Verb forms · CEFR A2
“Didn’t went” or “didn’t go”? Past simple negatives
Incorrect
I didn’t went
Correct
I didn’t go
After did or didn’t, use the base form of the verb: “I didn’t go”, “Did you see it?” The past tense is already shown by did, so “didn’t went” marks the past twice.
The rule
Positive past simple: I went, she saw.
Negative: didn’t + base verb: I didn’t go, she didn’t see.
Question: did + subject + base verb: Did you go? What did she see?
Examples
✗ I didn’t went to school yesterday.
✓ I didn’t go to school yesterday.
✗ Did you saw the match?
✓ Did you see the match?
✗ She didn’t knew the answer.
✓ She didn’t know the answer.
Why learners make this mistake
Learners remember that the sentence is in the past and put the past form on the main verb too. Most languages mark tense only on the main verb.
Remember
DID carries the past. The verb after it stays in its base form.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the same rule apply to “does/doesn’t”?
- Yes: “He doesn’t like it”, not “He doesn’t likes it”.
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