Remember the past tense forms of the following irregular verbs. How to Express Past Tense in English

How is formed past tense in english ? How to use regular and irregular verbs? How to determine the verb is correct or irregular?
So, let's look at each category of verbs separately:

Regular verbs(Regular verbs) is a special group of English verbs that easily forms the past tense by adding suffix-ed to the infinitive (the usual form of the verb). Here are some examples of such verbs:
talk - talked (talk - spoke)
jump - jumped (jump - jumped)
check - checked (check - checked)
look - looked (look - looked)
stay - stayed (stop - stayed)
ask - asked (ask - asked)
show -showed (show - showed)
work - worked (work - worked)
Regular verbs ending in -ed do not change for person or number. Consider the example of the verb walk (to walk, walk):
I walked - I walked
you walked - you walked / you walked
he walked - he walked
she walked - she walked
it walked - he / she walked / walked (inanimate)
we walked - we walked
they walked - they walked

I. There are some spelling rules when adding the ending -ed.
1. So, for example, if the verb is already ends with a letter - e, then only -d is added to it. For example:

change - changed (change - changed)
arrive - arrived (arrive - arrived)

2. If the verb ends with a letter - y, then the ending, with rare exceptions, changes to -ied . For example:
study - studied (teach - taught)
tidy - tidied (clean up - cleaned up)
try - tried (try - tried)

Exception make up the verbs: play - played (play), stay - stayed (stop), enjoy - enjoyed (enjoy).

3. In some short verbs (in 1 syllable) when adding the ending -ed the consonant is doubled. This rule applies to verbs that end in one vowel and one consonant. For example:
stop - stopped (stop - stopped)

II. Regarding regular English verbs, there are also several reading rules.
1. So, for example, in verbs, ending in a voiceless consonant(f, k, p, t), the ending -ed reads softly, like /t/ . For example:
walk ed /wɔ:kt/
look ed /lukt/
jump ed /dʒʌmpt/
ask ed /a:skt/

2. In verbs, ending to voiced and all other sounds, the ending -ed is pronounced loudly, like /d/ . For example:
play ed /pleid/
show ed /ʃəud/
arriv ed /ə "raivd /
chang ed /tʃeindʒd/

3. Pronunciation verb endings-ed changes slightly when verbs ending in sounds/t/ or /d/ . Then the ending is pronounced /id/ . For example:
decid ed / di "saidid /
wait ed /"waitid /
land ed /"lændid /
fad ed / "feidid /

Now consider regular verbs in affirmative proposals. Here are some examples:

She walked towards the river. She walked towards the river.
They changed their mind. - They changed their mind.
The woman carried a heavy bag. The woman was carrying a heavy bag.
The plane landed near the village. - The plane landed near the village.
The car stopped next to my house. - The car stopped near my house.
Children played hide-and-seek. - The children were playing hide-and-seek.
We stayed at my grandmother "s. - We stayed at my grandmother's.
I looked around but there was none. I looked around, but there was no one.

As can be seen from the examples, the place of subjects and verbs in affirmative sentences is fixed, and the remaining members of sentences can be used depending on the context. When reading the examples, pay attention to the spelling of regular verbs and their pronunciation.

In contrast to regular verbs, English also has a number of irregular verbs, which do not obey the rule of adding the ending -ed, but are formed completely unexpectedly and in different ways. For example:
find - found (find - found)

take - took (take - took)
sleep - slept (sleep - slept)
get - got (receive - received)
give - gave (give - gave)
buy - bought (buy - bought)
catch - caught (catch - caught)
lose - lost (lose - lost) and many others.

In the simple past tense, verbs from the second column (Past Simple) are used.
In affirmative sentences, irregular verbs are used in the same way as regular ones. The sentence order is fixed: Subject (Subject) - Predicate (Predicate) - Addition (Object) - Circumstance (Adverbial modifier). Let's look at examples:

He lost his key a day ago. - He lost his key a day ago.
I gave her a birthday present. - I gave her a birthday present.

