The verb to get · Conjugation
Past Simple of get
The answer: got
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to get is got.
Example: I got a new phone yesterday.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | got |
| You | got |
| He / She / It | got |
| We | got |
| You (pl.) | got |
| They | got |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Getted ❌
Get is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is got, never getted. Irregular verbs do not take -ed: learn their past forms by heart.
2. I gotten a letter yesterday ❌
Gotten is only a past participle (used after have in American English). The Past Simple is always got: I got a letter yesterday. In British English, the past participle is also got.
3. I didn't got it ❌
After didn't, use the base form of the verb: I didn't get the joke (correct), not I didn't got the joke. The past is already in did.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of get?+
The Past Simple of get is got. It is the same for every person: I got, you got, he got, we got, they got.
What is the difference between got and gotten?+
Both are past participles. British English normally uses got: I have got it. American English often uses gotten: I have gotten it. The Past Simple is always got: I got it yesterday.
Is it I got a bike or I had a bike?+
It depends on the meaning. When you received something, use got: I got a new bike for my birthday. When you owned something for a time, use had: I had a red bike when I was little. Got is about receiving, had is about owning.
Is it didn't get or didn't got?+
Say didn't get: I didn't get the message. Never say I didn't got. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (the form without -s, -ed or -ing).
What is the difference between I've got and I got?+
I've got means I have: you own it now. I've got a brother. I got is the Past Simple: you received it in the past. I got a bike for my birthday. So use I've got for owning and I got for a past action.
Related pages: get Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/get/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to get are coming soon.