Lesson

Past simple: reg vs irreg - worked/got/went

Regular vs irregular

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Past simple: regular vs irregular

The past simple describes completed actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past. Regular verbs form the past by adding -ed; irregular verbs use special forms that must be memorized. Use the past simple for finished actions, sequences in the past, and past time expressions.

  • Use past simple for completed actions: I worked yesterday.
  • Regular verbs: base + -ed (work → worked).
  • Irregular verbs: special forms (go → went, get → got).
  • Negatives and questions use did + base form: Did you go? / I did not go.

Table

Past Simple: regular vs irregular

Verb Base form Past simple Example
work work worked I worked until 7 PM yesterday.
get get got She got the package this morning.
go go went They went to the client meeting on Monday.
play play played We played the training video at the session.
have have had He had three interviews last week.
study study studied I studied the report before the call.
buy buy bought The company bought new laptops.
visit visit visited They visited the new office on Friday.

Tip

Key rules for the past simple

Remember the main formation rules and sentence patterns:

  • Regular verbs: add -ed (work → worked). If verb ends in -e, add -d (love → loved).
  • Irregular verbs: learn each past form (go → went, get → got).
  • Negatives/questions: use did + base form (I did not work. / Did you work?).
  • Time expressions: often use yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago.

After 'did' always use the base form of the verb, not the past form.

Example

Examples in context

I worked late yesterday.

She got the delivery this morning.

They went to the client meeting on Monday.

We did not work on the budget last week.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for frequent errors learners make with the past simple:

  • Using -ed for irregular verbs (e.g., *goed instead of went).
  • Using the past form after did in questions/negatives (e.g., Did you went? / I didn't went).
  • Confusing past simple with present perfect when a specific time is given.
  • Forgetting to change spelling when adding -ed (e.g., stop → stopped, study → studied).
  • Incorrect pronunciation of -ed endings (-t, -d, or -ɪd).

Check whether the verb is regular or irregular and whether to use 'did' + base form in negatives/questions.

Quiz

Choose the correct past simple form to complete the sentence: Yesterday, she ____ to the office early.

Hint: Think of the irregular past of 'go'.

Quiz

Complete: Last month, I _____ to Madrid for business.

Hint: Think of the past simple form of 'go' used for a finished trip.

Quiz

Choose the correct form to complete the question: Did you _____ the document before the meeting?

Hint: Remember: questions with 'did' use the base verb form.

Key Points

Vocabulary

work

verb CEFR A2 //wɜːrk//

to do a job or perform duties

I worked on the report all afternoon.

Vocabulary

get

verb CEFR A2 //ɡɛt//

to receive or obtain something

She got approval for the budget.

Vocabulary

go

verb CEFR A1 //ɡoʊ//

to move or travel to a place

They went to the client meeting yesterday.

GrammarPoint

regular verb

noun CEFR B1 //ˌrɛɡjələr vɜːrb//

a verb that forms its past by adding -ed

Work is a regular verb: work → worked.

GrammarPoint

irregular verb

noun CEFR B1 //ɪˈrɛɡjələr vɜːrb//

a verb that has a special past form and does not add -ed

Go is irregular: go → went.

GrammarPoint

did

auxiliary CEFR B1 //dɪd//

auxiliary used to form past simple questions and negatives

Did you attend the meeting? / I did not attend.

GrammarPoint

past simple

noun CEFR B1 //pæst ˈsɪmpəl//

a verb tense used to describe completed actions in the past

We used the past simple to report actions: I worked, she got, they went.