All verbs, whether regular or
irregular, have five forms [often called principal parts].
These forms are the infinitive,
simple present, simple past, past participle, and present participle. The difference between a regular and an irregular verb is the
formation of the simple past and past participle. Regular verbs are
dependably consistent—the simple past ends in
ed as does the past participle. Check out this chart: In contrast, the simple past and past participle of irregular verbs
can end in a variety of ways, with absolutely no consistent pattern.
Here are some examples: Writers make two frequent errors with irregular verbs. They either
add an incorrect ed to the end of an
irregular verb or accidentally interchange the simple past and past
participle. Read this sentence: Olivia feeled
like exercising yesterday, so she putted
on her bathing suit and drived to
the YMCA, where she swum so far that
only an extra large pepperoni pizza would satisfy her hunger. What are the problems with this sentence? First,
feeled should be
felt. Next,
putted
needs to be put. The correct past tense
of drive is
drove. And we must change swum to
swam. To avoid making mistakes with irregular verbs, learn the very long
chart below. In addition to learning the chart above, you must also understand the
difference between the simple past and past participle. A simple past tense verb always has just one part. You need
no auxiliary verb to form this
tense. Look at these examples: Because dinner time was near, my dog Oreo
bit the spine of Moby-Dick
and pulled the novel off my lap. Since Denise had ignored bills for so long, she
wrote out checks for an hour
straight. Despite the noise, jolts, and jerks, Alex
slept so soundly on the city bus
that he missed his stop. Many multipart verbs, however, require the past participle after one
or more auxiliary verbs. Read
these sentences: Raymond had bitten
into the muffin before Charise mentioned that it was her infamous
chocolate-broccoli variety. had = auxiliary verb;
bitten = past participle Once Woody has written
his essay for Mr. Stover, he plans to reward himself with a packet
of Twinkies. has = auxiliary verb;
written = past participle Cynthia might have slept
better if she hadn't watched The Nightmare on Elm Street
marathon on HBO. might,
have
= auxiliary verbs; slept = past
participle For regular verbs, knowing the distinction between the simple past
and past participle is unnecessary because both are identical. Check out
these two sentences: Diane giggled as
her beagle Reliable pushed his cold wet nose into her stomach,
searching for cookie crumbs. giggled = simple past Until the disapproving Mrs. Whitman elbowed
Latoya in the ribs, the young girl had
giggled
without stop at the toilet paper streamer attached to Principal
Clemens's shoe. had = auxiliary verb;
giggled = past participle When you choose an irregular verb for a sentence, however, the simple
past and past participle are often different, so you must know the
distinction. Here are two examples: Essie drove so
cautiously that traffic piled up behind her, causing angry drivers
to honk their horns and shout obscenities. drove = simple past Essie might have driven
faster if she hadn't forgotten her glasses and saw more than big
colored blurs through the windshield. might,
have
= auxiliary verbs; driven = past
participle In addition, past participles can function as
adjectives in sentences, describing
other words. When you use a past participle in this manner, you must
choose the correct form. Read these sentences: The calculus exams given
by Dr. Ribley are so difficult that his students believe their
brains will burst. Delores discovered the
stolen
bologna under the sofa, guarded fiercely by Max, her Chihuahua. The written
reprimand so shamed poor Pablo that he promised his boss never again
to throw a scoop of ice cream at a customer. Remember that you can always consult a dictionary when you have a
question about the correct form of an irregular verb. Fill in the missing forms of the irregular
verbs below. The first one has been done for you.
1. go went gone
Irregular Verbs 2
Fill in the missing forms of the irregular
verbs below. The first one has been done for you.
1. dig dug dug
Irregular Verbs 3 Fill in the missing forms of the irregular
verbs below. The first one has been done for you.
1. feed fed fed
Irregular Verbs 4 Fill in the missing forms of the irregular
verbs below. The first one has been done for you.
1. creep crept crept
For Using Irregular Verbs
Understand the problem.
