Past Negative & Questions (A1 Grammar)

Use didn't for negatives, Did for questions. Verb returns to base form!

Quick tip: didn't/Did + BASE VERB (the -ed is in 'did')

Negative: didn't + base verb

Use didn't + base verb. No -ed, no irregular form.

• I didn't go. (not: didn't went)
• She didn't work. (not: didn't worked)
• They didn't see me.

Questions: Did + subject + base verb?

Use Did + subject + base verb.

• Did you go? (not: Did you went?)
• Did she work?
• Did they see you?

Short answers

Answer with did or didn't.

• Did you go? – Yes, I did.
• Did she like it? – No, she didn't.
• Did they come? – Yes, they did.

Common mistakes

• Not "I didn't went." — say "I didn't go.". Base verb after didn't.
• Not "Did she worked?" — say "Did she work?". Base verb after did.
• Not "He didn't saw me." — say "He didn't see me.". Base verb after didn't.

Practise it

Did carries the past. Main verb stays base form.