you called? Use was with I, he, she, and it, and were with you, we, and they. Add not for negatives. In questions, put was or were before the subject: Was he working? Were they sleeping?
Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6
Did you watch the film last night? After did or didn't, use the base form of the main verb: “Did you watch?” and “I didn't watch.” Forms such as “Did you watched?” and “I didn't watched” are incorrect.
Usage reference table
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1 | I walked to work yesterday. |
| Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2 | Emma came home at six. |
| Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3 | We didn’t have enough time to visit the museum. |
| Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4 | They weren't listening to the teacher. |
| Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5 | While Sara was studying, her brother was playing a video game. |
| Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6 | I didn't watch TV yesterday. |
Grammar formula
Positive statement
Subject + regular verb-ed + ...They visited us yesterday.
Negative
Subject + didn't + base verb + ...We didn't go home.
Yes/no question
Did + subject + base verb + ...?Did they visit you last weekend?
Wh-question
Wh-word + was/were + subject + verb-ing?What were you doing?
Past Continuous negative
Subject + was/were not + verb-ingThey were not watching TV.
Negative statement
Subject + did not/didn't + base verb + ...They didn't visit us yesterday.
Core rules
- 1
Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1
I visited my aunt yesterday. For most regular verbs, add -ed to the base form: work → worked, clean → cleaned, visit → visited.
- 2
Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2
I ate an apple yesterday. In an affirmative past simple sentence, an irregular verb uses its special past form: go → went, eat → ate and buy → bought.
- 3
Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3
I didn't see him yesterday. For most verbs, use subject + didn’t + base verb: We didn’t stay long. She didn’t understand the question.
- 4
Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4
Were you watching TV when I called? Move was or were before the subject: Was she working? Were they studying?
- 5
Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5
Was she sleeping when you called? Use was with I, he, she, and it, and were with you, we, and they. Add not for negatives. In questions, put was or were before the subject: Was he working? Were they sleeping?
- 6
Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6
Did you watch the film last night? After did or didn't, use the base form of the main verb: “Did you watch?” and “I didn't watch.” Forms such as “Did you watched?” and “I didn't watched” are incorrect.
Useful examples
I walked to work yesterday.
I went to work on foot yesterday.
Walk is regular, so its past form is walked.
Emma came home at six.
Emma arrived home at six.
The past form of come is came.
We didn’t have enough time to visit the museum.
There was not enough time for us to visit the museum.
The affirmative past form is had, but after didn’t we use have.
They weren't listening to the teacher.
They were not paying attention to the teacher at that time.
Weren't is the short form of were not.
While Sara was studying, her brother was playing a video game.
Sara was studying and her brother was playing a video game at the same time.
Both activities were in progress during the same period.
I didn't watch TV yesterday.
I did not spend time watching TV yesterday.
After didn't, watch stays in the base form.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I visit my aunt yesterday. ✅ I visited my aunt yesterday.
- ❌ I eated an apple yesterday. ✅ I ate an apple yesterday.
- ❌ I doesn't see him yesterday. ✅ I didn't see him yesterday.
- ❌ Did you watching TV when I called? ✅ Were you watching TV when I called?
- ❌ Did she sleeping when you called? ✅ Was she sleeping when you called?
- ❌ Did you watched the film last night? ✅ Did you watch the film last night?
Learning tips
- Look for finished past-time expressions such as yesterday, last night, last week, and two days ago.
- Remember the three key patterns together: worked, didn't work, Did ... work?
- Learn irregular verbs as useful pairs, such as go → went and see → saw, and immediately use each pair in a short sentence.
- Start with high-frequency verbs such as go, come, see, eat, have, get, make, take and buy instead of trying to memorize a very long list.
- Whenever you use did or didn’t, check the main verb first: it should normally be in the base form.
- Practise irregular verbs in three-part patterns: went → didn’t go → Did you go? and saw → didn’t see → Did you see?
Use it in your own text
Write six connected sentences about your life, plans or experiences, using each table pattern once. Check why each construction fits, using this lesson’s rules. This is self-assessment; the multiple-choice test has a separate recorded score.
- Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1
- Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2
- Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3
- Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4
- Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5
- Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6
Show the model
I walked to work yesterday. Emma came home at six. We didn’t have enough time to visit the museum. They weren't listening to the teacher. While Sara was studying, her brother was playing a video game. I didn't watch TV yesterday.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 1”?
I visited my aunt yesterday. For most regular verbs, add -ed to the base form: work → worked, clean → cleaned, visit → visited.
What should I check for “Common Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple · 2”?
I ate an apple yesterday. In an affirmative past simple sentence, an irregular verb uses its special past form: go → went, eat → ate and buy → bought.
What should I check for “Past Simple with did and didn’t: Negatives and Questions · 3”?
I didn't see him yesterday. For most verbs, use subject + didn’t + base verb: We didn’t stay long. She didn’t understand the question.
What should I check for “Past Continuous: Form, Meaning, and Everyday Use · 4”?
Were you watching TV when I called? Move was or were before the subject: Was she working? Were they studying?
What should I check for “Past Simple vs Past Continuous · 5”?
Was she sleeping when you called? Use was with I, he, she, and it, and were with you, we, and they. Add not for negatives. In questions, put was or were before the subject: Was he working? Were they sleeping?
What should I check for “Past Simple with Regular Verbs · 6”?
Did you watch the film last night? After did or didn't, use the base form of the main verb: “Did you watch?” and “I didn't watch.” Forms such as “Did you watched?” and “I didn't watched” are incorrect.
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