What is an irregular verb?
What are irregular verbs?


Irregular Verbs — Rules!

For Using Irregular Verbs



Understand the problem.

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:

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

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:

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

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.

Know the solution.

To avoid making mistakes with irregular verbs, learn the very long chart below.

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

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.




370 irregular verbs

A
base formpast simple past participle
arisearosearisen
awakeawakened / awokeawakened / awoken
B
backslidebackslidbackslidden / backslid
bewas, werebeen
bearboreborn / borne
beatbeatbeaten / beat
becomebecamebecome
beginbeganbegun
bendbentbent
betbet / betted [?]bet / betted [?]
bid (farewell)bid / badebidden
bid (offer amount)bidbid
bindboundbound
bitebitbitten
bleedbledbled
blowblewblown
breakbrokebroken
breedbredbred
bringbroughtbrought
broadcastbroadcast / broadcastedbroadcast / broadcasted
browbeatbrowbeatbrowbeaten / browbeat
buildbuiltbuilt
burnburned / burnt [?]burned / burnt [?]
burstburstburst
bustbusted / bustbusted / bust
buyboughtbought
C
castcastcast
catchcaughtcaught
choosechosechosen
clingclungclung
clotheclothed / clad [?]clothed / clad [?]
comecamecome
costcostcost
creepcreptcrept
crossbreedcrossbredcrossbred
cutcutcut
D
daydreamdaydreamed / daydreamt [?]daydreamed / daydreamt [?]
dealdealt dealt
digdugdug
disprovedisproveddisproved / disproven
dive (jump head-first)dove / diveddived
dive (scuba diving)dived / dovedived
dodiddone
drawdrewdrawn
dreamdreamed / dreamt [?]dreamed / dreamt [?]
drinkdrankdrunk
drivedrovedriven
dwelldwelt / dwelled [?]dwelt / dwelled [?]
E
eatateeaten
F
fallfellfallen
feedfedfed
feelfeltfelt
fightfoughtfought
findfoundfound
fit (tailor, change size)fitted / fit [?]fitted / fit [?]
fit (be right size)fit / fitted [?]fit / fitted [?]
fleefledfled
flingflungflung
flyflewflown
forbidforbadeforbidden
forecastforecastforecast
forego (also forgo)forewentforegone
foreseeforesawforeseen
foretellforetoldforetold
forgetforgotforgotten / forgot [?]
forgiveforgaveforgiven
forsakeforsookforsaken
freezefrozefrozen
frostbitefrostbitfrostbitten
G
getgotgotten / got [?]
givegavegiven
gowentgone
grindgroundground
growgrewgrown
H
hand-feedhand-fedhand-fed
handwritehandwrotehandwritten
hanghunghung
havehadhad
hearheardheard
hewhewedhewn / hewed
hidehidhidden
hithithit
holdheldheld
hurthurthurt
I
inbreedinbredinbred
inlayinlaidinlaid
inputinput / inputtedinput / inputted
interbreedinterbredinterbred
interweaveinterwove / interweavedinterwoven / interweaved
interwindinterwoundinterwound
J
jerry-buildjerry-builtjerry-built
K
keepkeptkept
kneelknelt / kneeledknelt / kneeled
knitknitted / knitknitted / knit
knowknewknown
L
laylaidlaid
leadledled
leanleaned / leant [?]leaned / leant [?]
leapleaped / leapt [?]leaped / leapt [?]
learnlearned / learnt [?]learned / learnt [?]
leaveleftleft
lendlentlent
letletlet
lielaylain
lie (not tell truth) REGULARliedlied
lightlit / lightedlit / lighted
lip-readlip-readlip-read
loselostlost
M
makemademade
meanmeantmeant
meetmetmet
miscastmiscastmiscast
misdealmisdealtmisdealt
misdomisdidmisdone
mishearmisheardmisheard
mislaymislaidmislaid
misleadmisledmisled
mislearnmislearned / mislearnt [?]mislearned / mislearnt [?]
misreadmisreadmisread
missetmissetmisset
misspeakmisspokemisspoken
misspellmisspelled / misspelt [?]misspelled / misspelt [?]
misspendmisspentmisspent
mistakemistookmistaken
