did

In the past simple, questions and negatives take did. The main verb goes back to its base form (go, see, work), with no -ed. Did is the same for every person.

Negatives

Didn't is the short form of did not. Use did not in formal writing.

Yes/no questions

Short answers: Yes, I did. No, he didn't.

Questions with a question word

The question word comes first, then did, then the subject.

Was and were

Be makes its own past questions and negatives, without did.

Common mistakes

• × Did you went? → Did you go?
• × I didn't saw it. → I didn't see it.
• × She didn't liked it. → She didn't like it.
• × Where you went? → Where did you go?
• × Did you were there? → Were you there?