How do I form the past simple?

Regular verbs add -ed: watch becomes watched, play becomes played. Some regular verbs change their spelling first, and many common verbs are irregular, like go becoming went or see becoming saw, so those must simply be learned one by one.

Why does stop become stopped, but play stays played?

Short verbs ending in one vowel and one final consonant double the last letter before -ed: stop becomes stopped. Play already ends in a vowel plus y, so it simply adds -ed with no change at all: played, not plaied.

Why is she didn't went to the party wrong?

Because didn't already shows the past, the main verb must return to its plain form: she didn't go to the party, not she didn't went. The same rule applies to questions with did: did she go, not did she went.

Do all regular verbs just add -ed?

Mostly, but some change spelling first: silent e just adds d, short verbs double the last letter, and consonant + y changes to ied.

What happens to the verb after did or didn't?

It always returns to the plain form. Did you go, not did you went; I didn't go, not I didn't went.

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Past Simple – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

Exercises:

Choose the correct past simple form to complete each sentence.

Example

(e.g., I ___ a film yesterday. → watched)

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
She went to Paris.	She goed to Paris.

Question 1 of 10

I ___ a film yesterday.

Keep practising

Adjectives: Word Order and Basic Rules

Adverbs of Manner: Quickly, Well, Carefully

Articles: A, An, The or No Article

Basic Word Order

Want the rules first?Read the explanation: Past Simple – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers →

▸Answer key

Practice Questions & Answers

All A1 questions for “Past Simple – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

Past Simple: Choosing the Right Form

1. I ___ a film yesterday.
- A. watched ✓
- B. watchted
- C. watches
- D. watch
Answer: watched
Watch just adds -ed with no spelling change: watched.
2. She ___ to Paris last year.
- A. goed
- B. went ✓
- C. going
- D. go
Answer: went
Go is irregular: it becomes went, never goed.
We ___ football on Saturday.

Written by the Olly English team · How we build our tests

More A1 English Practice

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A1 · Reading

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Past Simple Mistakes to Notice

1. Which option does not belong?
- A. I watched a film last night.
- B. She played tennis yesterday.
- C. We stayed at home all day.
- D. He studyed hard for the test. ✓
Answer: He studyed hard for the test.
Study changes y to i before -ed: studied, not studyed.
2. Which option does not belong?
- A. She goed to the shop. ✓
- B. They went to the park.
- C. We saw a great film.
- D. He took some photos.
Answer: She goed to the shop.
Go is irregular: it becomes went, never goed.
3. Which option does not belong?
- A. I stopped at the shop.
- B. We stoped at the shop too. ✓
- C. She dropped her phone.
- D. They planned a party.
Answer: We stoped at the shop too.
Stop doubles the final letter before -ed: stopped, not stoped.
4. Which option does not belong?
- A. He didn't go to school.
- B. We didn't see the film.
- C. She didn't went to the party. ✓
- D. They didn't play well.
Answer: She didn't went to the party.
After didn't, the verb returns to the plain form: go, not went.
5. Which option does not belong?
- A. Did you see the film?
- B. Did they finish the race?
- C. Did he call you?
- D. Did she saw the letter? ✓
Answer: Did she saw the letter?
After Did, the verb returns to the plain form: see, not saw.
6. Which option does not belong?
- A. She buyed some milk. ✓
- B. I bought a new bike.
- C. We ate breakfast early.
- D. They had a great time.
Answer: She buyed some milk.
Buy is irregular: it becomes bought, never buyed.
7. Which option does not belong?
- A. We enjoyed the concert.
- B. I cryed all night. ✓
- C. They carried the boxes upstairs.
- D. She tried her best.
Answer: I cryed all night.
Cry changes y to i before -ed: cried, not cryed.
8. Which option does not belong?
- A. He lost his keys.
- B. I found my phone.
- C. She losed her wallet too. ✓
- D. We forgot the tickets.
Answer: She losed her wallet too.
Lose is irregular: it becomes lost, never losed.
9. Which option does not belong?
- A. I didn't finish my homework.
- B. We didn't understand the question.
- C. She didn't like the film.
- D. They didn't wanted to leave. ✓
Answer: They didn't wanted to leave.
After didn't, the verb returns to the plain form: want, not wanted.
10. Which option does not belong?
- A. Did you finished your work? ✓
- B. Did he arrive on time?
- C. Did we miss the bus?
- D. Did she call the doctor?
Answer: Did you finished your work?
After Did, the verb returns to the plain form: finish, not finished.

Past Simple – A1 Grammar Exercises (with Answers)

Past Simple – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

I ___ a film yesterday.

Keep practising

Adjectives: Word Order and Basic Rules

Adverbs of Manner: Quickly, Well, Carefully

Articles: A, An, The or No Article

Basic Word Order

Practice Questions & Answers

Past Simple: Choosing the Right Form

More A1 English Practice

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

Past Simple in a Story: A Trip to Remember

Past Simple Mistakes to Notice

Past Simple in Conversation: What Did You Do This Weekend?

Past Simple: Fixing and Changing Sentences

A Simple Restaurant Menu (A1 Reading)

A Study Timetable (A1 Reading)

An Email to a Friend (A1 Reading)

Looking for the Perfect Home (A1 Reading)