Infinitive
Simple Present
Simple Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
to laugh
laugh(s)
laughed
laughed
laughing
to start
start(s)
started
started
starting
to wash
wash(es)
washed
washed
washing
to wink
wink(s)
winked
winked
winking
Infinitive
Simple Present
Simple Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
to drive
drive(s)
drove
driven
driving
to feel
feel(s)
felt
felt
feeling
to put
put(s)
put
put
putting
to swim
swim(s)
swam
swum
swimming
Know the solution.
Infinitive
Simple Present
Simple Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
to arise
arise(s)
arose
arisen
arising
to awake
awake(s)
awoke or awaked
awaked or awoken
awaking
to be
am, is, are
was, were
been
being
to bear
bear(s)
bore
borne or born
bearing
to beat
beat(s)
beat
beaten
beating
to become
become(s)
became
become
becoming
to begin
begin(s)
began
begun
beginning
to bend
bend(s)
bent
bent
bending
to bet
bet(s)
bet
bet
betting
to bid [to offer]
bid(s)
bid
bid
bidding
to bid [to command]
bid(s)
bade
bidden
bidding
to bind
bind(s)
bound
bound
binding
to bite
bite(s)
bit
bitten or bit
biting
to blow
blow(s)
blew
blown
blowing
to break
break(s)
broke
broken
breaking
to bring
bring(s)
brought
brought
bringing
to build
build(s)
built
built
building
to burst
burst(s)
burst
burst
bursting
to buy
buy(s)
bought
bought
buying
to cast
cast(s)
cast
cast
casting
to catch
catch(es)
caught
caught
catching
to choose
choose(s)
chose
chosen
choosing
to cling
cling(s)
clung
clung
clinging
to come
come(s)
came
come
coming
to cost
cost(s)
cost
cost
costing
to creep
creep(s)
crept
crept
creeping
to cut
cut(s)
cut
cut
cutting
to deal
deal(s)
dealt
dealt
dealing
to dig
dig(s)
dug
dug
digging
to dive
dive(s)
dived or dove
dived
diving
to do
do(es)
did
done
doing
to draw
draw(s)
drew
drawn
drawing
to dream
dream(s)
dreamed or dreamt
dreamed or dreamt
dreaming
to drink
drink(s)
drank
drunk
drinking
to drive
drive(s)
drove
driven
driving
to eat
eat(s)
ate
eaten
eating
to fall
fall(s)
fell
fallen
falling
to feed
feed(s)
fed
fed
feeding
to feel
feel(s)
felt
felt
feeling
to fight
fight(s)
fought
fought
fighting
to find
find(s)
found
found
finding
to flee
flee(s)
fled
fled
fleeing
to fling
fling(s)
flung
flung
flinging
to fly
flies, fly
flew
flown
flying
to forbid
forbid(s)
forbade or forbad
forbidden
forbidding
to forget
forget(s)
forgot
forgotten or forgot
forgetting
to forgive
forgive(s)
forgave
forgiven
forgiving
to forsake
forsake(s)
forsook
forsaken
forsaking
to freeze
freeze(s)
froze
frozen
freezing
to get
get(s)
got
got or gotten
getting
to give
give(s)
gave
given
giving
to go
go(es)
went
gone
going
to grow
grow(s)
grew
grown
growing
to hang [to suspend]
hang(s)
hung
hung
hanging
to have
has, have
had
had
having
to hear
hear(s)
heard
heard
hearing
to hide
hide(s)
hid
hidden
hiding
to hit
hit(s)
hit
hit
hitting
to hurt
hurt(s)
hurt
hurt
hurting
to keep
keep(s)
kept
kept
keeping
to know
know(s)
knew
known
knowing
to lay
lay(s)
laid
laid
laying
to lead
lead(s)
led
led
leading
to leap
leap(s)
leaped or leapt
leaped or leapt
leaping
to leave
leave(s)
left
left
leaving
to lend
lend(s)
lent
lent
lending
to let
let(s)
let
let
letting
to lie [to rest or recline]
lie(s)
lay
lain
lying
to light
light(s)
lighted or lit
lighted or lit
lighting
to lose
lose(s)
lost
lost
losing
to make
make(s)
made
made
making
to mean
mean(s)
meant
meant
meaning
to pay
pay(s)
paid
paid
paying
to prove
prove(s)
proved
proved or proven
proving
to quit
quit(s)
quit
quit
quitting
to read
read(s)
read
read
reading
to rid
rid(s)
rid
rid
ridding
to ride
ride(s)
rode
ridden
riding
to ring
ring(s)
rang
rung
ringing
to rise
rise(s)
rose
risen
rising
to run
run(s)
ran
run
running
to say
say(s)
said
said
saying
to see
see(s)
saw
seen
seeing
to seek
seek(s)
sought
sought
seeking
to send
send(s)
sent
