Past simple

The point

A finished time takes the past: worked, went, saw. Regular verbs add -ed. The negative and the question use did plus the base, not the past form.

Form and use

The past simple names one finished action or state. A regular verb adds -ed for every person. An irregular verb changes shape. Learn this set: go becomes went, see becomes saw, buy becomes bought, and think becomes thought. Do not add -ed to those four, and do not add -s to a past form.

Read the full set. I worked. You worked. He worked. She worked. We worked. They worked. I went. You went. He went. She went. We went. They went. I saw. You saw. He saw. She saw. We saw. They saw. I bought. You bought. He bought. She bought. We bought. They bought. I thought. You thought. He thought. She thought. We thought. They thought. I did not work. You did not go. He did not see. Did I buy it? Did you think so? Did she go? Yes, I did. No, she did not. Yes, they did. No, he did not.

Yesterday, last night, last week, two hours ago, and in 2019 all close the time. The marker can sit at either end. If the time is finished, the verb is past. I saw her yesterday is right. I have seen her yesterday is not, because yesterday is already closed.

Did carries the past, so the next verb is the base. She did not go. Did they see the note? Yes, they did. Avoid Did she went, She didn't saw, and She not bought it. After did or did not, return to go, see, buy, think, or work.

Don't translate it like this

Did already marks the past. The next verb is the base.

Short examples