The past tense of regular verbs

An tràth caithte de ghnìomhairean riaghailteach

We will use question and answer format to show you how to form the past tense of regular verbs.

How do you form the past tense of regular verbs?

First, you need to find out the imperative (also known as the root or basic form) of the verb.    

Imperative means the verb used to give instructions and it is listed in most dictionaries. In the LearnGaelic dictionary, we show this with an exclamation point. 

Does the imperative start with one of the following consonants b,  c,  d,  g,  m,  p,  s,  t? 

If the imperative starts with one of the consonants:  b,  c,  d,  g,  m,  p,  s,  t, then the word lenites when it is in the past tense.

Coisich -> choisich 

Walk -> walked 

Does the imperative start with one of the vowels a, e, i, o, u? 

If the imperative starts with one of the vowels a, e, i, o, u then the word begins with  dh’  in the past tense. 

ith
eat
dh'ith
ate
òl
drink
dh’ol
drank

Does the imperative start with one of the following consonants l, n, r, sg,  sm,  sp  and  st

If the imperative starts with one of the consonants:  l, n, r,  sg,  sm,  sp  and  st  then the word stays the same when it is in the past tense. 

leugh
read
sgrìobh
write
sgrìobh
wrote

Does the imperative start with f + a vowel? 

If the imperative starts with f + a vowel, then the word begins with dh’ and it lenites when it is in the past tense. 

fuirich
stay
dh'fhuirich
stayed
Imperative / Òrdugh  Do this / Dèan seo Example / Eisempleir 
b, c, d, g, m, p, s, t + h  Cadail -> chadail  
a,e,i,o,u + dh’ Ith -> dh’ith 
l,n,r,  sg, sm, sp  and  st  Leugh -> leugh 
F+ a,e,i,o,u Dh’ + h  Fuirich -> Dh’fhuirich