Past tense verbs are hard for people who are learning English because there are many irregular past tense verbs. You have to memorize many of the past tense verbs.
This is very important to know, so we will spend a few lessons on past tense irregular verbs.
In this lesson, we will study some of the common irregular past tense verbs. All of the words below are used often so you must know the past tense form.
| see > saw | run > ran | catch > caught |
| buy > bought | eat > ate | drink > drank |
| come > came | go > went | get > got |
| forget > forgot | have > had | meet > met |
Remember that past tense sentences words follow the same pattern as present tense sentences. Only the verb changes.
Subject + verb…
- I saw her yesterday.
- She ran a lot this morning.
- They bought a new car last week.
Remember that these words do not change if they are the infinitive. Only the first verb changes to the past tense, the second verb which is in the infinitive form (to + verb) does not change. Look at the examples below.
- I wanted to run yesterday, but it was rainy.
- I needed to go to the bookstore yesterday, but I was too busy.
- He liked to drink coffee when he was younger, but now he doesn’t.
- She had to work last weekend.
If you practice a lot with these words, then it will become very easy and you will be able to speak English in the past tense naturally and smoothly.
Example Sentences
- I saw a deer in my yard.
- He saw his friend at the store yesterday.
- It saw me and then ran away.
- They saw their mother on TV.
- Bill saw many animals in Africa.
- I ran in the park yesterday morning.
- She ran on the beach at sunset.
- It ran around the park.
- They ran into their house.
- Bill ran at the gym this morning.
- I caught a fish last weekend.
- He caught the ball.
- It caught its toy out of the air.
- They caught the falling man.
- The police officers caught the thief.
- I bought a new red car last month.
- She bought a coffee and a sandwich in the morning.
- He bought some new shoes on the weekend.
- They bought each other presents for their wedding anniversary.
- Their boss bought everyone dinner.
- I ate a late dinner last night.
- He ate spaghetti for lunch.
- The dog ate grass because it was sick.
- They ate snacks in the park on Saturday.
- My dog ate my homework.
- I drank a lot of water this morning.
- She drank a lot of coffee today.
- It drank all the water in its dish.
- They drank some cokes in the lobby.
- The children drank some juice in the classroom.
- I came to work early today.
- He came to my house for a party last Saturday.
- It came when I called its name.
- They came to my office for an important meeting.
- The pigeons came to the bread.
- I went to work early yesterday.
- She went to her grandmother’s house last weekend.
- It went into the cave.
- They went to the party together.
- My friend came to my house by taxi.
- I got some nice presents for my birthday.
- He got a new shirt.
- It got wet in the lake.
- They got a new car last week.
- My friend got sick because he went outside without a jacket.
- I forgot my bag.
- She forgot my book at her home.
- It forgot its name.
- They forgot their laptops at the office.
- Erin forgot her own email address.
- I had many friends in high school.
- I had to visit my parents last weekend.
- She had to work late last night.
- They had a party yesterday.
- We met her at the coffee shop this afternoon.
- He met us in front of the movie theater.
- I met my girlfriend online.
- She met him at the mall for lunch.
English Conversation 1
A) My mother had to go to the hospital last night.
B) Oh no! What happened?
A) She had a bad pain in her side.
B) Is she okay?
A) She is fine now, but she needed to stay overnight in the hospital.
English Conversation 2
A) I saw you at the park yesterday. Who were you with?
B) I took a walk and had a picnic with my new boyfriend.
A) How cool! When did you meet him?
B) I met him at the library last week.
Now try making your own sentences with the verbs we studied in this lesson. If you make many sentences and practice a lot, it will help you remember the past tense verbs, and it will help you use speak in the past tense in English more fluently.
