Past Simple: -ed spelling

We have two different groups to form the Simple Past:

You have to know all forms of the irregular verbs very well. For the Simple Past you need the form of the verb which can be found in the 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs. Example: go – went.

90% of verbs are regular verbs so let’s start with regulars first.

Simply add -ed with regular verbs. Example: wait – waited

SPELLING EXCEPTIONS

Sometimes there are exceptions in spelling when adding -ed:

1) verbs with final stressed consonant +vowel+consonant–> double the consonant. Example: stop – stopped

If the final syllable of the word is not stressed, we do not double it. Example: listen- listened (Here we stress the first syllable, not the second.)

If the final consonant in the group consonant+vowel+consonant is x or w, we do not double the consonant. Examples: fix-fixed, show-showed

In British English we ALWAYS double one -l at the end of the word. Example: travel – travelled

2) verbs with -e at the end of the word –> add only -d. Example: love – loved

3) verbs ending in consonant+y –> change ‘y’ to ‘i’ +ed. Example: cry – cried

Careful! verbs ending in vowel +’y' –> add -ed as usual. Example: play – played

Are you ready to use regular past forms? Try exercises 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Source: EOI Elx