Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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Published by: Instructional Services Department
Last Updated: August 22, 2005 
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1.  PAST TENSE--The -ED marker is used to form the past tense of regular verbs:

            Yesterday I asked a question.
            Last week we received a package.
            Edgar booked a flight to New York, purchased the tickets, and caught the flight all in the
                        same day.

2.  WITH BE AND HAVE--Use the -ED form when the verbs BE and HAVE are helping the verb out:

Forms of BE: is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Forms of HAVE: has, have, had, having

            They were advised to wait.
            She has walked over four miles already.
            They have turned the tide.
            Alice had been pushed around once too often.

3.  BEFORE INFINITIVES--Use the -ED marker with regular verbs before infinitives:

            Edgar tried to quit smoking.
            Emma attempted to disrupt class.
            Ellie wanted to show up on time.

4.  MODIFIERS--Use the -ED marker when changing verb forms into modifiers:

            Zack wore mismatched socks.
            The frightened ghost let out a spine-chilling shriek.
            The misplaced modifier is troublesome.
            Having walked three miles, the scout troop demanded a rest.

5.  TROUBLESOME VERBS--Sometimes it is hard to hear the -ED ending in some verbs, but be sure to write it when needed:

            USED--We used to live down the block.
            SUPPOSED--Bill was supposed to come early.