an irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the regular pattern of conjugation for regular verbs. Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding “-ed” to the base form (infinitive) of the verb. For example:
- Infinitive: talk, play, work
- Past tense: talked, played, worked
- Past participle: talked, played, worked
On the other hand, irregular verbs have their unique patterns for forming the past tense and past participle. These verbs do not follow the standard “-ed” rule. Instead, they undergo various changes in spelling or pronunciation. Some examples of irregular verbs:
- Infinitive: go
- Past tense: went
- Past participle: gone
What is irregular verb?
Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the regular pattern of adding -ed or “d” to form the past tense and past participle. Instead, they have unique forms.
Irregular Verb List
#1. A
Sure! Here’s a table of irregular verbs starting with the letter “A,” with their infinitive (V1), past form (V2), and past participle (V3):
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| arise | arose | arisen |
| abide | abode | abode |
| awake | awoke | awoken |
#1. B
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| begin | began | begun |
| bend | bent | bent |
| bet | bet | bet |
| bind | bound | bound |
| bite | bit | bitten |
| blow | blew | blown |
| break | broke | broken |
| bring | brought | brought |
| build | built | built |
| buy | bought | bought |
#1. C
| Infinitive (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Catch | Caught | Caught |
| Choose | Chose | Chosen |
| Come | Came | Come |
| Cost | Cost | Cost |
| Cut | Cut | Cut |
#1. D
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Drink | Drank | Drunk |
| Drive | Drove | Driven |
| Draw | Drew | Drawn |
| Dig | Dug | Dug |
| Dive | Dove | Dived |
| Do | Did | Done |
| Deal | Dealt | Dealt |
| Dream | Dreamt | Dreamt |
| Dwell | Dwelt | Dwelt |
| Dare | Dared | Dared |
#1. E
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Eat | Ate | Eaten |
| Embrace | Embraced | Embraced |
| Exceed | Exceeded | Exceeded |
| Exclaim | Exclaimed | Exclaimed |
| Engrave | Engraved | Engraved |
| Explore | Explored | Explored |
| Extend | Extended | Extended |
| Enlarge | Enlarged | Enlarged |
| Earn | Earned | Earned |
| Entertain | Entertained | Entertained |
| Escape | Escaped | Escaped |
#1. F
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Fell | Fallen |
| Feed | Fed | Fed |
| Fight | Fought | Fought |
| Find | Found | Found |
| Fly | Flew | Flown |
| Forbid | Forbade | Forbidden |
| Forget | Forgot | Forgotten |
| Forgive | Forgave | Forgiven |
| Freeze | Froze | Frozen |
| Flee | Fled | Fled |
#1. G
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Go | Went | Gone |
| Get | Got | Gotten (or Got) |
| Give | Gave | Given |
| Grow | Grew | Grown |
| Grind | Ground | Ground |
| Go | Went | Gone |
#1. H
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Hang | Hung | Hung |
| Have | Had | Had |
| Hear | Heard | Heard |
| Hide | Hid | Hidden |
| Hit | Hit | Hit |
| Hold | Held | Held |
| Hurt | Hurt | Hurt |
#1. I
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | Identified | Identified |
| Incite | Incited | Incited |
| Indicate | Indicated | Indicated |
| Input | Input | Input |
| Interfere | Interfered | Interfered |
| Interpret | Interpreted | Interpreted |
| Invite | Invited | Invited |
| Irregularize | Irregularized | Irregularized |
#1. J
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Jump | Jumped | Jumped |
| Jam | Jammed | Jammed |
| Jolt | Jolted | Jolted |
| Jinx | Jinxed | Jinxed |
| Jest | Jested | Jested |
| Jut | Jutted | Jutted |
#1. K
