A past tense verb chart is extremely helpful, because verbs take on a variety of different forms. First of all, there is the difference between regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs all tend to take on the same sort of endings, while irregulars vary depending on the exact word. Next, there is the difference between the past and past participle. They are very close in meaning, and can sometimes be used interchangeably. However, a past participle can refer to an action that has ended, but has implications in the present. For example, "The ice has made the drink cold" implies that the drink is still cold. On the other hand, "The ice made the drink cold" seems to imply a state that has happened and passed.
Past Verb Tense Chart
Regular Verbs
The chart outlines the regular verb, the past form of the verb, and the past participle form of the verb. Note that the past and past participle are the same. The past particple would generally have a to be verb in front of it.
- accept-accepted-accepted
- add-added-added
- afford-afforded-afforded
- amuse-amused-amused
- arrange-arranged-arranged
- attach-attached-attached
- attack-attacked-attacked
- battle-battled-battled-
- bake-baked-baked
- belong-belonged-belonged
- blush-blushed-blushed
- bolt-bolted-bolted
- bounce-bounced-bounced
- call-called-called
- cough-coughed-coughed
- camp-camped-camped
- care-cared-cared
- cheer-cheered-cheered
- check-checked-checked
- delay-delayed-delayed
- delight-delighted-delighted
- develop-developed-developed
- dust-dusted-dusted
- earn-earned-earned
- face-faced-faced
- fade-faded-faded
- fence-fenced-fenced
- film-filmed-filmed
- fire-fired-fired
- fold-folded-folded
- hand-handed-handed
- handle-handled-handled
- harm-harmed-harmed
- hug-hugged-hugged
- manage-managed-managed
- march-marched-marched
- measure-measured-measured
- nest-nested-nested
- plan-planned-planned
- plant-planted-planted
- polished-polished-polished
- race-raced-raced
- radiate-radiated-radiated
- scratch-scratched-scratched
- spoil-spoiled-spoiled
- subtract-subtracted-subtracted
- squeeze-squeezed-squeezed
- talk-talked-talked
- undress-undressed-undressed
- visit-visited-visited
- work-worked-worked
Irregular Verbs
What follows is a list of irregular verbs and their past and past participle forms.
- arise-awoke-arisen
- awake-awakened/awoke-awakened/awoken
- be-was/were-been
- beat-beat-beaten/beat
- begin-began-begun
- bend-bent-bent
- breed-bred-bred
- build-built-built
- burst-burst-burst
- cast-cast-cast
- choose-chose-chosen
- come-came-come
- cost-cost-cost
- cut-cut-cut
- deal-dealt-dealt
- drive-drove-driven
- drink-drank-drunk
- eat-ate-eaten
- flee-fled-fled
- fly-flew-flown
- hand-feed-hand-fed-hand-fed
- handwrite-handwrote-handwritten
- hide-hid-hidden
- interwind-interwound-interwound
- keep-kept-kept
- lay-laid-laid
- leave-left-left
- lie-lay-lain
- lose-lost-lost
- make-made-made
- misdo-misdid-misdone
- outdrive-outdrove-outdriven
- partake-partook-partaken
- put-put-put
- quit-quit-quit
- read-read-read
- ring-rang-rung
- run-ran-run
- send-sent-sent
- shake-shook-shaken
- shed-shed-shed
- sing-sang-sung
- sleep-slept-slept
- speak-spoke-spoken
- spin-spun-spun
- swim-swam-swum
- teach-taught-taught
- upset-upset-upset
- wear-wore-worn
- win-won-won
- wind-wound-wound
- write-wrote-written
Using Past Tense Verbs
Although our past tense verb chart has covered quite a number of different verbs and their tenses, there are thousands of verbs in the English language. Therefore, if you are not sure what the correct word is to use, make sure to double check with a grammar guide.