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10 Past Simple Verbs Every A2 Learner Should Know

Last updated: 7 April 2026.

The past simple is the default tense for finished actions and stories at A2. Many everyday verbs are irregular: the past form does not end in -ed. Below are ten verbs A2 learners use constantly—learn the past simple form by heart and you will write and speak more fluently.

donehome.work includes Present & Past Verbs practice: students see the present form and supply the past simple, with instant feedback—ideal for homework or revision. Browse the activities catalogue or register as a teacher to assign it to your class.

1. go → went

  • Yesterday we went to the museum.

2. see → saw

  • I saw my cousin at the weekend.

3. take → took

  • She took the bus because it was raining.

4. make → made

  • They made a cake for her birthday.

5. come → came

  • He came home late after work.

6. know → knew

  • We already knew the answer.

7. think → thought

  • I thought the film was excellent.

8. get → got

  • She got a message from her teacher.

9. give → gave

  • He gave me some good advice.

10. find → found

  • I found my keys under the sofa.

Quick tips

  • Say them in pairs (present → past) until the past form is automatic.
  • Write three short sentences per verb—personal examples stick better than lists alone.
  • In exams like Cambridge A2 Key, accurate past forms in the writing and speaking papers boost your score; in multiple-choice grammar, wrong irregular forms are common distractors.

Practise on donehome.work: Open Present & Past Verbs from the grammar activities, set the level to suit your class, and combine with other A2 tasks (e.g. open cloze, sentence reorder) from the same activities hub.

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