Regular verbs form the past simple by adding -ed, as in play becomes played, with a few spelling changes depending on the ending, such as study becoming studied or stop becoming stopped.
Grammar Rule
Regular verbs form the past simple by adding -ed, with a few spelling changes depending on the ending.
Past Simple Regular Verbs: Spelling Rules
| Verb ending | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | + -ed | play → played, watch → watched |
| ends in e | + -d | like → liked |
| consonant + y | y → ied | study → studied |
| short verbs | double final consonant | stop → stopped |
Remember: pay attention to spelling before writing the verb.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using the correct past simple form of the regular verb. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Past Simple – Regular Verbs (-ed pronunciation and spelling)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you form the past simple of most regular verbs?
Add -ed to the base verb, as in play becomes played or watch becomes watched.
What happens when a verb ends in e?
Add only -d, as in like becomes liked.
What happens when a verb ends in a consonant plus y?
Change y to i and add -ed, as in study becomes studied.
Why does stop become stopped with a double p?
Short verbs that end in a single vowel and consonant double the final consonant before adding -ed, as in stop becomes stopped.