The verb to go · Conjugation
Past Simple of go
The answer: went
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to go is went.
Example: We went to London last summer.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | went |
| You | went |
| He / She / It | went |
| We | went |
| You (pl.) | went |
| They | went |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Goed ❌
Go is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is went, never goed. Many learners add -ed to every verb, but irregular verbs do not take it: learn their past forms by heart.
2. I have went ❌
Went = Past Simple (used alone). Gone = past participle, used after have / has in the Present Perfect. Say I went or I have gone, never I have went.
3. Did you went? ❌
When did is there (in a negative or a question), the main verb goes back to its base form: Did you go to the cinema? is correct, Did you went to the cinema? is wrong.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of go in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of go when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
Practise the Past Simple of go on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of go, and you follow each student
The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of go?+
The Past Simple of go is went. It is the same for every person: I, you, he, she, it, we, they went.
Is it I went or I have gone?+
For a finished time in the past, say I went: I went to Rome last summer. The Past Simple is the usual tense to tell a story about the past: We went to the beach and played volleyball. I have gone is the Present Perfect, with no time: it means you left and you are not back yet.
What is the difference between went and gone?+
Went is the Past Simple: I went to the park yesterday. Gone is the past participle, used after have / has in the Present Perfect: She has gone home.
Is it didn't go or didn't went?+
Say didn't go: I didn't go to the party. Never say I didn't went. For a question: Did you go to the party? Did already shows the past, so the main verb stays in its base form.
Is go regular in the past simple?+
No, go is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple went does not follow the -ed rule. It is one of the most common irregular verbs in English.
Related pages: go 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/go/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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to go are coming soon.