misteachmistaughtmistaught
misunderstandmisunderstoodmisunderstood
miswritemiswrotemiswritten
mowmowedmowed / mown
N
No irregular verbs beginning with "N."
O
offsetoffsetoffset
outbidoutbidoutbid
outbreedoutbredoutbred
outdooutdidoutdone
outdrawoutdrewoutdrawn
outdrinkoutdrankoutdrunk
outdriveoutdroveoutdriven
outfightoutfoughtoutfought
outflyoutflewoutflown
outgrowoutgrewoutgrown
outleapoutleaped / outleapt [?]outleaped / outleapt [?]
outlie (not tell truth) REGULARoutliedoutlied
outrideoutrodeoutridden
outrunoutranoutrun
outselloutsoldoutsold
outshineoutshined / outshone [?]outshined / outshone [?]
outshootoutshotoutshot
outsingoutsangoutsung
outsitoutsatoutsat
outsleepoutsleptoutslept
outsmelloutsmelled / outsmelt [?]outsmelled / outsmelt [?]
outspeakoutspokeoutspoken
outspeedoutspedoutsped
outspendoutspentoutspent
outswearoutsworeoutsworn
outswimoutswamoutswum
outthinkoutthoughtoutthought
outthrowoutthrewoutthrown
outwriteoutwroteoutwritten
overbidoverbidoverbid
overbreedoverbredoverbred
overbuildoverbuiltoverbuilt
overbuyoverboughtoverbought
overcomeovercameovercome
overdooverdidoverdone
overdrawoverdrewoverdrawn
overdrinkoverdrankoverdrunk
overeatoverateovereaten
overfeedoverfedoverfed
overhangoverhungoverhung
overhearoverheardoverheard
overlayoverlaidoverlaid
overpayoverpaidoverpaid
overrideoverrodeoverridden
overrunoverranoverrun
overseeoversawoverseen
overselloversoldoversold
oversewoversewedoversewn / oversewed
overshootovershotovershot
oversleepoversleptoverslept
overspeakoverspokeoverspoken
overspendoverspentoverspent
overspilloverspilled / overspilt [?]overspilled / overspilt [?]
overtakeovertookovertaken
overthinkoverthoughtoverthought
overthrowoverthrewoverthrown
overwindoverwoundoverwound
overwriteoverwroteoverwritten
P
partakepartookpartaken
paypaidpaid
pleadpleaded / pledpleaded / pled
prebuildprebuiltprebuilt
predopredidpredone
premakepremadepremade
prepayprepaidprepaid
presellpresoldpresold
presetpresetpreset
preshrinkpreshrankpreshrunk
proofreadproofreadproofread
proveprovedproven / proved
putputput
Q
quick-freezequick-frozequick-frozen
quitquit / quitted [?]quit / quitted [?]
R
readread (sounds like "red") read (sounds like "red")
reawakereawokereawaken
rebidrebidrebid
rebindreboundrebound
rebroadcastrebroadcast / rebroadcastedrebroadcast / rebroadcasted
rebuildrebuiltrebuilt
recastrecastrecast
recutrecutrecut
redealredealtredealt
redoredidredone
redrawredrewredrawn
refit (replace parts)refit / refitted [?]refit / refitted [?]
refit (retailor)refitted / refit [?]refitted / refit [?]
regrindregroundreground
regrowregrewregrown
rehangrehungrehung
rehearreheardreheard
reknitreknitted / reknitreknitted / reknit
relay (for example tiles)relaidrelaid
relay (pass along) REGULARrelayedrelayed
relearnrelearned / relearnt [?]relearned / relearnt [?]
relightrelit / relightedrelit / relighted
remakeremaderemade
repayrepaidrepaid
rereadrereadreread
rerunreranrerun
resellresoldresold
resendresentresent
resetresetreset
resewresewedresewn / resewed
retakeretookretaken
reteachretaughtretaught
retearretoreretorn
retellretoldretold
rethinkrethoughtrethought
retreadretreadretread
retrofitretrofitted / retrofit [?]retrofitted / retrofit [?]
rewakerewoke / rewakedrewaken / rewaked
rewearreworereworn
reweaverewove / reweavedrewoven / reweaved
rewedrewed / reweddedrewed / rewedded
rewetrewet / rewetted [?]rewet / rewetted [?]
rewinrewonrewon
rewindrewoundrewound
rewriterewroterewritten
ridridrid
rideroderidden
ringrangrung
riseroserisen
roughcastroughcastroughcast
runranrun
S
sand-castsand-castsand-cast
sawsawedsawed / sawn
saysaidsaid
seesawseen
seeksoughtsought
sellsoldsold
sendsentsent
setsetset
