Past Simple Tense

The simple past tense is one of the most common tenses in English. Its form is the same with all subjects. It is usually formed by adding -ED to the verb.

​Words are built from

vowels a, e, i, o, u

and

consonants (the rest of the alphabet).

b, c, d, f, g, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, s, t, v, x, z and often h, r, w, y.​

When the verb ends in consonant + "y," change the "y" to "i" and add "-ed". *For example: carry + ed = carried. When a verb ends in vowel + "y," add "-ed". *For example: enjoy + ed = enjoyed.

We double the final letter when a one-syllable verb ends in

consonant + vowel + consonant.

​

stop, rob, sit​

​

stopping, stopped, robbing, robbed, sitting

​

We double the final letter when a word has more than one syllable, and when the final syllable is stressed in speech.

​

beGIN, preFER

​

beginning, ​preferring, prefferd