Did you know that about 70% of the time when we use a verb in English, it is an irregular one? That means that learning and using irregular verbs is essential for mastering English!
So here is a complete list of english irregular verbs and tenses.
Tips to master irregular verbs:
The irregularity of English verbs can be traced back to the history of the English language. English has borrowed words from different languages throughout its history, and the conjugation patterns of these borrowed words do not always match the patterns of English verbs. For example, the past tense of the verb "go" is "went," which is derived from an Old English verb that no longer exists in the language. Similarly, the past tense of the verb "see" is "saw," which is derived from a Middle English verb that has since evolved into a different form.
There are over 200 irregular verbs in English, and they are used in a variety of contexts. Some common irregular verbs include "be," "have," "do," "say," "make," "go," "take," "come," and "get." These verbs are essential for basic communication in English, and they are used in a wide range of tenses and sentence structures.
Learning irregular verbs can be challenging for English language learners because there is no set rule for forming their past tense and past participle forms. Instead, learners must memorize the irregular forms of each verb. Some verbs have the same base form, past tense, and past participle, such as "cut," "put," and "set." Others have different forms for each tense, such as "bring" (base form), "brought" (past tense), and "brought" (past participle).
To learn irregular verbs effectively, learners must practice using them in context. This includes reading and listening to English texts that contain irregular verbs, as well as practicing speaking and writing sentences that use these verbs correctly. English language learners may also find it helpful to use flashcards or other memory aids to help them memorize the irregular forms of each verb.
It is important to note that irregular verbs are not the only type of irregularity in English grammar. English also has irregular plural forms, irregular comparatives and superlatives, and irregular noun and pronoun forms. Learning these irregularities is an essential part of becoming proficient in English.
In conclusion, English irregular verbs are an important and challenging aspect of English grammar and vocabulary. They are used in a wide range of contexts, and learners must memorize their unique past tense and past participle forms. To learn irregular verbs effectively, learners should practice using them in context and use memory aids to help them memorize the irregular forms. While learning irregular verbs can be challenging, it is an essential step in becoming proficient in the English language.
Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
abide | abode | abode |
arise | arose | arisen |
awake | awoke | awoken |
be | was, were | been |
bear | bore | borne / born |
beat | beat | beaten |
become | became | become |
beget | begat / begot | begotten |
begin | began | begun |
bend | bent | bent |
bereave | bereft / bereaved | bereft / bereaved |
bet | bet | bet |
bid | bid / bade | bid / bidden |
bleed | bled | bled |
blow | blew | blown |
break | broke | broken |
breed | bred | bred |
bring | brought | brought |
broadcast | broadcast | broadcast |
build | built | built |
burn | burnt / burned | burnt / burned |
burst | burst | burst |
buy | bought | bought |
can | could | could |
cast | cast | cast |
catch | caught | caught |
chide | chid | chiden |
choose | chose | chosen |
cling | clung | clung |
clothe | clad / clothed | clad / clothed |
come | came | come |
cost | cost | cost |
creep | crept | crept |
cut | cut | cut |
deal | dealt | dealt |
dig | dug | dug |
dive | dived | dived / dove |
do | did | done |
draw | drew | drawn |
dream | dreamt / dreamed | dreamt / dreamed |
drink | drank | drunk |
drive | drove | driven |
dwell | dwelt | dwelt / dwelled |
eat | ate | eaten |
fall | fell | fallen |
feed | fed | fed |
feel | felt | felt |
fight | fought | fought |
find | found | found |
flee | fled | fled |
fling | flung | flung |
fly | flew | flown |
forbid | forbade | forbidden |
forecast | forecast | forecast |
forget | forgot | forgotten / forgot |
forgive | forgave | forgiven |
forsake | forsook | forsaken |
forsee | foresaw | foresawn |
freeze | froze | frozen |
get | got | gotten / got |
give | gave | given |
go | went | gone |
grind | ground | ground |
grow | grew | grown |
hang | hung | hung |
have | had | had |
hear | heard | heard |
hide | hid | hidden |
hit | hit | hit |
hold | held | held |
hurt | hurt | hurt |
keep | kept | kept |
kneel | knelt / knelled | knelt / kneeled |
know | knew | known |
lay | laid | laid |
lead | led | led |
lean | leant / leaned | leant / leaned |
leap | leapt / leaped | leapt / leaped |
learn | learnt | learnt |
leave | left | left |
lend | lent | lent |
let | let | let |
lie | lay | lain |
light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted |
lose | lost | lost |
make | made | made |
mean | meant | meant |
meet | met | met |
mow | mowed | mowed / mown |
offset | offset | offset |
overcome | overcame | overcome |
partake | partook | partaken |
pay | paid | paid |
plead | pled / pleaded | pled / pleaded |
preset | preset | preset |
prove | proved | proven / proved |
put | put | put |
quit | quit | quit |
read | read | read |
relay | relaid | relaid |
rend | rent | rent |
rid | rid | rid |
ride | rode | ridden |
ring | rang | rung |
rise | rose | risen |
run | ran | run |
saw | saw / sawed | sawn / sawed |
say | said | said |
see | saw | seen |
seek | sought | sought |
sell | sold | sold |
send | sent | sent |
set | set | set |
shake | shook | shaken |
shed | shed | shed |
shine | shone | shone |
shoe | shod | shod |
shoot | shot | shot |
show | showed | shown |
shut | shut | shut |
sing | sang | sung |
sink | sank / sunk | sunk / sunken |
sit | sat | sat |
slay | slew | slain |
sleep | slept | slept |
slide | slid | slid |
slink | slunk / slinked | slunk / slinked |
slit | slit | slit |
smell | smelt | smelt |
sow | sowed | sown / sowed |
speak | spoke | spoken |
speed | sped | sped |
spell | spelt | spelt |
spend | spent | spent |
spill | spilt / spilled | spilt / spilled |
spin | spun | spun |
spit | spat / spit | spat / spit |
split | split | split |
spoil | spoilt | spoilt |
spread | spread | spread |
spring | sprang | sprung |
stand | stood | stood |
steal | stole | stolen |
stick | stuck | stuck |
sting | stung | stung |
stink | stank | stunk |
strew | strewed | strewn / strewed |
strike | struck | stricken / struck |
strive | strove | striven |
swear | swore | sworn |
sweat | sweat / sweated | sweat / sweated |
sweep | swept | swept |
swell | swelled | swollen / swelled |
swim | swam | swum |
swing | swung | swung |
take | took | taken |
teach | taught | taught |
tear | tore | torn |
tell | told | told |
think | thought | thought |
thrive | throve / thrived | thriven / thrived |
throw | threw | thrown |
thrust | thrust | thrust |
tread | trod | trodden |
typeset | typeset | typeset |
undergo | underwent | undergone |
understand | understood | understood |
wake | woke | woken |
wear | wore | worn |
weep | wept | wept |
wet | wet / wetted | wet / wetted |
win | won | won |
wind | wound | wound |
withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
wring | wrung | wrung |
write | wrote | written |