To form negative and interrogative sentences with regular and irregular verbs (except for to be and modal verbs), the auxiliary verb did is required.
So, for example, in interrogative sentences put in the first place auxiliary did, then the subject and the verb, but already in its original form (infinitive), since the auxiliary verb did takes over the function of the past tense.
Let's look at a few examples:

Her watch stopped working. - Her watch stopped working.
Did her watch stop working? Has her watch stopped working?

He caught a big fish. - He caught a big fish.
Did he catch a big fish? - Did he catch a big fish?

His father called him yesterday. - His father called him yesterday.
Did his father call him yesterday? - Did his father call him yesterday?

As you can see from the examples, the auxiliary verb did does not change for persons or numbers, as, for example, the verbs do and does, was and were. Also, these questions are classified as general, and require short answers, which, unlike Russian "yes" and "no", depend largely on the question itself and the auxiliary verb.
Let's take a closer look:
Did you leave early last night? -Yes, I did. -No, I didn't. - Did you leave early last night? -Yes. -No.
Did they like the cake? -Yes, they did. -No, they didn't. - Did they like the cake? -Yes. -No.
Did their children break the remote control? -Yes, they did. -No, they didn't. - Did their children break the remote control? -Yes. -No.e

Special questions with regular and irregular verbs are formed in the same order as common, but with the addition question word at the beginning. For example:

Where did you find the map? - Where did you find the map?
Who did you invite to the party? - Who did you invite to the party?
What did she cook fro dinner? - What did she cook for dinner?

Negative sentences with regular and irregular verbs are also formed using the auxiliary verb did , and the negative particle "not" . The main verbs in such sentences remain in their original form, i.e. in infinitive. Let's look at examples:

He wanted us to go. - He wanted us to leave.
He didn't (did not) want us to go. - He didn't want us to leave.

They enjoyed the concert. - They liked the concert.
They didn't enjoy the concert. - They didn't like the concert.

My friend paid the fine. - My friend paid the fine.
My friend didn't pay the fine. - My friend didn't pay the fine.

It broke after all. - And yet it broke.
It didn't break after all. - And yet it didn't break.

As can be seen from the examples, the word did can be combined with the particle not, and then the abbreviated form is obtained - didn "t.

Verbs in the past tense in English have 4 forms. They are used in relation to actions that are different in dynamics and moment of commission.

Description of past tense forms

Native English speakers distinguish past actions by duration, completion, and other characteristics. To talk about what has happened or has happened up to now, they use:

Past Simple (Simple Past) – reports regular or one-time actions. The keywords are: yesterday (yesterday), last week (last week), a year ago (a year ago). The Past Simple formation rule involves adding the ending -ed to the stem of the verb, that is, the second form: play-played (play), watch-watched (watch, observe), stop-stopped (stop). Negative and interrogative sentences require the auxiliary verb did. In this case, the semantic is put back into the initial form.

I didn't watch this match. - I didn't watch this match.

Did you watch this match? - Did you watch this match?

In all tenses of the Past group, verbs are divided into regular and irregular. The latter form 2 forms, changing in various ways. They are considered exceptions that must be remembered: see-saw (see), put-put (put), find-found (find).

Past Continuous (Past Continuous) Describes a process that took place at a specific time in the past. The formation of this form requires the 2nd form of the verb to be - was / were and the semantic verb with the ending -ing.

I was doing exercises at 7 a.m. - I did exercises at 7 in the morning.

A moment in the past can be denoted not only by exact time, but also by another single action.

She was listening to the radio when she saw a cat in the street. She was listening to the radio when she saw the cat on the street. (was listeting is a process, saw is a one-time action)

Past Perfect (Past Completed) - expresses an action that has ended by the time of speaking, when the result is important. This tense is formed from 2 components: the 2nd form of the verb to have - had and the past participle of the semantic verb.

I had passed my exams by the 1st of June. I passed my exams by June 1st.

Past Perfect Continuous (Simple Complete Continuous) - a description of a long action that began before another event in the past and was still happening at the time of speaking. To form this form, 3 components are required: had + been + semantic verb with the ending -ing.

Jane had been knitting for an hour when I called her. Jane had been knitting for an hour when I called her.

