Simple Past with Other Verbs
For all verbs except to be, the simple past uses the past form of the main verb in positive sentences. For negatives and questions, we use didn't or did as an auxiliary — and the main verb always returns to its base form.
Positive: subject + past form (regular: verb+ed / irregular: special form)
Negative: subject + didn't + base verb
Question: Did + subject + base verb?
Regular Verbs (+ed)
Most verbs simply add -ed. Watch out for spelling rules.
work → worked | finish → finished | play → played
study → studied (y→ied) | stop → stopped (double consonant) | arrive → arrived (drop e)
She finished the report before lunch.
They stayed in a nice hotel by the sea.
Irregular Verbs
Common irregular verbs have unique past forms that must be memorized.
go → went | see → saw | buy → bought | eat → ate
have → had | take → took | come → came | find → found
We went to the cinema last Saturday.
She bought a new laptop last week.
Negatives and Questions
Didn't and did carry the past tense — so the main verb always stays in the base form. Never add -ed after did/didn't.
I didn't go to school yesterday — I was ill.
She didn't finish her homework in time.
Did you enjoy the concert?
What did they have for dinner?
⚠ Common mistakes:
✗ She didn't went to the party. → ✓ She didn't go to the party.
✗ Did he worked late? → ✓ Did he work late?
✗ I goed to the park. → ✓ I went to the park.