sent
sending
to set
set(s)
set
set
setting
to shake
shake(s)
shook
shaken
shaking
to shine [to glow]
shine(s)
shone
shone
shining
to shoot
shoot(s)
shot
shot
shooting
to show
show(s)
showed
shown or showed
showing
to shrink
shrink(s)
shrank
shrunk
shrinking
to sing
sing(s)
sang
sung
singing
to sink
sink(s)
sank or sunk
sunk
sinking
to sit
sit(s)
sat
sat
sitting
to slay
slay(s)
slew
slain
slaying
to sleep
sleep(s)
slept
slept
sleeping
to sling
sling(s)
slung
slung
slinging
to sneak
sneak(s)
sneaked or snuck
sneaked or snuck
sneaking
to speak
speak(s)
spoke
spoken
speaking
to spend
spend(s)
spent
spent
spending
to spin
spin(s)
spun
spun
spinning
to spring
spring(s)
sprang or sprung
sprung
springing
to stand
stand(s)
stood
stood
standing
to steal
steal(s)
stole
stolen
stealing
to sting
sting(s)
stung
stung
stinging
to stink
stink(s)
stank or stunk
stunk
stinking
to stride
stride(s)
strode
stridden
striding
to strike
strike(s)
struck
struck
striking
to strive
strive(s)
strove
striven
striving
to swear
swear(s)
swore
sworn
swearing
to sweep
sweep(s)
swept
swept
sweeping
to swim
swim(s)
swam
swum
swimming
to swing
swing(s)
swung
swung
swinging
to take
take(s)
took
taken
taking
to teach
teach(es)
taught
taught
teaching
to tear
tear(s)
tore
torn
tearing
to tell
tell(s)
told
told
telling
to think
think(s)
thought
thought
thinking
to throw
throw(s)
threw
thrown
throwing
to understand
understand(s)
understood
understood
understanding
to wake
wake(s)
woke or waked
waked or woken
waking
to wear
wear(s)
wore
worn
wearing
to weave
weave(s)
wove or weaved
woven or wove
weaving
to weep
weep(s)
wept
wept
weeping
to wring
wring(s)
wrung
wrung
wringing
to write
write(s)
wrote
written
writing
370 irregular verbs
A base form past simple
past participle arise arose arisen awake awakened / awoke awakened / awoken B backslide backslid backslidden / backslid be was, were been bear bore born / borne beat beat beaten / beat become became become begin began begun bend bent bent bet bet / betted [?] bet / betted [?] bid (farewell) bid / bade bidden bid (offer amount) 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 / broadcasted broadcast / broadcasted browbeat browbeat browbeaten / browbeat build built built burn burned / burnt [?] burned / burnt [?] burst burst burst bust busted / bust busted / bust buy bought bought C cast cast cast catch caught caught choose chose chosen cling clung clung clothe clothed / clad [?] clothed / clad [?] come came come cost cost cost creep crept crept crossbreed crossbred crossbred cut cut cut D daydream daydreamed / daydreamt [?] daydreamed / daydreamt [?] deal dealt dealt dig dug dug disprove disproved disproved / disproven dive (jump head-first) dove / dived dived dive (scuba diving) dived / dove dived do did done draw drew drawn dream dreamed / dreamt [?] dreamed / dreamt [?] drink drank drunk drive drove driven dwell dwelt / dwelled [?] dwelt / dwelled [?] E eat ate eaten F fall fell fallen feed fed fed feel felt felt fight fought fought find found found fit (tailor, change size) fitted / fit [?] fitted / fit [?] fit (be right size) fit / fitted [?] fit / fitted [?] flee fled fled fling flung flung fly flew flown forbid forbade forbidden forecast forecast forecast forego (also forgo) forewent foregone foresee foresaw foreseen foretell foretold foretold forget forgot forgotten / forgot [?] forgive forgave forgiven forsake forsook forsaken freeze froze frozen frostbite frostbit frostbitten G get got gotten / got [?] give gave given go went gone grind ground ground grow grew grown H hand-feed hand-fed hand-fed handwrite handwrote handwritten hang hung hung have had had hear heard heard hew hewed hewn / hewed hide hid hidden hit hit hit hold held held hurt hurt hurt I inbreed inbred inbred inlay inlaid inlaid input