Simple Past Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate by adding -ed like the verb "wait" below.

Positive	Negative	Question
I waited. You waited. We waited. They waited. He waited. She waited. It waited.	I did not wait. You did not wait. We did not wait. They did not wait. He did not wait. She did not wait. It did not wait.	Did I wait? Did you wait? Did we wait? Did they wait? Did he wait? Did she wait? Did it wait?

 

Irregular Verbs

Many verbs, such as "have," take irregular forms in the Simple Past. Notice that you only use the irregular verbs in statements. In negative forms and questions, "did" indicates Simple Past.

Positive	Negative	Question
I had. You had. We had. They had. He had. She had. It had.	I did not have. You did not have. We did not have. They did not have. He did not have. She did not have. It did not have.	Did I have? Did you have? Did we have? Did they have? Did he have? Did she have? Did it have?

 

To Be

The verb "be" is also irregular in the Simple Past. Unlike other irregular verbs, there are two Simple Past forms: "was" and "were." It also has different question forms and negative forms. Always remember that you DO NOT use "did" with the verb "be" in the Simple Past. 

Positive	Negative	Question
I was. You were. We were. They were. He was. She was. It was.	I was not. You were not. We were not. They were not. He was not. She was not. It was not.	Was I? Were you? Were we? Were they? Was he? Was she? Was it?

 

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave very strangely in the Simple Past. The most important verb to remember is "must." Notice how it becomes "had to" in the Simple Past.

"Must" becomes "had to":

• I must call my wife now.
• I had to call my wife yesterday.