Past Simple: Common irregular verbs (go, have, do, make)

In the Past Simple, we talk about things that are finished. It’s over. Done. The history books are closed. For regular verbs, we just add a little tail: -ed. But irregular verbs are different. They don't want a tail; they want a makeover.

Think of these verbs like a grammar traffic light. Green means "Go ahead and change the word." Red means "Stop using the -ed ending." When you move from the present to the past, the word itself transforms. Go doesn't just get longer; it turns into a completely different word: went.

Why does this happen? Well, blame history. These verbs are so old that they kept their ancient forms while newer verbs followed the new -ed trend. They are like vintage cars in a world of modern SUVs. They might look different, but they run beautifully once you know how to drive them. You use these forms ONLY in positive sentences. When you want to say "no" or ask a question, things change again. But for now, let's look at the transformation itself.

1. 1To build a positive sentence in the Past Simple with these verbs, follow these steps:
2. 2Pick your subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
3. 3Choose your verb and use its special past form.
4. 4Add the rest of your sentence.
5. 5Here is the transformation list you need to memorize:
6. 6go becomes went (I went to the park.)
7. 7have becomes had (You had a great idea.)
8. 8do becomes did (He did his homework.)
9. 9make becomes made (She made a delicious cake.)
10. 10Notice something cool? These forms stay the same for EVERY subject. Unlike the Present Simple (where you have to worry about he/she/it adding an -s), the Past Simple is a party where everyone is invited. It’s I went, he went, we went. No extra letters. No exceptions. It’s actually easier than the present tense!

Use these four verbs whenever you are telling a story about a specific time in the past.

• Completed Actions: Use went when the travel is finished. "Yesterday, I went to the bank."
• Possession in the Past: Use had for things you owned or experienced. "I had a dog when I was ten" or "I had a headache this morning."
• Tasks and Activities: Use did for chores or general actions. "I did the laundry at 9 PM."
• Creation and Production: Use made when you built or created something. "I made a mistake on that form."

Real-world scenario: Imagine you're in a job interview. You want to sound professional. Instead of saying "I am good at work," you say, "In my last job, I did many projects and made a big impact." See? You sound like a pro already. Or imagine you're telling a friend about a bad date. "We went to a fancy restaurant, but I had no money!" It adds drama and detail to your life.

This is where many people trip up. Do not use went, had, did, or made in these situations:

• Negatives: When you use didn't, the verb goes back to its normal self. You say "I didn't go," NOT "I didn't went." This is a classic mistake. Think of didn't as a time machine that pulls the verb back to the present.
• Questions: Same rule. "Did you have fun?" NOT "Did you had fun?"
• Unspecified Time: If you're talking about your whole life generally without a specific time, you might need a different tense (like Present Perfect), but for A2 level, just focus on avoiding the "double past" error in negatives and questions.
• Repeated Habits: If you are talking about something you *used* to do but don't anymore, went works, but there are better ways to say it. For now, stick to specific finished events.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes (usually when they are tired or after too much coffee).

• The "Double Past" Error: People say I didn't went. This is like wearing two hats at once. You only need one past marker. The didn't already tells us it's the past. Let go be go.
• The "-ed" Reflex: You might be tempted to say goed, haved, or maked. Your brain wants to follow the rule. You have to train your brain to recognize these four as "special."
• Confusing Do and Make: This is the big one. Did is for tasks; made is for creating. You did the dishes, but you made dinner. If you say "I made the dishes," people will think you are a potter who literally created plates from clay!
• Spelling: Made is often spelled maked by accident. Remember: it ends in e but the k disappears.

How does this compare to the Present Simple?

In the present, you say: "I go to work every day." This is a habit.

In the past, you say: "I went to work yesterday." This is a one-time event.

What about regular verbs?

Regular: "I watched a movie." (Add -ed)

Irregular: "I had a pizza." (Change the word)

Think of it like a menu. Regular verbs are the "standard options." These irregular verbs are the "daily specials." They are more unique, they have more flavor, and they are usually what everyone actually wants to talk about. Don't be afraid of the change. The change is what makes your English sound natural and fluid.