input / inputted input / inputted interbreed interbred interbred interweave interwove / interweaved interwoven / interweaved interwind interwound interwound J jerry-build jerry-built jerry-built K keep kept kept kneel knelt / kneeled knelt / kneeled knit knitted / knit knitted / knit know knew known L 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 lie (not tell truth) REGULAR lied lied light lit / lighted lit / lighted lip-read lip-read lip-read lose lost lost M make made made mean meant meant meet met met miscast miscast miscast misdeal misdealt misdealt misdo misdid misdone mishear misheard misheard mislay mislaid mislaid mislead misled misled mislearn mislearned / mislearnt [?] mislearned / mislearnt [?] misread misread misread misset misset misset misspeak misspoke misspoken misspell misspelled / misspelt [?] misspelled / misspelt [?] misspend misspent misspent mistake mistook mistaken misteach mistaught mistaught misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood miswrite miswrote miswritten mow mowed mowed / mown N No irregular verbs beginning with "N." O offset offset offset outbid outbid outbid outbreed outbred outbred outdo outdid outdone outdraw outdrew outdrawn outdrink outdrank outdrunk outdrive outdrove outdriven outfight outfought outfought outfly outflew outflown outgrow outgrew outgrown outleap outleaped / outleapt [?] outleaped / outleapt [?] outlie (not tell truth) REGULAR outlied outlied outride outrode outridden outrun outran outrun outsell outsold outsold outshine outshined / outshone [?] outshined / outshone [?] outshoot outshot outshot outsing outsang outsung outsit outsat outsat outsleep outslept outslept outsmell outsmelled / outsmelt [?] outsmelled / outsmelt [?] outspeak outspoke outspoken outspeed outsped outsped outspend outspent outspent outswear outswore outsworn outswim outswam outswum outthink outthought outthought outthrow outthrew outthrown outwrite outwrote outwritten overbid overbid overbid overbreed overbred overbred overbuild overbuilt overbuilt overbuy overbought overbought overcome overcame overcome overdo overdid overdone overdraw overdrew overdrawn overdrink overdrank overdrunk overeat overate overeaten overfeed overfed overfed overhang overhung overhung overhear overheard overheard overlay overlaid overlaid overpay overpaid overpaid override overrode overridden overrun overran overrun oversee oversaw overseen oversell oversold oversold oversew oversewed oversewn / oversewed overshoot overshot overshot oversleep overslept overslept overspeak overspoke overspoken overspend overspent overspent overspill overspilled / overspilt [?] overspilled / overspilt [?] overtake overtook overtaken overthink overthought overthought overthrow overthrew overthrown overwind overwound overwound overwrite overwrote overwritten P partake partook partaken pay paid paid plead pleaded / pled pleaded / pled prebuild prebuilt prebuilt predo predid predone premake premade premade prepay prepaid prepaid presell presold presold preset preset preset preshrink preshrank preshrunk proofread proofread proofread prove proved proven / proved put put put Q quick-freeze quick-froze quick-frozen quit quit / quitted [?] quit / quitted [?] R read read (sounds like "red") read (sounds like "red") reawake reawoke reawaken rebid rebid rebid rebind rebound rebound rebroadcast rebroadcast / rebroadcasted rebroadcast / rebroadcasted rebuild rebuilt rebuilt recast recast recast recut recut recut redeal redealt redealt redo redid redone redraw redrew redrawn refit (replace parts) refit / refitted [?] refit / refitted [?] refit (retailor) refitted / refit [?] refitted / refit [?] regrind reground reground regrow regrew regrown rehang rehung rehung rehear reheard reheard reknit reknitted / reknit reknitted / reknit relay (for example tiles) relaid relaid relay (pass along) REGULAR relayed relayed relearn relearned / relearnt [?] relearned / relearnt [?] relight relit / relighted relit / relighted remake remade remade repay repaid repaid reread reread reread rerun reran rerun resell resold resold resend resent resent reset reset reset resew resewed resewn / resewed retake retook retaken reteach retaught retaught retear retore retorn retell retold retold rethink rethought rethought retread retread retread retrofit retrofitted / retrofit [?] retrofitted / retrofit [?] rewake rewoke / rewaked rewaken / rewaked rewear rewore reworn reweave rewove / reweaved rewoven / reweaved rewed rewed / rewedded rewed / rewedded rewet rewet / rewetted [?] rewet / rewetted [?] rewin rewon rewon rewind rewound rewound rewrite rewrote rewritten rid rid rid ride rode ridden ring rang rung rise rose risen roughcast roughcast roughcast run ran run S sand-cast sand-cast sand-cast saw sawed sawed / sawn say said said see saw seen seek sought sought sell sold sold send sent sent set set set sew sewed sewn / sewed shake shook shaken shave shaved shaved / shaven shear sheared sheared / shorn shed shed shed shine shined / shone [?] shined / shone [?] shit shit / shat / shitted shit/ shat / shitted shoot shot shot show showed shown / showed shrink shrank / shrunk shrunk shut shut shut sight-read sight-read sight-read sing sang sung sink sank / sunk sunk sit sat sat slay (kill) slew / slayed slain / slayed slay (amuse) REGULAR slayed slayed sleep slept slept slide slid slid sling slung slung slink slinked / slunk slinked / slunk slit slit slit smell smelled / smelt [?] smelled / smelt [?] sneak sneaked / snuck sneaked / snuck sow sowed sown / sowed speak spoke spoken speed sped / speeded sped / speeded spell spelled / spelt [?] spelled / spelt [?] spend spent spent spill spilled / spilt [?] spilled / spilt [?] spin spun spun spit spit / spat spit / spat split split split spoil spoiled / spoilt [?] spoiled / spoilt [?] spoon-feed spoon-fed spoon-fed spread spread spread spring sprang / sprung sprung stand stood stood steal stole stolen stick stuck stuck sting stung stung stink stunk / stank stunk strew strewed strewn / strewed stride strode stridden strike (delete) struck stricken strike (hit) struck struck / stricken string strung strung strive strove / strived striven / strived sublet sublet sublet sunburn sunburned / sunburnt [?] sunburned / sunburnt [?] swear swore sworn sweat sweat / sweated sweat / sweated sweep swept swept swell swelled swollen / swelled swim swam swum swing swung swung T take took taken teach taught taught tear tore torn telecast telecast telecast tell told told test-drive test-drove test-driven test-fly test-flew test-flown think thought thought throw threw thrown thrust thrust thrust tread trod trodden / trod typecast typecast typecast typeset typeset typeset typewrite typewrote typewritten U unbend unbent unbent unbind unbound unbound unclothe unclothed / unclad [?] unclothed / unclad [?] underbid underbid underbid undercut undercut undercut underfeed underfed underfed undergo underwent undergone underlie underlay underlain undersell undersold undersold underspend underspent underspent understand understood understood undertake undertook undertaken underwrite underwrote underwritten undo undid undone unfreeze unfroze unfrozen unhang unhung unhung unhide unhid unhidden unknit unknitted / unknit unknitted / unknit unlearn unlearned / unlearnt [?] unlearned / unlearnt [?] unsew unsewed unsewn / unsewed unsling unslung unslung unspin unspun unspun unstick unstuck unstuck unstring unstrung unstrung unweave unwove / unweaved unwoven / unweaved unwind unwound unwound uphold upheld upheld upset upset upset V No commonly used irregular verbs beginning with "V."
