Irregular Simple Past Verbs

​There are a number of verbs in English, many of them frequently used, that are irregular. This means that to formulate them in the past simple the rule of adding -ed in the ending is not followed, but they have their own endings.

​There is an exception, which is not listed in the table but of enormous relevance: the past simple of the verb to be

SIMPLE PAST​

​Subject + verb in past + Comp.

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​Example:

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​He beat the ball

​Subject + auxiliary verb in past (to do) + negative auxiliary (“not”) + verb

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Did not

​Didn’t

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​Example:

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​They didn't cut the paper

Auxiliary verb  in past(to do) + subject + main verb?

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​Did

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​Example:

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​Did she sleep in the hotel?

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​Yes, she did

​No, she didn't (did not)