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Keep | Kept | Kept |
| Kneel | Knelt | Knelt |
| Know | Knew | Known |
#1. L
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | Led | Led |
| Leave | Left | Left |
| Learn | Learned | Learned |
| Lie | Lay | Lain |
| Lose | Lost | Lost |
| Light | Lit | Lit |
| Lay | Laid | Laid |
| Leap | Leapt | Leapt |
| Let | Let | Let |
| Bend | Bent | Bent |
#1. M
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Make | Made | Made |
| Meet | Met | Met |
| Mean | Meant | Meant |
| Mistake | Mistook | Mistaken |
| Mow | Mowed | Mown |
#1. N
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Neglect | Neglected | Neglected |
| Nip | Nipped | Nipped |
| Nominate | Nominated | Nominated |
| Nourish | Nourished | Nourished |
| Nullify | Nullified | Nullified |
| Numb | Numb | Numb |
| Nuzzle | Nuzzled | Nuzzled |
#1. O
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Overcome | Overcame | Overcome |
| Overdo | Overdid | Overdone |
| Override | Overrode | Overridden |
| Overrun | Overran | Overrun |
| Oversee | Oversaw | Overseen |
| Overtake | Overtook | Overtaken |
| Overthrow | Overthrew | Overthrown |
| Overbid | Overbid | Overbid |
| Outdo | Outdid | Outdone |
| Outrun | Outran | Outrun |
#1. P
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | Paid | Paid |
| Put | Put | Put |
| Prove | Proved | Proven |
| Plead | Pled | Pled |
| Precede | Preceded | Preceded |
| Preach | Preached | Preached |
| Prove | Proved | Proved |
#1. Q
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Quit | Quit | Quit |
| Quell | Quelled | Quelled |
| Quote | Quoted | Quoted |
| Quit | Quit | Quit |
#1. R
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Read | Read | Read |
| Ride | Rode | Ridden |
| Ring | Rang | Rung |
| Rise | Rose | Risen |
| Run | Ran | Run |
| Rebind | Rebound | Rebound |
| Rebuild | Rebuilt | Rebuilt |
| Rebuy | Rebuilt | Rebuilt |
| Recast | Recast | Recast |
| Rechoose | Rechose | Rechosen |
| Rebuild | Rebuilt | Rebuilt |
| Recut | Recut | Recut |
| Redo | Redid | Redone |
| Remake | Remade | Remade |
| Rend | Rent | Rent |
| Rend | Rended | Rended |
| Reset | Reset | Reset |
| Resell | Resold | Resold |
| Retell | Retold | Retold |
| Reteach | Taught | Taught |
| Rethink | Rethought | Rethought |
| Rewind | Rewound | Rewound |
| Rewrite | Rewrote | Rewritten |
| Rid | Rid | Rid |
| Ride | Rode | Ridden |
| Rig | Rigged | Rigged |
| Rise | Rose | Risen |
| Rive | Rived | Riven |
| Run | Ran | Run |
#1. S
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Send | Sent | Sent |
| Shine | Shone | Shone |
| Shoot | Shot | Shot |
| Show | Showed | Shown |
| Sing | Sang | Sung |
| Sink | Sank | Sunk |
| Sit | Sat | Sat |
| Sleep | Slept | Slept |
| Slide | Slid | Slid |
| Speak | Spoke | Spoken |
| Spend | Spent | Spent |
| Spin | Span | Spun |
| Split | Split | Split |
| Spread | Spread | Spread |
| Spring | Sprang | Sprung |
| Stand | Stood | Stood |
| Steal | Stole | Stolen |
| Stick | Stuck | Stuck |
| Sting | Stung | Stung |
| Stink | Stank | Stunk |
| Strike | Struck | Struck |
| Swear | Swore | Sworn |
| Sweep | Swept | Swept |
| Swim | Swam | Swum |
| Swing | Swung | Swung |
#1. T
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Take | Took | Taken |
| Teach | Taught | Taught |
| Tear | Tore | Torn |
| Tell | Told | Told |
| Think | Thought | Thought |
| Throw | Threw | Thrown |
| Thrust | Thrust | Thrust |
| Tread | Trod | Trodden/Trod |
#1. U
| Infinitive (V1) | Past form (V2) | Past participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergo | Underwent | Undergone |
| Understand | Understood | Understood |
| Undertake | Undertook | Undertaken |
| Upset | Upset | Upset |
| Uproot | Uprooted | Uprooted |
