2Aa - past simple: regular - irregular

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Past simple

Regular & irregular verbs

unit 2.2

We use the past simple for things in the past which have finished.

1. True
2. False

We use the past simple for things that are happening now.

1. True
2. False

Past simple

When we use the past simple, we talk about the past. In Dutch it is known as 'de verleden tijd'. Something that happened in the past.

You have two different forms of the past simple: regular and irregular.

Let's watch two short videos where these forms are used.

Pay attention, because there will be some questions afterwards.

To form the past simple, we add -ed to the end of regular verbs.

1. True
2. False

Past simple regular

Most of the time you use +ed after a verb:

• walk > walked

But when a verb ends with and -e, you only put the -d behind the verb: 

• dance > danced

Past simple

There are some other spelling rules you need to follow.

• verbs ending with a vowel (=klinker) + consonent (=medeklinker) double the consonant + -ed:
• stop > stopped

• verbs ending in consonent + -y, loose the -y and add -ied:
• hurry > hurried

There are clear rules about the endings of past simple irregular verbs.

1. True
2. False

Past simple - irregular

Unfortunately, there aren't any clear rules about the endings of past simple irregular (=onregelmatige) verbs.

You need to learn these verbs by heart (=uit het hoofd leren).

Have a look in your book on page 127, second row.

There are many different types of endings of irregular verbs in the past simple.

1. True
2. False

We use the auxiliary (=hulpww) 'did' or 'didn't' to form questions and negatives in the past simple.

1. True
2. False

Past simple

To form negatives sentences (wat niet is gebeurd/gedaan) use didn't:

• I slept. > I didn't sleep.

To form questions, use did:

• You slept for hours last night. > Did you sleep for hours last night?

See what happens with the verb in the past:

slept, becomes sleep. 

Because you use did / didn't. And that verb is already in the past. So in this case, make sure you don't use the past simple twice.

Let's practice

Fill in the blancs on the next slides.

Which form is correct?

Good luck!

The cat ___ (escape) from the garden.

1. escaped
2. escapt

I ___ (buy) some food for lunch.

1. bought
2. buyed

They ___ (agree) with me about the album.

1. agrees
2. agreed

Who ___ (meet) you at the airport?

1. met
2. meeted

He ___ (try) to start the car.

1. tried
2. tryed

We all ___ (have) the same idea.

1. haved
2. had

We ___ (enjoy) the funfair a lot.

1. enjoied
2. enjoyed

___ (do) you ____ (speak) to Sophie

1. Did, speak
2. Did, speaked

What to do next?

Turn to page 24 in your book and practice some more with the past simple.

Do assignment 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

This is also your homework for next Tuesday!

Good luck and see you then!