The Simple Past

The simple past is used to describe an action that occurred and was completed in the past.
For regular verbs, the simple past is formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb (infinitivewithout to).
base
form | + ed = | simple
past |
walk | | walked |
push | | pushed |
greet | | greeted |
cover | | covered |

The simple past tense of all regular verbs is the same for allpersons.
| singular | | plural |
1st per | I | worked | yesterday. | | We | worked | yesterday. |
2nd per | You | worked | yesterday. | | You | worked | yesterday. |
3rd per | He, She, It| worked | yesterday. | | They | worked | yesterday. |

For regular verbs ending in the vowel -e, add -d.
base
form | simple
past |
hate | hated |
seize | seized |
hope | hoped |assume | assumed |
tie | tied |
free | freed |

For the very few English verbs that end in a vowel other than -e, add -ed.
base
form | simple
past |
ski | skied |
echo | echoed |Exceptions: The verbs DO and GO are irregular: see below.
For regular verbs that end in a vowel+y, add -ed.
base
form | simple
past |
play | played |
decay | decayed |
survey | surveyed |
enjoy |enjoyed |
Exceptions: The verbs SAY and BUY are irregular: see below.

For regular verbs that end in a consonant+y, change the -y to -i and add -ed.
base
form | simple
past |
cry | cried |dirty | dirtied |
ready | readied |
magnify | magnified |
Exception: The verb FLY is irregular: see below.
For regular verbs ending in short vowel sounds followed by a consonant, double the finalconsonant before adding -ed.
base
form | simple
past |
dam | dammed |
beg | begged |
sin | sinned |
stop | stopped |
rub | rubbed |

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When the regular verb has more than onesyllable, in American English the final consonant is doubled when the syllable stress is on the final syllable.
base
form | incorrect | simple
past |
defer | defered | deferred |
regret |...