Spelling Rules for Regular Past Tense Verbs
1. Add –ed to the base form of most verbs
start - started
finish - finished
wash - washed
2. Add only–d when the base form ends in an e.
live -lived
care -cared
die -died
3. If the verb ends in a consonant +y, change they to i and add–ed
dry - dried
carry - carried
spy - spied
4. If the verb ends in a vowel +y, do not change they. Just add –ed
pray - prayed
stay - stayed
destroy - destroyed
5. If the verb has one syllable and ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant (CVC), double the
final consonant and add–ed.
final consonant and add–ed.
stop - stopped
rob - robbed
beg - begged
6. Do not double final w or x.
sew - sewed
mix - mixed
7. If the verb has two syllables, and the final syllable is stressed, double the final consonant.
ad mit’ - admitted
oc cur’ - occurred
per mit’ -permitted
8. If the verb has two syllables, and the final syllable isnot stressed, do not double the final consonant.
hap’ pen - happened
lis’ ten - listened
o’ pen - opened
