The Best Information To Conjugate 67 Irregular Verbs in English


Often, you possibly can conjugate English verbs into previous tense by including -d or -ed. Nonetheless, that solely works for common verbs (verbs that conjugate by a sure rule). Most verbs in English are common, however roughly 200 are irregular verbs and don’t observe the traditional guidelines. Since they’re so frequent, irregular verbs could make studying English a problem. That’s why studying irregular verbs in English early will provide help to turn into fluent sooner!

The charts on this information will introduce you to the commonest irregular verbs in English, conjugate them into previous tense, and a few suggestions for memorizing them. One of the best ways to recollect them eternally is to make use of English usually and benefit from instruments like Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology.

Sorts of irregular verbs in English

Irregular verbs are verbs (one of many components of speech in English) which have distinctive guidelines, however you possibly can divide them into sorts that will help you study them. Irregular verbs observe one among these 5 patterns:

  1. verbs which might be the identical of their base, easy previous, and previous participle varieties
  2. verbs which might be the identical of their base and previous participle varieties, however have a distinct easy previous kind
  3. verbs which might be the identical of their base and easy previous varieties, however have a distinct previous participle kind
  4. verbs which might be the identical within the easy previous and previous participle varieties, however have a distinct base kind
  5. verbs which might be totally different of their base, easy previous, and previous participle varieties

Understanding which sort a verb is takes apply. Over time, you’ll begin to acknowledge patterns that may provide help to categorize them.

What’s the distinction between easy previous and previous participle?

The easy previous tense is for speaking about issues that occurred prior to now. The previous participle is for speaking about previous occasions or issues prior to now which might be already completed (particularly for good types of English verb tenses and passive voice).

Right here’s an instance of the verb break in easy previous tense:

Now, examine that to the identical verb as a previous participle:

  • That is the place your bone was damaged.

Irregular verbs in American English vs. British English

Some phrases with the identical which means in American English and British English have totally different spellings. That additionally signifies that some verb conjugations could have totally different spellings. The verbs on this information will provide help to study English (American), however do not forget that some verbs which might be common in American English are irregular in British English. 

Base TypeAmerican English (Common Verbs)British English (Irregular Verbs)
studystudyedstudyt
spellspelledspellt

The reverse can be true. Some verbs which might be irregular in American English are common in British English! Relying on the place you reside, you could want to concentrate to those variations between English-speaking international locations.

Base TypeAmerican English (Irregular Verbs)British English (Common Verbs)
divedovedived
stopstopstopted

Record of 67 irregular verbs in English

English has about 200 irregular verbs, however you don’t need to memorize them abruptly. This record of irregular verbs in English reveals you the bottom kind and pronunciation of 67 frequent irregular verbs.

You may additionally hear these verbs known as infinitive verbs. Nonetheless, an infinitive verb wants the phrase to earlier than the verb like this: to be, to eat, or to swim. The bottom type of the verb means it’s within the authentic kind earlier than conjugation and while not having the phrase to.

EnglishPronunciation
bebee
havehav
do doo
gogoh
beatbeet
turn intobih-KUHM
startbih-GIN
chewbahyt
bleedbleed
deliverdeliver
purchasebahy
selectchooz
comekuhm
valuekawst
reducekuht
drawdraw
drinkdringk
drivedrahyv
eateet
fallfawl
feedfeed
battlefahyt
flyflahy
overlookfer-GET
freezefreez
getget
developgroh
hearheer
disguisehahyd
hithit
damagedamage
holdhold
knownoh
layley
departleev
letlet
loselooz
makemeyk
meetmeet
paypey
stopkwit
learnreed
triprahyd
ringring
riserahyz
runruhn
saysey
seesee
shipship
shakesheyk
singsing
sleepsleep
communicatespeek
spendspend
unfoldspred
stealmetal
stickstik
stingsting
stinkstingk
swearswair
swimswim
taketeyk
assumethingk
wakewayk
put onwair
winwin
writerahyt

Are there guidelines for irregular verbs in English?

There are some guidelines or patterns you possibly can study, regardless that the phrase “irregular” signifies that one thing will not be regular. Within the case of irregular English verbs (previous tense), their conjugation guidelines don’t observe a strict algorithm. That may make studying them tough. Nonetheless, it will likely be simpler if you happen to divide them by kind and study them individually. These charts use the record of irregular verbs and categorizes them by their irregular verb kind.

1. Irregular verbs that keep the identical in three tenses

Some irregular verbs are very simple to conjugate as a result of they’ve the identical easy previous and previous participle varieties as the bottom kind. Additionally they sound the identical whenever you pronounce them. What a reduction!

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
valuevaluevalue
reducereducereduce
damagedamagedamage
letletlet
stopstopstop
unfoldunfoldunfold

These verbs may cause confusion about whether or not one thing is in current tense or previous tense as a result of they use the identical phrase. Take note of the dialog to know which it’s!

For instance, the phrase value on this instance is within the current tense.

  • I would like to purchase two tickets.

    • The tickets value sixty euros.

By comparability, the phrase damage on this sentence is prior to now tense. The phrase fell is an efficient trace, as a result of that’s the straightforward previous type of fall.

  • I fell and I damage my arm.

