be, do, have and irregular verbs in the Past Simple
How to use irregular verbs in the Past Simple
Many frequently used verbs are irregular. You will need to learn these by heart, here are some pages to help you:
Most common irregular verbs by type
Irregular verbs – complete list
Verbs easily confused in English
1. be as a main verb
| Pronouns | Affirmative sentences | Negative sentences | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, he, she, it | I was in work. | I was not in work. | Was I in work? |
| we, you, they | They were in work. | They were not in work. | Were they in work? |
2. do as a main verb
| Pronouns | Affirmative sentences | Negative sentences | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, he, she, it, we, you, they | I did the house work. | I did not do the house work. | Did I do the house work.? |
3. have as a main verb
| Pronouns | Affirmative sentences | Negative sentences | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, he, she, it, we, you, they | I had a holiday. | I did not have a holiday. | Did I have a holiday? |
We often use short/contracted forms with these verbs.