We know that verb + -ed = simple past tense


Here are some more details about the rules when you form a verb in the simple past tense.



This means that when you are forming a verb in the past tense you take the root or base word and add an -ed to the end.

    Some examples of these verbs are
        scamper goes to scampered
        gather goes to gathered
        look goes to looked

Other times for past tense verbs, you only need to add a -d to the end of the word. We only add a -d and not an -ed because we do not need two letter e's next to each other.

    Some examples of these verbs are
        graduate goes to graduated
        purchase goes to purchased
        complete goes to completed

There are also past tense verbs where the root or base word ends in a -y. When this is the case, you change the -y to an -i and add the -ed ending.

    Some examples of these verbs are
       spy goes to spied
           fry goes to fried
           carry goes to carried



What other simple past tense verbs can you think of?





Let's do some more examples together based on the information above. Put the correct simple past tense verb in the blank.

1. Jack Rabbit up at the pretty blue sky. (look)

2. All of the friends to watch the stew cook. (gather)

3. Jack a big pot. (spy)

4. Deer over to see his friends. (trot)

5. Skunk over to the pot of tumbleweed stew. (scamper)