Table Verbs of the past tense in English

To better understand the mechanism for the formation of sentences that are different in purpose of uttering sentences in the past tense, you can look at the diagram with examples.

	*Statements*	*negatives*	*Questions*
*past simple*	John studied Maths last year. John studied mathematics last year.	John didn't study Maths last year. John did not study mathematics last year.	Did John study Maths last year? Did John study mathematics last year? Yes, he did. - Yes. No, he didn't. - Not.
*Past continuous*	Mary was looking at the picture. Maria looked at the picture. They were looking at the picture. They were looking at the picture.	Mary wasn't looking at the picture. Maria didn't look at the picture. They weren't looking at the picture. They didn't look at the picture.	Was Mary looking at the picture? Did Mary look at the picture? Yes, she was./No, she wasn't. - Not really. Were they looking at the picture? Did they look at the picture? Yes, they were./No, they weren't. - Not really.
*past perfect*	Sam had read the magazine by 5. - Sam had read the magazine by 5 o'clock.	Sam hadn't read the magazine by 5. - Sam hadn't read the magazine by 5 o'clock.	Had Sam read the magazine by 5? Has Sam finished reading the magazine by 5 o'clock? Yes, he had./No, he hadn't. - Not really.
*Past Perfect Continuous*	Helen had been talking for an hour when I came. Lena had been talking for an hour when I arrived.	Helen hadn't been talking for an hour when I came. Lena had not spoken for an hour when I arrived.	Had Helen been talking for an hour when I came? – Lena had been talking for an hour when I came?

Hi friends! The Past Simple tense is used to denote an action that happened at a certain time in the past and the time for which has already expired.

To clarify the moment of an action in the past, when using Past Simple time, words such as five days ago (five days ago), last year (last year), yesterday (yesterday), in 1980 (in 1980), etc. P.

When we use the Past Simple

We use the simple past tense when we say:

1. About events or actions that occurred in the past and the time for which has expired. That is, the action or event is completed. (he bought a car last year, they went on vacation last month, the meeting was last week)

2. About events or actions in the past that were repeated regularly, but do not occur now. (she did dance at school, we went to the gym last year)

3. About events in the past that happened one after the other. (they met, walked in the park, went to the cinema)

My brother was born in 1987. - My brother was born in 1987.
She moved to the capital 7 years ago. She moved to the capital seven years ago.
We saw him last month. - We saw him last month.
The Second World War began in 1939. - The Second World War began in 1939.

How is the Past Simple formed?

Statement

In order to form the Past Simple, we add the ending to the verb -ed if the verb is correct (work - worked, learn - learned, ask - asked). If the verb is irregular, then we look for the form for Past Simple in the second column of the table. Most likely, at first it will be difficult for you to immediately determine which verb is in front of you.

Past Continuous - long past tense in English

Time Past continuous indicates a process that lasted at a certain moment or period in the past. Unlike the Past Simple tense, this moment in the past must be named directly (for example, yesterday at 5 o'clock, when you called, when rain started) or be obvious from the context.

When you called I was taking a shower.
When you called, I was taking a shower.
Charlie and me were already driving home when the engine suddenly stopped.
Charlie and I were driving home when the engine suddenly stopped.

Use of Past Continuous

1. An action that took place at a certain moment in the past. Since this moment is still expressed by a long time, a period can also be indicated.

From six to seven I was cooking dinner.

The same action can be expressed both through the Past Continuous and through the Past Simple. It depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration of the action or not. Usually, when there is such a choice, the choice of a long tense puts more emphasis on the action being taken.

What did you do last night? — I played cards(more like a fact) or I was playing cards(focusing attention).

2. An action against which another action took place, which must be expressed by Past Simple. The Past Simple is usually inserted into a sentence using when and and conjunctions.

He was walking home (background action) when somebody called his name.
She was reading a book and suddenly came across an interesting phrase.

3. An action that takes a certain period of time in the past.

He told me that he was working at his diploma.