2. Irregular verbs which have a distinct easy previous kind

A mom and her young son running in a wooded park using irregular verbs in English

A small handful of verbs have the identical base kind and previous participle kind, however they’ve a distinct easy previous kind. The record of frequent irregular verbs like that is brief, so it’s simple to recollect.

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
turn intoturnedturn into
comegot herecome
runranrun

Take a look at the distinction between the bottom kind, easy previous, and previous participle in these sentences:

  • She want to turn into a health care provider. (base kind)
  • She turned a grandmother final 12 months. (easy previous)
  • You’ve simply turn into a brother. (previous participle)

3. Irregular verbs which have a distinct previous participle kind

Fortunately, there are just a few English verbs that share the bottom kind and easy previous kind however have a distinct previous participle. Should you discover any verbs that observe this sample, write them down. 

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
beatbeatcrushed
swingswingswung
  • We beat the opposite groups! (base kind)
  • We had crushed all of the groups after the championship. (previous participle)

4. Irregular verbs which have the identical easy previous and previous participle varieties

The record is a protracted record of irregular verbs the place the straightforward previous and previous participle varieties are the identical. That can assist you bear in mind them, separate those that observe a sample.

For instance, contemplate studying these verbs individually as a result of their previous conjugations all finish in -ought:

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
deliverintroducedintroduced
purchasepurchasedpurchased
battlefoughtfought
searchsoughtsought
assumethoughtthought

To know if the phrase is within the easy previous or previous participle kind, search for auxiliary (serving to) verbs like had. You realize this use of purchased is within the easy previous as a result of it’s the one verb.

On this sentence, had goes earlier than purchased, so you recognize the sentence is prior to now participle and never the straightforward previous.

  • I advised her I had purchased some flower seeds in Moscow.

For the remainder of the verbs on this class, you’ll discover some patterns. Most of them finish in -d or -t after barely altering the primary half of the phrase within the conjugation.

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
havehadhad
bleedbledbled
feedfedfed
hearheardheard
learn*learnlearn
laylaidlaid
paypaidpaid
saymentionedmentioned
holdsavedsaved
departleftleft
losemisplacedmisplaced
implymeantmeant
meetmetmet
shipdespatcheddespatched
sleepsleptslept
spendspentspent
makemademade
stickcaughtcaught
stingstungstung
wingainedgained

*Though the straightforward previous and previous participle types of the bottom kind learn are additionally spelled learn, they’re pronounced otherwise. The bottom kind is pronounced “reed” and the straightforward previous and previous participle varieties are pronounced “crimson.”

5. Irregular verbs which have all totally different varieties

A woman walking down stairs

Since there are such a lot of irregular verbs of this sort, deal with their similarities to recollect them. We’ve separated them into teams to make it simpler to study these irregular verbs in English.

Be, do, and go irregular verbs

The verbs be, do, and go are uncommon even inside irregular verbs. The excellent news is that they’re extraordinarily frequent, so that you’ll get used to them rapidly as you study communicate English.

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
bewas/have beenbeen
dodidcompleted
gowentgone

Irregular verbs ending in -in, -ing, -ink, and -im

This set of verbs follows a basic sample based mostly on how the phrase ends.

Base kind 

Easy previous 

Previous participle

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
startstartedbegun
drink drankdrunk
ringrangrung
singsangsung
stinkstankstunk
swimswamswum

Irregular verbs ending in -aw and -ow

These irregular verbs additionally observe a sample.

Base kind 

Easy previous 

Previous participle 

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
drawdrewdrawn
developgrewgrown
knowknewrecognized

Irregular verbs ending in -ide, -ise-, and -ite

The verbs on this chart observe this sample:

Base kind 

Easy previous 

Previous participle 

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
chewbitbitten
disguisehidhidden
triproderidden
riseroserisen
writewrotewritten

Different irregular verbs that change to -n or -en

Different verbs on this class have some comparable patterns (discover the similarity between the conjugations of shake and take), however their teams are smaller. Nonetheless, you’ll see that all the previous participles on this chart finish in -n or -en.

Base TypeEasy PreviousPrevious Participle
selectselectedchosen
drivedrovepushed
eatateeaten
fallfellfallen
flyflewflown
overlookforgotforgotten
freezefrozefrozen
getboughtgotten
seenoticedseen
shakeshookshaken
communicatespokespoken
stealstolestolen
swearsworesworn
taketooktaken
wakewokewoken
put onworeworn

Key takeaways about irregular verbs in English

There are numerous irregular verbs to recollect, however you don’t need to memorize them straight away! As you proceed including English phrases to your vocabulary, hold a dictionary close by. On-line websites like Dictionary.com, will present you conjugate a verb if you happen to seek for the bottom kind (attempt wanting up the phrase swim). Within the meantime, bear in mind these key takeaways about irregular verbs in English.

  • English has about 200 irregular verbs that don’t observe regular guidelines for verb conjugation in English.
  • The irregular verb varieties to recollect are the straightforward previous and previous participle varieties.
  • You’ll be able to categorize English irregular verbs based mostly on what their easy previous and previous participle varieties appear like.

One of the best ways to memorize irregular verbs is to apply utilizing them (which you are able to do with the Rosetta Stone App).

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