Englishof Pocket

Irregular

verbs

English, like many languages, contains a mix of regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern when conjugated into different tenses. Irregular verbs, however, deviate from these patterns, often requiring special memorization and practice.

Search Irregular Verbs
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List of Verb Irregulars
InfinitivePast SimplePast Participe
arise

arose

arisen

awake

awoke

awoken

be

was

were

been

bear

bore

borne

beat

beat

beaten

become

became

become

begin

began

begun

bend

bent

bent

bet

bet

bet

bid

bid

bid

bind

bound

bound

bite

bit

bitten

bleed

bled

bled

blow

blew

blown

break

broke

broken

breed

bred

bred

bring

brought

brought

broadcast

broadcast

broadcast

build

built

built

burn

burned

burnt

burned

burnt

burst

burst

burst

buy

bought

bought

cast

cast

cast

catch

caught

caught

choose

chose

chosen

cling

clung

clung

come

came

come

cost

cost

cost

creep

crept

crept

cut

cut

cut

deal

dealt

dealt

dig

dug

dug

do

did

done

draw

drew

drawn

dream

dreamed

dreamt

dreamed

dreamt

drink

drank

drunk

drive

drove

driven

eat

ate

eaten

fall

fell

fallen

feed

fed

fed

feel

felt

felt

fight

fought

fought

find

found

found

flee

fled

fled

fly

flew

flown

forbid

forbade

forbidden

forget

forgot

forgotten

forgive

forgave

forgiven

freeze

froze

frozen

get

got

got

gotten

give

gave

given

go

went

gone

grow

grew

grown

hang

hung

hung

have/has

had

had

hear

heard

heard

hide

hid

hidden

hit

hit

hit

hold

held

held

hurt

hurt

hurt

keep

kept

kept

kneel

knelt

knelt

know

knew

known

lay

laid

laid

lead

led

led

lean

leaned

leant

leaned

leant

leap

leaped

leapt

leaped

leapt

learn

learned

learnt

learned

learnt

leave

left

left

lend

lent

lent

let

let

let

lie

lay

lain

light

lit

lit

lose

lost

lost

make

made

made

mean

meant

meant

make

met

met

mow

mowed

mowed

mown

pay

paid

paid

plead

pleaded

pled

pleaded

pled

prove

proved

proved

proven

read

read

read

win

won

won

wear

wore

worn

understand

understood

understood

throw

threw

thrown

think

thought

thought

tell

told

told

teach

taught

taught

take

took

taken

take

took

taken

spend

spent

spent

speak

spoke

spoken

sleep

slept

slept

sit

sat

sat

swim

swam

swum

show

showed

shown

set

set

set

send

sent

sent

sell

sold

sold

see

saw

seen

run

ran

run

ring

rang

rung

put

put

put

pay

paid

paid

Learn more about Irregular verbs

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Understanding Irregular Verbs in English

Irregular verbs are a fundamental aspect of the English language, presenting unique challenges to learners and native speakers alike. Unlike regular verbs, which follow consistent and predictable patterns in their conjugation, irregular verbs deviate from these norms. This article explores the nature of irregular verbs, their significance, and provides insights into mastering them.

What Are Irregular Verbs?

Irregular verbs do not conform to the standard rules of conjugation. In English, regular verbs typically form their past simple and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form (e.g., "talk" becomes "talked" and "talked"). In contrast, irregular verbs follow varied and often unpredictable patterns. For example, the verb "go" has the past simple form "went" and the past participle form "gone," which do not adhere to the regular pattern.

Importance of Irregular Verbs

  1. Frequency of Use: Many of the most commonly used verbs in English are irregular. Verbs like "be," "have," "do," and "say" are essential for everyday communication and are all irregular.
  2. Historical Linguistic Roots:Irregular verbs often have deep historical roots. Their forms have been preserved over time, reflecting the language's evolution and the influence of other languages.
  3. Expressive Richness:Irregular verbs add to the expressive richness of English. They often provide nuanced meanings that are not always captured by regular verbs.

Common Patterns in Irregular Verbs

While irregular verbs are characterized by their lack of conformity, some patterns can help learners recognize and remember them:

  1. Identical Base, Past Simple, and Past Participle Forms:Some verbs maintain the same form across different tenses. Examples include "put" (put, put, put) and "cut" (cut, cut, cut).
  2. Vowel Changes: Many irregular verbs exhibit vowel changes in their conjugation. For instance, "sing" changes to "sang" (past simple) and "sung" (past participle).
  3. Different Past Simple and Past Participle Forms:Different Past Simple and Past Participle Forms:

Strategies for Mastering Irregular Verbs

  1. Memorization:Since there are no consistent rules for conjugating irregular verbs, memorization is often necessary. Flashcards, lists, and regular practice can aid in this process.
  2. Contextual Learning:Learning irregular verbs in context helps with retention. Reading, listening, and engaging in conversations can reinforce understanding and correct usage.
  3. Grouping by Patterns:Grouping irregular verbs by their conjugation patterns can make them easier to learn. For example, grouping verbs that follow the same vowel change pattern (e.g., "sing," "ring," "swim") can be helpful.
  4. Regular Review:Regularly reviewing and practicing irregular verbs is crucial. Repetition helps solidify their forms in memory.

Conclusion

Irregular verbs are an integral part of the English language, contributing to its complexity and richness. Mastering them requires dedication and practice, but understanding their patterns and significance can make the learning process more manageable. By regularly engaging with these verbs in context, learners can improve their fluency and confidence in using English.