- Replace regular "-s" or "-es" endings with "-ed".
- Talk (present) - Talked (past).
- Sing (present) - Sang (past).
- Laugh (present) - Laughed (past).
- If a verb ends in a vowel + consonant (not "w" or "y") double the final consonant before adding "-ed".
- Rob (present) - Robbed (past).
- Prefer (present) - Preferred (past).
- For verbs that end in "w", "y" + consonant change the "y" to "i" and add "-ed"
- Carry (present) - Carried (past).
- Cry (present) - Cried (past).
- For irregular verbs, you will simply memorize.
- See (present) - Saw (past).
- Eat (present) - Ate (past).
- Go (present) - Went (past).
When do you use past tense?:
- Use past tense to describe events that happened in the past.
- Use past tense to describe events leading up to a moment in the past.
- Use past tense to report on events that took place at a specific time in the past.