Past tense: irregular verbs
You learn the past tense of irregular verbs: went, saw, ate.
How to do the test
- Say the sentence with yesterday in front.
- Listen to how the verb changes.
- Irregular verbs change inside the word instead of adding -ed.
A worked example
Type the past tense of the verb in brackets. Yesterday we ___ (go) to the park.
- Go is an irregular verb, so it does not end in -ed.
- Say it with yesterday: yesterday I went.
- The past tense of go is went.
More examples
Type the past tense of the verb in brackets. The dog ___ (run) away yesterday.
- Run is an irregular verb, so it does not end in -ed.
- Say it with yesterday: yesterday I ran.
- The past tense of run is ran.
Type the past tense of the verb in brackets. Mum ___ (buy) fresh bread yesterday.
- Buy is an irregular verb, so it does not end in -ed.
- Say it with yesterday: yesterday I bought.
- The past tense of buy is bought.
Try it yourself
Type the past tense of the verb in brackets.
Yesterday Dad ___ (catch) a fish.
Type the past tense of the verb in brackets.
My cousin ___ (come) to tea last week.
Watch out
You add -ed, as in goed or eated.
Irregular verbs do not take -ed. Say it with yesterday: yesterday we went, not goed.
Tips
- Learn these in small groups: sing, sang; ring, rang; swim, swam.
Why it works
Regular verbs add -ed in the past tense. Irregular verbs change inside the word instead, and you have to know them. Saying the sentence with yesterday in front helps you hear the right form.