How to formulate the simple past For regular verbs, add -ed to the end of the verb (or just -d if the verb already ends in an e : Play → Play ed Listen → Listen ed Love → Lov ed For Irregular verbs The simple past tense of some irregular verbs looks exactly like the verbs: Put → Put Cut → Cut Hit → Hit For other irregular verbs, including the verb to be, the simple past forms are more unpredictable: See → Saw Go → Went ...