4. A negative evaluation characteristic of a person's constant actions or behavior in an emotionally colored speech. In such sentences, adverbs of frequency are usually used, such as always, constantly, all the time.

He was always lying on the sofa and doing nothing.
His parents were quarrelling all the time.

5. To express two parallel actions occurring at a certain moment in the past. None of the parallel actions of the proposal is a background for the rest.

The boy was reading, and the girl was playing the piano.

6. There are verbs in the present continuous tense ( look, feel, understand etc.), which usually do not have a long form. The same rule applies to these verbs in the past continuous tense.

To express strong emotions or to emphasize the importance of an action, these verbs can be continuous.

He couldn't believe in what he was seeing and hearing.

In all types of long tenses, it is possible to use several semantic verbs with one linking verb with one subject

She was driving her car and talking on the phone.

How is the Past Continuous Formed?

Statement

The predicate in the Past Continuous consists of an auxiliary verb and a main verb. In order to form the Past Continuous, we need the past tense forms to be - was, were. Was is used in the singular, were in the plural. We remove the to particle from the main verb and add the -ing ending.

affirmative sentences:

Negative suggestions:

I was not playing	We were not playing
You weren't playing	You weren't playing
He/she/it was not playing	They were not playing

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Perfect and perfect long past tenses in English.

Time past perfect denotes an action that was completed up to some point in the past. The Past Perfect is characterized by the use of adverbs already, yet, ever, never, as for the Present Perfect. These adverbs show which action happened before, which means for which action you need to use the Past Perfect.

By the time Mary got to the office, her boss had already left.
By the time Mary arrived at the office, her boss had already left.

Using the Past Perfect

1. The action happened before a certain time in the past

By 1995, he had become a famous artist.
By 1995 he had become a celebrated artist.(i.e. he became a famous artist by a certain time in the past.)

2. The action happened before another time (event) in the past

I didn't want to go to the cinema yesterday, because I had already seen the film.
I didn't want to go to the cinema yesterday because I had already seen the film.(I.e. I saw this movie before, before yesterday.)

Statement

The predicate in the Past Perfect consists of two parts: the auxiliary verb had and the third form of the main verb (we add the ending -ed to the regular verb, and take the form of the wrong one from the third column of the table of irregular verbs).

Past Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous

Time Past Perfect Continuous indicates an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and either ended just before some point in the past or still not finished by some point in the past.

When Jane came home, Martin was very tired, because he had been working hard all day.
When Jane came home, Martin was very tired because he had been working hard all day.

Using the Past Perfect Continuous

1. The action took place before a certain time in the past

When it was 3:00 p.m. I had been waiting for Bob for two hours.
When it was 3 pm, I had been waiting for Bob for two hours.(That is, by the time it was 3 pm, this moment was in the past, I had already waited two hours.)

2. An action happened before another action (event) in the past

Yesterday we had been playing for two hours when Tom arrived.
Yesterday, when Tom arrived, we had already played for two hours.

Education Past Perfect Continuous

In order to put the verb in the Past Perfect Continuous tense form, the auxiliary verb to be in the Past Perfect tense and the present participle (V-ing form) of the semantic verb are required.

To be in time Past Perfect has a single form had been.

affirmative sentences:

Negative suggestions:

I had not been playing	We had not been playing
You had not been playing	You had not been playing
He/she/it had not been playing	They had not been playing

When you leave the page without liking, one cat is sad in the world.

Simple past tense in English

The past tense in English is divided into 4 parts:

Past Simple, Past Perfect, Past Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous

Most often in spoken and written speech in English, Past Simple and Past Perfect are used. The Past Continuous is used less often, and the Past Perfect Continuous is very rare, even among native speakers.

past simple

(simple past tense) - the second most difficult among English tenses after Present simple (simple present tense). The simple past tense in English is easily formed and is mainly used with verbs that describe a completed action in the past.

