Irregular Verbs
A verb has five forms. Its dictionary form is the base form of the verb. The other forms are made by adding a suffix. Past and past participle forms of a verb are generally formed by adding the suffix “ED”, but irregular verbs don’t follow this rule. In this article, you will learn irregular verbs.
What are irregular verbs?
They are verbs that do not follow the rules of adding the suffix “Ed” to form their past forms and past participles. Every irregular verb has its own past and past participle form. One has to memorize them because there are no rules to form their past and past participle forms.
Irregular:
Present Form | Past Form | Past Participle Form |
Cut | Cut | Cut |
Deal | Dealt | Dealt |
Eat | Ate | Eaten |
Fall | Fell | Fallen |
Run | Ran | Run |
The past and past participle forms of the above
verbs don’t end with the suffix “ED”. They have their own past and past
participle forms and don’t follow the general grammatical rules of the suffix
"ED".
Regular:
Present Form | Past Form | Past Participle Form |
Create | Created | Created |
Delay | Delayed | Delayed |
Form | Formed | Formed |
Talk | Talked | Talked |
Walk | Walked | Walked |
In these examples, the past and past participle forms of the verbs are formed by adding the suffix “ED”. Remember that regular verbs have the same past and past participle forms. There can be some spelling changes while adding the suffix “ED”.
Regular vs. Irregular Verbs
Regular verbs follow the rules of adding the suffix “ED” to their past and past participle forms. On the other hand, irregular verbs have their past and past participle forms. They don’t follow the rules of the suffix “ED”.
A Common List of Irregular Verbs
Present Form | Past Form | Past Participle Form |
Abide | Abode/abided | Abode/abided |
Arise | Arose | Arisen |
Awake | Awoke/awakened | Awoken/awakened |
Backslide | Backslid | Backslid/backslidden |
Be (is, are, am) | Was/were | Been |
Bear | Bore | Born/borne |
Beat | Beat | Beat/beaten |
Become | Became | Become |
Befall | Befell | Befallen |
Beget | Begot/begat | Begot/begotten |
Begin | Began | Begun |
Behold | Beheld | Beheld |
Bend | Bent | Bent |
Bet | Bet/betted | Bet/betted |
Bid | Bid/bade (farewell) | Bid/ bidden (farewell) |
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 | Browbeat/browbeaten |
Build | Built | Built |
Burn | Burnt | Burnt |
Burst | Burst | Burst |
Bust | Bust/busted | Bust/busted |
Buy | Bought | Bought |
Cast | Cast | Cast |
Catch | Caught | Caught |
Choose | Chose | Chosen |
Cling | Clang | Clung |
Clothe | Clad/clothed | Clad/clothed |
Come | Came | Come |
Cost | Cost | Cost |
Creep | Crept | Crept |
Crossbreed | Crossbred | Crossbred |
Cut | Cut | Cut |
Daydream | Daydreamt/daydreamed | Daydreamt/daydreamed |
Deal | Dealt | Dealt |
Dig | Dug | Dug |
Disprove | Disproved | Disproved/disproven |
Dive | Dove /dived | Dived |
Do | Did | Done |
Draw | Drew | Drown |
Dream | Dreamt/dreamed | Dreamt/dreamed |
Drink | Drank | Drunk |
Drive | Drove | Driven |
Dwell | Dwelt/dwelled | Dwelt/dwelled |
Eat | Ate | Eaten |
Fall | Fell | Fallen |
Feed | Fed | Fed |
Feel | Felt | Felt |
Fight | Fought | Fought |
Find | Found | Found |
Fit | Fit/fitted | Fit/fitted |
Flee | Fled | Fled |
Fling | Flung | Flung |
Fly | Flew | Flown |
Forbid | Forbade | Forbidden |
Forecast | Forecast/forecasted | Forecast/forecasted |
Forego | Forewent | Foregone |
