Spelling and pronunciation rules
Regular verbs form the Past Indefinite and Participle II by adding -ed to the stem of the verb, or only -d if the stem of the verb ends in -e.
to want - wanted to unite - united
to open - opened to live - lived
The pronunciation of -ed (-d) depends on the sound preceding it. It is pronounced:
[id] after t, d: wanted fwontid], landed ['laendid];
[d] after voiced consonants except d and after vowels: opened ['oupand], played
[pleid];
[t] after voiceless consonants except t: worked [w9:kt]. The following spelling rules should be observed:
a. Final у is changed into / before the addition of -ed if it is preceded by a consonant.
to carry - carried to reply - replied у remains unchanged if it is preceded by a vowel. to enjoy - enjoyed
b. If a verb ends in a consonant preceded by a short stressed vowel, the final consonant is
doubled.
to stop. - stopped to sob - sobbed to submit - submitted
to plan - planned to stir - stirred
Final r is doubled if it is preceded by a stressed vowel.
to occur - occurred to prefer - preferred to refer - referred
Final r is not doubled when preceded by a diphthong.
to appear - appeared Final / is doubled if it is preceded by a short vowel, stressed or unstressed.
to compel - compelled. to quarrel - quarrelled
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE
I worked/wrote ______________ I did not work/write____________ Did I work/write?
I didn't work/write
The Past Indefinite (Simple) may denote:
1. An action performed in the past:
□ We entered the house in silence.
□ He met us at the station.
2. A succession of past actions:
□ He shut the window, switched off the light and went upstairs.
3. A repeated action in the past:
□ He made an entry in his diary every night.
NOTE: Repeated actions are often expressed by used to + Infinitive, would + Infinitive.
□ He would spend all days locked in his room.
□ When I was young I used to work much.
21
EXERCISES
Ex. 10. (A) Read a sentence about the present and then write a sentence about the past.
Example: Granny usually gets up at 6.30. Yesterday she got up at 6.30.
1. Granny usually wakes up early. Yesterday morning___________________________
2. Granny usually walks in the garden. Yesterday______________________________
3. Granny usually has a sandwich for lunch. Yesterday__________________________
4. Granny usually goes out in the evening. Yesterday evening ____________________
5. Granny usually sleeps very well. Yesterday_________________________________
Ex. 11. (A) Put one of these verbs in each sentence:
hurt, teach, spend, sell, throw, fall, catch, buy, cost.
Example: I was thirsty, so I bought apple juice in the shop.
1. My father_____________ me how to drive when I was 17.
2. James____________ down the stairs and_____________ his leg.
3. We needed some money so we______________ our summer house.
4. They_________ a lot of money yesterday. They_________ a dishwasher which______
10000 roubles.
5. The boy__________________ the ball to the dog and the dog__________________ it.
Ex. 12. (A) Write questions. A friend has just come back from Italy and you are asking him about it.