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Grammar:
PAST SIMPLE
You will use simple past tense when you talk about actions that have
already happened at a some time in the past. You need to use a time
adverb when you use the past simple in a sentence.
Example:
I went to the hospital last week.
 Regular verbs can be altered using -ed -d and -ied
Add -ed to a the basic form of the verb
Example:- work + ed = worked
 Verbs that end in e take -d
Example:- live + d = lived
Verbs that with the constant + y take -ied
Example:- study + ied = studied
How to form the Past Tense in English
Past Tense Regular Verbs
To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED
to the end of the verb.

play – played

cook – cooked

rain – rained

wait – waited
Negative sentences in the Past Tense
We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
Compare the following:
Present: They don't live in Canada.
Past: They didn't live in Canada.
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the
infinitive). The auxiliary DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND
in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the
present tense and a negative sentence in the past tense is the change
in the auxiliary verb.
Both don't and doesn't in the present tense become didn't in the past
tense.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

I didn't want to go to the dentist.

She didn't have time.

You didn't close the door.

He didn't come to my party.

They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.

We didn't sleep well last night.
Questions in the Past Tense
We use did to make a question in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the following:
Present: Do they live in France?
Past: Did they live in France?
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the
infinitive). The auxiliary DID shows that the question is in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense
and a question in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both Do and Does in present tense questions become Didn't in past
tense questions.
Compare the questions in the examples below:
Present: Do you need a doctor?
Past: Did you need a doctor?
Present: Do you ride your bike to work?
Past: Did you ride your bike to work?
Present: Does he live in Italy?
Past: Did he live in Italy?
We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to
ask for more information.

Did you study? – Yes, I did.

When did you study? – I studied last night.

Where did you study? – I studied at the library.
Read more about short answers in the past tense.
Examples of Questions in the Past Tense

Did you go to work yesterday?

Did they arrive on time?

Did she like the surprise?

Where did she go?

What did you do yesterday?

What did you say? - I didn't say anything.

Why did we have to come?
Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Irregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.
(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).
For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.
It does not end in –ED so it is considered irregular.
The word went is used for all subjects – I, you, we, they, he, she, it.

I went to the beach

He went to the park.

She went to the zoo.

They went to the library.
BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in
sentences that are affirmative/positive.
Compare the following using GO in the past tense:

They went to the beach

They didn't go to the beach --- Didn't shows that we are talking in
the past tense.

Did they go to the beach? --- Did shows that we are talking in the
past tense.
Another example with an irregular verb.
The past of EAT is ATE.

You ate my cake.

You didn't eat my cake.

Did you eat my cake?
Spelling -ED Ending Rules
The following is a guide to the correct spelling of words ending -ED.
Remember: Not all words that end in -ED are verbs in the past tense.
Sometimes they are Past Participles or they could even be Adjectives
ending in -ED. For now we will mostly use verbs in the Past Tense as
examples though the same rules apply to all words ending in -ED
The general rule when changing a word (or verb) into its -ED form is just
to add -ED to the end of it.
Infinitive
ED form
to play
played
to wait
waited
to work
worked
to rain
rained

He played with his dog in the backyard.

I waited for them to invite me.

She worked until late last night.

It rained all day.
Spelling Exceptions
The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ED:
1) If a word ends in an E we just add the D to the end.
Infinitive
ED form
to live
lived
to love
loved
to smile
smiled
to dance
danced

I lived in Japan for two years and then moved to Thailand.

I loved the surprise you had for me.

He smiled when he saw his wife come through the door.

They danced until their feet hurt.
2). If the word ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant, we double the
final consonant and add ED.
Infinitive
ED form
to stop
stopped
to admit
admitted
to plan
planned
to refer
referred
to commit
committed

The policeman stopped the thief from escaping.

He admitted that he was wrong.

We planned a surprise birthday party for our friend.

I referred the students to the website where they could practice
some more.

They committed a serious crime and will end up in jail.
3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant,
we DO NOT double the final consonant when the stress is on
the FIRST syllable.
Infinitive
ED form
to happen happened
to enter
entered
to offer
offered
to suffer
suffered

What happened?

I entered through the back door.

She was offered a new position with a higher salary.

Many people are suffered from a lack of food and water.
4). BUT, we DO NOT double the final consonant when the word ends
in W, X or Y or when the final syllable is not stressed.
Infinitive ED form
to fix
fixed
to enjoy
enjoyed
to snow
snowed

He fixed his bike.

We enjoyed our time in the North of Chile.

It snowed yesterday.
5). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the
final L and add ED.
Note: In the United States (US) they DO NOT double the L when the
accent is on the first syllable.
Infinitive
to travel
ED form ED form
(UK)
(US)
travelled traveled
to marvel marveled marveled

I traveled around South America in 2012.

Her beauty marveled us.
Pronunciation of ED
Past Tense, Past Participles and Adjectives
ED appears at the end of regular verbs in the past tense (e.g. wanted,
helped,
lived)
sometimes
in adjectives
ending
in
ED (e.g.
tired,
embarrassed, relaxed) as well as in some Past Participles.
However the pronunciation of ED sometimes causes problems for nonnative speakers because it can be pronounced in three different ways:
as / id /, as / t / or as / d /
(Note: whenever you see letters or symbols between two slash marks (/
/), it refers to the pronunciation of that letter or sound)
Before we learn the difference ways to pronounce ED, we must first
know what voiced and voiceless consonants are:
Voiced Consonants vs. Voiceless Consonants
A voiced consonant (or sound) means that it uses the vocal cords and
they produce a vibration or humming sound in the throat when they are
said. Put your finger on your throat and then pronounce the letter L.
You will notice a slight vibration in your neck / throat. That is because it
is a voiced sound.
A voiceless sound (sometimes called an unvoiced sound) is when there is
no vibration in your throat and the sound comes from the mouth area.
Pronounce the letter P. You will notice how it comes from your mouth (in
fact near your lips at the front of your mouth). The P sound doesn't
come from your throat.
Try this with the other letters and you will "feel" the difference between
a voiced and a voiceless consonant (or sound).
Now we know the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds we
can look at the following rules for the correct pronunciation of ED in
English:
1. The /id/ sound
If the last letter of the word is spelled with D or T, the ED is pronounced
as a separate syllable with an /id/ sound (it rhymes with kid and lid).

wanted (sounds like "want-id")

waited

needed

folded
2. The /t/ sound
If the last consonant of the word is voiceless, then the ED is pronounced
as a T. Be careful not to create an extra syllable or "id" sound.

talked (sounds like "talkt")

kissed (the S sound comes from the front of mouth so it would
sound like "kisst")

parked

helped
NOTE: As an example, with the word "helped", if you say "help-id" as a
two syllable word, then it is very likely that people will NOT understand
the word or what you are saying. (It is pronounced like "helpt")
3. The /d/ sound
If the last letter of the words ends in a voiced consonant (or sound),
then the ED is pronounced like a D (without creating another syllable)

played (sounds like "playd")

closed (the S sounds like a vibrating Z so the word would sound
like "clozd")

opened

lived