The Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to talk about a specific action that happened in the past. The simple past tense has a few simple rules. A simple past tense verb will have on of three endings: -d, -ed, or –ied. All past tense verbs except for the past of “to be” will be used for all persons.

If a verb ends with an “e” we will add “d” to the word.

Example = Taste becomes Tasted

Smile becomes Smiled

If a verb ends with a “y” and has a consonant before it we will remove the “y” and add ied”

Example = Cry becomes Cried

Reply becomes Replied

If a verb ends with a “y” but has a vowel before it, we will add –ed to the y.

Example = Play becomes Played

Spray becomes Sprayed

If a verb ends with any other letters then add –ed.

Example = Climb becomes Climbed

Argue becomes Argued

If a verb ends with a consonant + vowel + consonant we must double the last consonant unless it has more than one syllable and the firs syllable is stressed. (Never double x, w, or y)

Example = Strap becomes Strapped

Trap becomes Trapped

Tan becomes Tanned

Refer becomes Referred

Enter becomes Entered (first syllable is stressed)