Elementary Unit 6
Elementary · Grammar Reference
Unit 6 — Past Simple
Spelling · positive · negative · questions · irregular verbs · time expressions
6.1   Past Simple – spelling of regular verbs

1 The normal rule is to add -ed.

work → worked    start → started

If the verb ends in -e, add -d.

live → lived    love → loved

2 If the verb has only one syllable and one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant and add -ed.

stop → stopped    plan → planned

3 Verbs that end in a consonant + -y change to -ied.

study → studied    carry → carried
6.2   Past Simple

The Past Simple expresses a past action that is finished.

I lived in Rome when I was six.She started school when she was four.

The form of the Past Simple is the same in all persons.

Positive
SubjectVerb
I / He/She/It / You/We/Theylivedin London in 1985.
Negative

We use didn't + infinitive (without to) in all persons.

SubjectVerb
I / He/She/It / You/We/Theydidn'tlivein Madrid.
Question

We use did + subject + infinitive (without to) in all persons.

Q. wordAuxiliarySubjectVerb
When / WheredidI / he/she/it / we/you/theygo?
Yes / No questions and short answers
To beSubjectVerbShort answers
Didyou / she / they / etc.like the film? / enjoy the party?No, I didn't. / No, we didn't. / Yes, she did. / No, they didn't.
6.3   Irregular verbs

To be is irregular and has two forms in the past:

be → was / were

Other irregular verbs have only one form in the past:

go → went    can → could
📌 Note
See irregular verbs list for a full reference.
6.4   Time expressions
lastyesterday… ago
night / month / week / year / Saturdayyesterdaymorning / afternoon / evening