Table of Contents
Introduction
These past simple spelling exercises will help you practice the spelling rules for regular verbs in the past tense.
When we form the past simple of regular verbs, we usually add -ed, but sometimes the spelling changes:
- Add -d after verbs ending in -e
- Double the final consonant
- Change y to i before adding -ed
Before doing the exercises, you may want to review the lesson on past simple spelling rules.
Exercises – Spelling of the Simple Past Forms
Quick Recap: Past Simple Spelling Rules (-ED Forms)
When forming the past simple of regular verbs, we usually add -ed, but spelling changes sometimes occur.
1. Most verbs → add -ed
- play → played
- work → worked
- visit → visited
2. Verbs ending in -e → add -d
- live → lived
- decide → decided
3. Verbs ending in consonant + y → change y to i + ed
- cry → cried
- hurry → hurried
⚠️ If the verb ends in vowel + y → just add -ed
- play → played
4. One-syllable verbs ending in consonant–vowel–consonant (CVC) → double the final consonant
- stop → stopped
- swap → swapped
These spelling changes explain most past simple spelling variations in regular verbs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Past Simple Spelling
What are the spelling rules for the past simple?
To form the past simple of regular verbs:
– Add -ed to most verbs
– Add -d to verbs ending in -e
– Change y to i before adding -ed (if preceded by a consonant)
– Double the final consonant in short CVC verbs
These are the main past simple spelling rules.
When do we double the consonant in the past tense?
We double the final consonant when:
– The verb has one syllable
– It ends in consonant–vowel–consonant (CVC)
Examples:
– stop → stopped
– plan → planned
When do we change y to i in the past simple?
We change y to i before adding -ed when:
– The verb ends in a consonant + y
Example:
cry → cried
– But if the verb ends in vowel + y, we simply add -ed:
play → played
How do you spell regular verbs in the past tense?
Regular verbs are spelled by adding -ed, but you must follow specific spelling rules depending on how the verb ends. These rules prevent spelling mistakes and help you write correctly in the past tense.
