Choose the correct past tense of "eat".

Correct option is D

The correct option is (d).

The verb eat is an irregular verb. Its simple past form is ate. Irregular verbs do not form the past tense by adding -ed, so eated is incorrect.

Step-by-step reasoning:

• Base form: eat.
• Simple past (V2): ate.
• Past participle (V3): eaten.

Example: I ate my lunch early today.

Why other options are incorrect:

• (a) eating is present participle/gerund (V-ing form), not past tense.
• (b) eat is base form (present).
• (c) eated is not a correct past form in standard English.

So the correct answer is (d)