Regular Verbs
Base formPast simpleExample sentence
clarifyclarifiedShe clarified her position at the start of the meeting.
retainretainedThe firm retained its market-leading position.
suspendsuspendedThe board suspended the CEO pending an investigation.
disputedisputedHe disputed the findings of the independent audit.
diversifydiversifiedThe company diversified into new markets.
Irregular Verbs
Base formPast simpleExample sentence
blowblewA change in regulation blew the deal apart.
creepcreptCosts crept up steadily throughout the year.
forbidforbadeThe injunction forbade any further publication of the data.
lielayThe real problem lay in a lack of clear communication.
meanmeantThe delay meant a significant loss of revenue.
overrunoverranThe project overran both its budget and its deadline.
overseeoversawShe oversaw the entire transition process.
rethinkrethoughtThey rethought the strategy following the poor results.
shedshedThe company shed over two hundred jobs in the restructure.
spreadspreadUncertainty spread rapidly across the whole sector.
Remember! Use the past simple for completed actions in the past.
Negatives: didn't + base form  |  Questions: Did + subject + base form
✗ She didn't withdrew.   ✓ She didn't withdraw.
💡 Verbs in this lesson: blow → blew | creep → crept | forbid → forbade | lie → lay | mean → meant | overrun → overran | oversee → oversaw | rethink → rethought | shed → shed | spread → spread
True or False?

Read each sentence. Click True or False.

Multiple Choice

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Gap Fill

Complete each sentence with the correct past simple form of the verb in brackets.

Matching Exercise

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Word Order

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Error Correction

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