Foresee | Foresaw | Foreseen |
Foretell | Foretold | Foretold |
Forget | Forgot | Forgotten |
Forgive | Forgave | Forgiven |
Forsake | Forsook | Forsaken |
Freeze | Froze | Frozen |
Frostbite | Frostbit | Frostbitten |
Get | Got | Got/gotten |
Give | Gave | Given |
Go | Went | Gone |
Grind | Ground | Ground |
Grow | Grew | Grown |
Hand-feed | Hand-fed | Hand-fed |
Handwrite | Handwrote | Handwritten |
Hang | Hung | Hung |
Have | Had | Had |
Hear | Heard | Heard |
Hew | Hewed | Hewed/hewn |
Hide | Hid | Hidden |
Hit | Hit | Hit |
Hold | Held | Held |
Hurt | Hurt | Hurt |
Inbreed | Inbred | Inbred |
Inlay | Inlaid | Inlaid |
Input | Input/inputted | Input/inputted |
Interbreed | Interbred | Interbred |
Interweave | Interwoven/interweaved | Interwoven/interweaved |
Intewind | Interwound | Interwound |
Jerry-build | Jerry-built | Jerry-built |
Keep | Kept | Kept |
Kneel | Knelt | Knelt |
Knit | Knit/knitted | Knit/knitted |
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 |
Lip-read | Lip-read | Lip-read |
Lose | Lost | Lost |
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 | Mislearnt/mislearned | Mislearnt/mislearned |
Misread | Misread | Misread |
Misset | Misset | Misset |
Misspeak | Misspoke | Misspoken |
Misspell | Misspelt/misspelled | Misspelt/misspelled |
Misspend | Misspent | Misspent |
Mistake | Mistook | Mistaken |
Misteach | Mistaught | Mistaught |
Misunderstand | Misunderstood | Misunderstood |
Miswrite | Miswrote | Miswritten |
Mow | Mowed | Mowed/mown |
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 | Outleapt/outleaped | Outleapt/outleaped |
Outride | Outrode | Outridden |
Outrun | Outran | Outrun |
Outsell | Outsold | Outsold |
Outshine | Outshone/outshined | Outshone/outshined |
Outshoot | Outshot | Outshot |
Outsing | Outsang | Outsung |
Outsit | Outsat | Outsat |
Outsleep | Outslept | Outslept |
Outsmell | Outsmelt/outsmelled | Outsmelt/outsmelled |
Outspeak | Outspoke | Outspoken |
Outspeed | Outsped | Outsped |
Outspend | Outspent | Outspent |
Outwear | Outwore | Outworn |
Outswim | Outswam | Outswum |
Outthink | Outthought | Outthought |
Outthrow | Outthrew | Outthrown |
Outwrite | Outwrote | Outwritten |
Outbid | Outbid | Outbid |
Overbreed | Overbred | Overbred |
Overbuild | Overbuilt | Overbuilt |
Overbuy | Overbought | Overbought |
Overcome | Overcame | Overcome |
Overdo | Overdid | Overdone |
Overdraw | Overdraw | 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 | Oversewed/oversewn |
Overshoot | Overshot | Overshot |
Oversleep | Overslept | Overslept |
Overspeak | Overspoke | Overspoken |
Overspend | Overspent | Overspent |
Overspill | Overspilt/overspilled | Overspilt/overspilled |
Overtake | Overtook | Overtaken |
Overthink | Overdrank | Overdrunk |
Overthrow | Overthrew | Overthrown |
Overwind | Overwound | Overwound |
Overwrite | Overwrote | Overwritten |
Partake | Partook | Partaken |
Pay | Paid | Paid |
Plead | Pled/pleaded | Pled/pleaded |
Prebuild | Prebuilt | Prebuilt |
Premake | Premade | Premade |
Prepay | Prepaid | Prepaid |
Presell | Presold | Presold |
Preset | Preset | Preset |
Preshrink | Preshrank | Preshrunk |
Proofread | Proofread | Proofread |
Prove | Proved | Proved/proven |
Put | Put | Put |
Quick-freeze | Quick-froze | Quick-frozen |
Quit | Quit/quitted | Quit/quitted |
Read | Read | Read |
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 | Refit/refitted | Refit/refitted |
Regrind | Reground | Reground |
