Simple Past

Past Progressive

I spoke

regular verbs: verb + ed

I worked

I was speaking
you were speaking
he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions

• when the final letter is e, only add d.

Example: love – loved

• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example: admit – admitted

• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example: travel – travelled

• after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry – he worried
but: play – he played

• silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: come – coming
but: agree – agreeing

• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example: sit – sitting

• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example: travel – travelling

• final ie becomes y.

Example: lie – lying