sewsewedsewn / sewed
shakeshookshaken
shaveshavedshaved / shaven
shearshearedsheared / shorn
shedshedshed
shineshined / shone [?]shined / shone [?]
shitshit / shat / shittedshit/ shat / shitted
shootshotshot
showshowedshown / showed
shrinkshrank / shrunkshrunk
shutshutshut
sight-readsight-readsight-read
singsangsung
sinksank / sunksunk
sitsatsat
slay (kill)slew / slayedslain / slayed
slay (amuse) REGULARslayedslayed
sleepsleptslept
slideslidslid
slingslungslung
slinkslinked / slunkslinked / slunk
slitslitslit
smellsmelled / smelt [?]smelled / smelt [?]
sneaksneaked / snucksneaked / snuck
sowsowedsown / sowed
speakspokespoken
speedsped / speededsped / speeded
spellspelled / spelt [?]spelled / spelt [?]
spendspentspent
spillspilled / spilt [?]spilled / spilt [?]
spinspunspun
spitspit / spatspit / spat
splitsplitsplit
spoilspoiled / spoilt [?]spoiled / spoilt [?]
spoon-feedspoon-fedspoon-fed
spreadspreadspread
springsprang / sprungsprung
stand stoodstood
stealstolestolen
stickstuckstuck
stingstungstung
stinkstunk / stankstunk
strewstrewedstrewn / strewed
stridestrodestridden
strike (delete)struckstricken
strike (hit)struckstruck / stricken
stringstrungstrung
strivestrove / strivedstriven / strived
subletsubletsublet
sunburnsunburned / sunburnt [?]sunburned / sunburnt [?]
swearsworesworn
sweatsweat / sweatedsweat / sweated
sweepsweptswept
swellswelledswollen / swelled
swimswamswum
swingswungswung
T
taketooktaken
teachtaughttaught
teartoretorn
telecasttelecasttelecast
telltoldtold
test-drivetest-drovetest-driven
test-flytest-flewtest-flown
thinkthoughtthought
throwthrewthrown
thrustthrustthrust
treadtrodtrodden / trod
typecasttypecasttypecast
typesettypesettypeset
typewritetypewrotetypewritten
U
unbendunbentunbent
unbindunboundunbound
unclotheunclothed / unclad [?]unclothed / unclad [?]
underbidunderbidunderbid
undercutundercutundercut
underfeedunderfedunderfed
undergounderwentundergone
underlieunderlayunderlain
undersellundersoldundersold
underspendunderspentunderspent
understandunderstoodunderstood
undertakeundertookundertaken
underwriteunderwroteunderwritten
undoundidundone
unfreezeunfrozeunfrozen
unhangunhungunhung
unhideunhidunhidden
unknitunknitted / unknitunknitted / unknit
unlearnunlearned / unlearnt [?]unlearned / unlearnt [?]
unsewunsewedunsewn / unsewed
unslingunslungunslung
unspinunspununspun
unstickunstuckunstuck
unstringunstrungunstrung
unweaveunwove / unweavedunwoven / unweaved
unwindunwoundunwound
upholdupheldupheld
upsetupsetupset
V
No commonly used irregular verbs beginning with "V."
To view our extended dictionary including rare and antiquated forms, Click Here.
W
wakewoke / wakedwoken / waked
waylaywaylaidwaylaid
wearworeworn
weavewove / weavedwoven / weaved
wedwed / weddedwed / wedded
weepweptwept
wetwet / wetted [?]wet / wetted [?]
whet REGULARwhettedwhetted
winwonwon
windwoundwound
withdrawwithdrewwithdrawn
withholdwithheldwithheld
withstandwithstoodwithstood
wringwrungwrung
writewrotewritten
X
No irregular verbs beginning with "X."
Y
No irregular verbs beginning with "Y."
Z
No irregular verbs beginning with "Z."


 
Irregular Verbs 1

Fill in the missing forms of the irregular verbs below. The first one has been done for you.

1. go went gone
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


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
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 _______________

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
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
 


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
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 _______________ _______________