The past simple of regular verbs: How and When to Use in English

The coach explained the rules of the game. Add -ed at the end of the infinitive form (without to) to create the past simple form. Examples: to start → started; to want → wanted.

We loved Caroline's dinner. When you want to conjugate a verb that ends in -e (like to love) in the past simple tense, simply add -d at the end. Examples: to manage → managed; to rate → rated.

My baby cried all night yesterday. When a verb ends in consonant + y (like to cry), change the letter y into i and then add -ed to form the past simple tense. Examples: to deny → denied; to apply → applied.

We played football last Sunday. To create the past simple tense of regular verbs, simply add -ed at the end of the infinitive form without to (to play). Examples: to print → printed; to train → trained.

They travelled to London 3 years ago. In the past simple tense, when a verb ends in vowel + consonant (here, e + l), we generally double the final consonant (here, l) before adding -ed. Examples: to plan → planned; to shop → shopped.

You opened the door. For regular verbs, follow this structure to form the past simple: infinitive form without to (to open) + -ed. Examples: to explain → explained; to walk → walked.

You thanked Magda for her help, because for regular verbs the structure of the past simple is: infinitive form without to (to thank) + -ed. Examples: to help → helped; to show → showed.

Roger planned a trip to the park. To form the past simple of a verb like to plan, which ends in vowel + consonant, double the final consonant (here, n), then add -ed. Examples: to map → mapped; to control → controlled.

They closed the door of the hotel. In the past simple, when the infinitive form of a verb ends in -e (like to close), simply add -d at the end. Examples: to like → liked; to place → placed.