Example sentences in the simple past tense:

I heard the word she said- I heard the word she said. Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors couldn't pass by Last night I played my guitar loudly and my neighbors couldn't pass by. You didn't fill out the form- You didn't fill out the form. I learned a new verb yesterday Yesterday I learned a new verb. Angela bought a baking dish Angela bought a baking dish. I managed to pass the test- I passed the test. I didn't want to go to the dentist I didn't want to go to the dentist. She didn't have enough time She didn't have enough time. You didn't pass the test You didn't pass the test. He didn't come to my party He didn't come to my party. Did they arrive on time? Did they arrive on time? Did she like the surprise? Did she like surprises? I got myself in shape“I got myself in shape. This verb was difficult for me This verb was difficult for me. What did you do yesterday?- What were you doing yesterday? She couldn't go to the house She couldn't get to the house.

English verbs in time

past perfect

(past perfect tense) also describe an event in the past and differ from verbs in the simple past tense in that the action in the past perfect ended before another action, also in the past. The sequence of these actions is conveyed not by the sequence of verbs in the sentence, but by the use of different tense forms. Also, this time is often used in English in conditional sentences.

Example sentences in the past perfect tense:

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Irregular verbs of the English language: table, rules and examples

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I had finished my English lesson, when she opened the door I had finished my English lesson when she opened the door. It had snowed in the night, so the bus didn't arrive It snowed at night, so the bus didn't come. The film had started before we went into the hall The film started before we entered the hall. If I had known you were ill, I would have visited you– If I knew that you were ill, I would visit you. She would have passed the exam if she had studied harder She would have passed the exam if she had studied harder for it. I wish I hadn't gone to bed so late!“I wish I didn’t have to go to bed so early!” When I entered the room yesterday, my father had already cooked dinner When I went into the room yesterday, my father had already prepared supper. I didn't want to go to the movies with my friends because I had seen the film already I didn't want to go to the cinema with my friends because I had already seen this movie before. My friend offered me an apple in class yesterday, but I wasn't hungry because I had just eaten lunch My friend offered me an apple in class yesterday, but I wasn't hungry because I had just had lunch by then. As soon as she had done her homework, she went to bed As soon as she finished her homework, she went to bed. I was very tired as I hadn't slept well for several days I was very tired as I had not slept for several days. Had you seen the film before?- Have you seen this movie before? Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack“Before I came here, I talked to Jack. If I had seen him, I would have talked to him If I saw him, I would talk to him. James had cooked breakfast when we got up James cooked breakfast when we woke up.

Verbs in the form

Past continuous

(past continuous) in English describe actions or events that started in the past and lasted some time in the past before being interrupted. Also, this time is often used to refer to actions that constantly or periodically occurred in the past.

Example sentences in the past continuous tense:

He was always trying to go to the basement He kept trying to get into the basement. She was constantly singing She sang all the time. While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes When she was cooking dinner, he was washing the dishes. I was having breakfast, when she asked me how to get to the store I was having breakfast when she asked me how to get to the store. They were learning English verbs when she walked into the room They were learning English verbs when she entered the room. I was not expecting such a foolish behavior from him I didn't expect such stupid behavior from him. The snake was not running towards you“The snake didn’t crawl in your direction. The kids were not playing with the toys The children didn't play with toys. Were they going to their college? Did they go to their college? While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was learning new verbs While Kenneth was cleaning the room, Sam was learning new verbs. Was she walking in the street? Was she walking down the street? What were you doing at 10pm last night? What were you doing yesterday at ten o'clock? What were you doing when he arrived? What were you doing when they arrived? She was cooking when I telephoned her She was cooking when I called her. We were having dinner when it started to rain We were having dinner when it started to rain. Pam went home early because it was snowing Pam came home earlier because it was snowing. I was learning English verbs when he came I was learning English verbs when he came.

English time

Past Perfect Continuous

(Past Perfect Continuous) is a lot like Past Continuous - in both forms, verbs describe an action that started, continued, and ended in the past. The difference between tenses is that the Past perfect continuous focuses not on the action itself, but on its duration.

Compare two sentences:

I was working when he came I was working when he came. I had been working for 3 hours when he came I had been working for three hours when he came.

In the first case, the speaker was working at the moment when someone arrived. And in the second case, the emphasis is on the duration of the action, that is, on the fact that by that time it had already been working for some time.