Regrow | Regrew | Regrown |
Rehang | Rehung | Rehung |
Rehear | Reheard | Reheard |
Reknit | Reknit/reknitted | Reknit/reknitted |
Relay | Relaid(to lay again) /relayed | Relaid(to lay again) /relayed |
Relearn | Relearnt/relearned | Relearnt/relearned |
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 | Resewed/resewn |
Retake | Retook | Retaken |
Reteach | Retaught | Retaught |
Retear | Retore | Retorn |
Retell | Retold | Retold |
Rethink | Rethought | Rethought |
Retread | Retreat | Retreat |
Retrofit | Retrofit/retrofitted | Retrofit/retrofitted |
Rewake | Rewoke | Rewoken |
Rewear | Rewore | Reworn |
Reweave | Rewove/reweaved | Rewoven/reweaved |
Rewed | Rewed/reweded | Rewed/reweded |
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 |
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 | Sewed/sewn |
Shake | Shook | Shaken |
Shave | Shaved | Shaved/shaven |
Shear | Sheared | Sheared/shorn |
Shed | Shed | Shed |
Shine | Shone/shined | Shone/shined |
Shit | Shit/shat/shitted | Shit/shat/shitted |
Shoot | Shot | Shot |
Show | Showed | Showed/shown |
Shrink | Shrank | Shrunk |
Shut | Shut | Shut |
Sight-read | Sight-read | Sight-read |
Sing | Sang | Sung |
Sink | Sank | Sunk |
Sit | Sat | Sat |
Slay | Slew/slayed | Slain/slayed |
Sleep | Slept | Slept |
Slide | Slid | Slid |
Sling | Slung | Slung |
Slink | Slunk/slinked | Slunk/slinked |
Slit | Slit | Slit |
Smell | Smelt | Smelt |
Sneak | Snuck/sneaked | Snuck/sneaked |
Sow | Sewed | Sown /sewed |
Speak | Spoke | Spoken |
Speed | Sped/speeded | Sped/speeded |
Spell | Spelt | Spelt |
Spend | Spent | Spent |
Spill | Spilt/spilled | Spilt/spilled |
Spin | Spun | Spun |
Spit | Spit/spat | Slit/spat |
Split | Split | Split |
Spoil | Spoilt/spoiled | Spoilt/spoiled |
Spoon-feed | Spoon-fed | Spoon-fed |
Spread | Spread | spread |
Spring | Sprang | Sprung |
Stand | Stood | Stood |
Steal | Stole | Stolen |
Stick | Stuck | Stuck |
Sting | Stung | Stung |
Stink | Stank/stunk | Stunk |
Strew | Strewed | Strewn/strewed |
Stride | Strode | Stridden |
Strike | Stuck | Stricken / stricken (hit) |
String | Strung | Strung |
Strive | Strove/strived | Striven/strived |
Sublet | Sublet | Sublet |
Sunburn | Sunburnt/sunburned | Sunburnt/sunburned |
Swear | Swore | Sworn |
Sweat | Sweat/sweated | Sweat/sweated |
Sweep | Swept | Swept |
Swell | Swelled | Swelled/swollen |
Swim | Swam | Swum |
Swing | Swung | Swung |
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 | Trod/trodden |
Typecast | Typecast | Typecast |
Typeset | Typeset | Typeset |
Typewrite | Typewrote | Typewritten |
Unbend | Unbent | Unbent |
Unbind | Unbound | Unbound |
Unclothe | Unclad/unclothed | Unclad/unclothed |
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 | Unknit/unknitted | Unknit/unknitted |
Unlearn | Unlearnt/unlearned | Unlearnt/unlearned |
Unsew | Unsewed | Unsewed/unsewn |
Unsling | Unslung | Unslung |
Unspin | Unspun | Unspun |
Unstick | Unstuck | Unstuck |
Unstring | Unstrung | Unstrung |
Unweave | Unwove/unweaved | Unwoven/unweaved |
Unwind | Unwound | Unwound |
Unhold | Unheld | Unheld |
Upset | Upset | Upset |
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 |
Win | Won | Won |
Wind | Wound | Wound |
Withdraw | Withdrew | Withdrawn |
Withhold | Withheld | Withheld |
Withstand | Withstood | Withstood |
Wring | Wrung | Wrung |
Write | Wrote | Written |
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