We always need anein the-edform (past simple and-edform) of regular verbs:
Shejoinedthe company two years ago.
Not:She joind the company two years ago.
With irregular verbs where the vowel changes fromitoatou(e.g.begin, began, begun), take care to useain the past simple anduin the-edform:
The filmbeganat 7.30.(past simple form)
Not:The film begun at 7.30.
I was so thirsty Idranka whole bottle of water.(past simple form)
Not:I was so thirsty I drunk…
The shiphad sunkin the North Atlantic.(-edform)
Not:The ship had sank…
Other verbs like this are:ring, sing, swim.
See also:
Verbs
We change verbs ending in -yto -iedfor the past simple and-edforms:
The babycriedall night.
Not:The baby cryed all night.
See also:
Verbs: basic forms
Be careful with irregular verbs where the base form ends in-dand the past tense ends in-t:
Wespenta lot of money yesterday.
Not:We spend a lot of money yesterday.
See also:
Verbs
We don’t use the regular past simple or-edform for an irregular verb:
Shespenta week in Lisbon.
Not:She spended a week in Lisbon.
I was afraid of beinghurt.
Not:I was afraid of being hurted.
See also:
Irregular verbs
Be careful not to use the past simple form instead of the base form:
It’s not easy tochoosea university.
Not:It’s not easy to chose a university.
See also:
Verbs: basic forms
Be careful with verbs which have similar pronunciation but a different meaning:
Ifelland broke my ankle.
Not:I felt and broke my ankle. (Fellis the past tense offall;feltis the past tense offeel.)
Sometimes a verb is confused with another word which sounds similar but is from a different word class:
You need topractiseharder if you want to play better.
Not:You need to practice harder.
We don’t use prepositions with some verbs:
Wediscussedsome environmental problems.
Not:We discussed about some environmental problems.
Did youenjoyItaly?
Not:Did you enjoy in Italy?
We have to use the correct preposition with prepositional verbs:
The download timedepends onyour internet connection speed.
Not: …depends of your internet connection speed.
I like tolisten tothe radio while I’m having breakfast.
Not:I like to listen the radio…
See also:
Verbs: basic forms
Prepositional verbs
We don’t use the continuous form of state verbs:
A:Where is she from?
B:Shecomesfrom Tanzania originally.
Not:She’s coming from Tanzania…
See also:
State and action verbs