More examples of sentences in the past perfect continuous tense:

Had you been waiting long before they gave you the form?“Did you wait long for them to give you a uniform?” We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key We tried to open the door for five whole minutes until Jane found the key. It had been raining hard for several hours and the streets were very wet It had been raining heavily for several hours and the streets were very wet. Her friends had been thinking of calling the police when she walked in Her friends were thinking of calling the police when she came in. John was very tired. He had been running John was very tired. He was running. I could smell cigarettes. Somebody had been smoking- I smelled cigarettes. Someone smoked. Suddenly, my car broke down. I was not surprised. It had not been running well for a long time“Suddenly my car broke down. I wasn't surprised. She hasn't been driving well lately. Had the pilot been drinking before the crash? Did the pilot drink before the crash? They had not been filling out this form since 2003 They haven't filled out this form since 2003. Kid had not been drinking milk for five months The child has not drunk milk for five months. You had not been reading this book for ten months You haven't read this book for ten months. Had she been waiting for her husband for one year? Has she been waiting for her husband for a whole year? Had he been eating vegetable for seven months? Has he been eating vegetables for seven months? Had you been wearing your sports uniform for two years?- Have you worn your sports uniform for two years?

Video about the past tense in English:

Find out how well you know the past tense in English!

No matter how sad it may sound, they are not limited to only one option. If you want to be good at grammar, you need to learn how to analyze the situation you are talking about. It is important to understand whether the action is completed or whether it continues. Is there any connection to the present moment, or is the speaker simply mentioning facts from his past? The answers to these questions are key in determining the time at which a particular sentence should sound.

Rules of the past tense in English. 6 English tenses in one Russian sentence

To understand past tense rules in english, I propose to take the Russian sentence ("I spoke with John") and see in which cases it can be translated in one of the 6 past tenses. Pay special attention to the "explanations" column.

English time

offer

translation

explanations

past simple

I talk ed to John

Yesterday

I spoke to John

Yesterday

The action is

Common fact. It is

completed and never

Connected with the present. Available

Pointer to normal

Past tense - yesterday.

past

continuous

I was talk ing to John

When you phoned me

At 5 p.m. yesterday

I spoke to

John when you

Called me at

17.00 yesterday

The action took some

period in the past or

Happened in a specific

Time in the past. This is no longer

Fact, but process.

past perfect

I had talk ed to John

before you asked me

I spoke to

John before

You asked me

The action happened before

Another action in

past.

past perfect

continuous

I had been talk ing to

John the whole day

And then we went to

The office

I spoke to John

All day and then

We went to the office

Emphasis is placed on what

certain action in

There has been a process in the past.

The conversation with John lasted

All day and then

The following happened

Action.

present perfect

I have already talk ed

To John

I have already spoken to

John

Here we emphasize

Attention to the result. Not

It matters when exactly

Talking to John, it's important that

He generally took place.

present perfect

continuous

I have been talk ing

To John so I'm very

Nervous now

I told John

That's why I'm like this

Nervous now

The conversation with John lasted

Literally to the present

Moment and this action

Somehow related to

By this. We see that in

Offers nervous due

just held

Conversations.

In theory past tense rules in english should not include phrases such as present perfect and present perfect continuous. But this article focuses on the fact that these tenses can be used in certain cases when you need to translate a Russian sentence into English in the past tense. After all, the concept of "past tense" in English cannot be attributed to any one rule and adhere to it in all cases when the past is expressed in the native language.

How to master all forms of the past tense in English?

To master everything past tense forms in english It's important to spend as much time as possible practicing. Pay attention to the table above. Auxiliary verbs and the necessary form of the main verb for the formation of the corresponding tense are specially highlighted in red. Start your grammar work by making a similar table, but based on a different sentence. It can be something like “she read 2 stories”, “Masha was in the store” and so on. Pay attention to how past tense formation in English, and on the meaning that you want to focus on in a particular sentence.

If you want to learn English grammar faster and start putting this knowledge into practice, contact our friendly team of experienced teachers. We know how to sort through past tense rules in english and we are happy to share our experience.

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