01
When do we use it?
For actions that started and finished in the past. These time words are a strong clue:
yesterdaylast nightlast weeklast summertwo days agoin 2020on Mondaywhen I was little
Part 1 · 2nd column · V2
The past
simple
Yesterday, last week, two days ago. The past simple tells us about finished actions. Here every verb passes through the prism, and the warm light shows you its second column.
yesterdaylast nightlast weektwo days agoin 2020on Monday
The verb table1 / 7
V1
1st column
go
V2
2nd column
went
V3
3rd column
gone
66
irregular verbs
32
regular verbs
4
spelling rules
The prism lab
Aim the light. Find the past.
Drag the light along its arc. The prism splits it into a rainbow. When the warm part of the rainbow rests on the glass tablet, the past simple appears.
Prism lab · Part 1
Drag the light to aim the rainbow
Find the past simple of
go
Drag the light on the left. When the warm light rests on the glass tablet, the 2nd column appears.
Think first
We ? to the beach on Sunday.
Light on target28.3°
0 / 98 lit
How it works
Five small ideas. One big past.
Everything you need for the past simple at A1 and A2. Tap any word to hear it.
02
Was or were?
The verb be has two past forms.
I · he · she · it
you · we · they
She was tired. They were happy.
03
Regular verbs: add -ed
Most verbs follow one of four spelling rules. The glowing letters are the new part.
Most verbs: add -ed
Ends in -e: add -d
Consonant + y: change y to -ied
Short verbs: double the last letter
04
Questions and no: use did
With did and didn't, the verb goes back to white light: the first column.
- Did you go to school?
- Did you went to school?
- I didn't eat breakfast.
- I didn't ate breakfast.
05
Say it right: three sounds of -ed
The spelling is always -ed, but the sound changes. Tap each word and listen to the ending.
/t/Sounds like t
After p, k, s, sh, ch and f sounds.
/d/Sounds like d
After vowels and most other sounds.
/ɪd/An extra syllable
After t and d: visit-ed, want-ed.
Flash cards
Flip a card, hear the past.
Twelve verbs every A1 learner meets. Tap a card to see and hear its 2nd column.
Part 1 games
Ready? Play with the light.
Short, fast games with simple sentences. Every game here practises the past simple.
Next · Part 2
Now discover the third column.
The third column, used with have and has: I have eaten.
