Past simple

Regular and irregular past forms.

The rules

  • Finished time expressions ("last summer") take the past simple: "went".
  • "Didn't" carries the past tense, so the main verb stays base: "didn't go".
  • "Lose" is irregular: lose → lost → lost. "Losed" does not exist.
  • Past questions: "Did" + subject + base verb.
  • "Last week" is finished time, past simple, never present perfect, with finished-time expressions.
  • Repeated past habits use the past simple: "I played every day".

Examples

  • We went to Italy last summer.
  • She didn't go to the meeting.
  • He lost his keys, so he couldn't open the door.
  • Did you see him yesterday.
  • I saw that film last week.
  • When I was a child, I played football every day.

Quick check

Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.

1.We _____ to Italy last summer.

2.Which sentence is correct?

3.He _____ his keys, so he couldn't open the door.

4.Which sentence is correct?

5.When I was a child, I _____ football every day.

More in Past & Future