To view our extended dictionary including rare and antiquated forms, Click Here.W wake woke / waked woken / waked waylay waylaid waylaid wear wore worn weave wove / weaved woven / weaved wed wed / wedded wed / wedded weep wept wept wet wet / wetted [?] wet / wetted [?] whet REGULAR whetted whetted win won won wind wound wound withdraw withdrew withdrawn withhold withheld withheld withstand withstood withstood wring wrung wrung write wrote written X No irregular verbs beginning with "X." Y No irregular verbs beginning with "Y." Z No irregular verbs beginning with "Z."
Irregular Verbs 1
2. _______________ saw _______________
3. _______________ _______________
had
4. break _______________
_______________
5. _______________ sang
_______________
6. fly _______________ _______________
7. _______________ did _______________
8. become _______________
_______________
9. _______________ _______________
won
10. _______________ threw
_______________
11. tell _______________
_______________
12. _______________ _______________
rung
13. _______________ _______________
made
14. quit _______________
_______________
15. _______________ heard
_______________
16. _______________ _______________
paid
17. run _______________
_______________
18. _______________ _______________
worn
19. put _______________
_______________
20. _______________ sold
_______________
21. _______________ thought
_______________
22. _______________ _______________
begun
23. read _______________
_______________
24. _______________ _______________
met
25. _______________ _______________
left
2. withdraw _______________
_______________
3. _______________ _______________
lain
4. shake _______________
_______________
5. _______________ _______________
frozen
6. bet _______________ _______________
7. mistake _______________
_______________
8. sting _______________
_______________
9. _______________ forgave
_______________
10. _______________ _______________
swung
11. tear _______________
_______________
12. draw _______________
_______________
13. spin _______________
_______________
14. _______________ _______________
bled
15. _______________ swore
_______________
16. _______________ meant
_______________
17. stick _______________
_______________
18. _______________ _______________
lent
19. shoot _______________
_______________
20. _______________ built
_______________
21. _______________ _______________
cost
22. lead _______________
_______________
23. _______________ slept
_______________
24. forget _______________
_______________
25. _______________ slid
_______________
2. _______________ dealt
_______________
3. _______________ _______________
misheard
4. _______________ ground
_______________
5. _______________ bid _______________
6. _______________ _______________
withdrawn
7. overthrow _______________
_______________
8. _______________ _______________
upset
9. _______________ _______________
laid
10. _______________ clung
_______________
11. _______________ _______________
spread
12. flee _______________
_______________
13. _______________ _______________
split
14. _______________ rethought
_______________
15. sweep _______________
_______________
16. _______________ _______________
lain
17. input _______________
_______________
18. _______________ _______________
undertaken
19. _______________ _______________
flung
20. _______________ burst
_______________
21. outdo _______________
_______________
22. _______________ _______________
misled
23. _______________ _______________
reset
24. wring _______________
_______________
25. _______________ _______________
forecast
2. _______________ overrode
_______________
3. _______________ _______________
sought
4. weave _______________
_______________
5. _______________ arose
_______________
6. shed _______________
_______________
7. _______________ _______________
bound
8. weep _______________
_______________
9. _______________ rewound
_______________
10. _______________ _______________
slung
11. bear _______________
_______________
12. _______________ _______________
thrust
13. _______________ forbade
_______________
14. _______________ _______________
upheld
15. strive _______________
_______________
16. _______________ oversaw
_______________
17. _______________ _______________
underwritten
18. cast _______________
_______________
19. _______________ bred
_______________
20. slay _______________
_______________
21. _______________ _______________
rid
22. foretell _______________
_______________
23. _______________ strung
_______________
24. _______________ _______________
underlain
25. slit _______________
_______________