| Upset | Upset | Upset |
| Upend | Upended | Upended |
| Unwind | Unwound | Unwound |
| Unstick | Unstuck | Unstuck |
| Unstring | Unstrung | Unstrung |
| Unlearn | Unlearned | Unlearned |
| Unfreeze | Unfroze | Unfrozen |
| Unwind | Unwound | Unwound |
| Unhide | Unhid | Unhidden |
| Unbend | Unbent | Unbent |
| Unmake | Unmade | Unmade |
| Unleash | Unleashed | Unleashed |
| Undo | Undid | Undone |
| Unweave | Unwove | Unwoven |
| Unclench | Unclenched | Unclenched |
| Unwind | Unwound | Unwound |
| Underbid | Underbid | Underbid |
| Unset | Unset | Unset |
| Undercut | Undercut | Undercut |
| Upbuild | Upbuilt | Upbuilt |
| Underfeed | Underfed | Underfed |
| Unslung | Unslung | Unslung |
| Undersell | Undersold | Undersold |
| Unlead | Unled | Unled |
| Unknit | Unknit | Unknit |
| Unsay | Unsaid | Unsaid |
| Underlie | Underlay | Underlain |
| Unsling | Unsling | Unsling |
| Underrun | Underran | Underrun |
| Unmake | Unmade | Unmade |
| Underrate | Underrated | Underrated |
| Unsew | Unsewed | Unsewn |
| Underpay | Underpaid | Underpaid |
| Unman | Unmanned | Unmanned |
| Underpin | Underpinned | Underpinned |
| Unhang | Unhung | Unhung |
| Underprice | Underpriced | Underpriced |
| Unknot | Unknotted | Unknotted |
| Underwrite | Underwrote | Underwritten |
| Unlearn | Unlearned | Unlearned |
| Unthink | Unthought | Unthought |
| Undergo | Underwent | Undergone |
#1. V
| vex | vext | vext |
#1. W
| Infinitive (V1) | Past Form (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
|---|---|---|
| Write | Wrote | Written |
| Wear | Wore | Worn |
| Win | Won | Won |
| Weave | Wove | Woven |
| Wake | Woke | Woken |
| Withdraw | Withdrew | Withdrawn |
| Wind | Wound | Wound |
#1. X
- No Irregular verbs starting with X
#1. Y
- No Irregular verbs starting with Y
#1. Z
- No Irregular verbs starting with Z
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is irregular verb and its rule?
An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense and past participle in English. Instead, irregular verbs have their unique forms for the past tense and past participle, which must be memorized since they do not follow a consistent rule.
Here’s an example of a regular verb and its irregular counterpart:
Regular Verb: Walk
- Present: I walk to the store.
- Past: I walked to the store yesterday.
- Past Participle: I have walked to the store many times.
Irregular Verb: Go
- Present: I go to the store.
- Past: I went to the store yesterday.
- Past Participle: I have gone to the store many times.
As you can see, while “walk” follows the regular pattern by simply adding “-ed” to form the past tense and past participle, “go” has irregular forms for both.
Here’s a table with more examples of irregular verbs:
| Base Form (Present) | Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| be | was/were | been |
| begin | began | begun |
| break | broke | broken |
| come | came | come |
| do | did | done |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| find | found | found |
| give | gave | given |
| have | had | had |
| run | ran | run |
| see | saw | seen |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
| take | took | taken |
| write | wrote | written |
What is the difference between regular verbs and irregular verbs?
| Verb Type | Formation of Past Tense | Formation of Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Verbs | Add “-ed” to base form | Add “-ed” to base form |
| Irregular Verbs | Unique past tense form | Unique past participle form |
Examples:
| Base Form | Regular Past Tense | Regular Past Participle | Irregular Past Tense | Irregular Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| walk | walked | walked | go | gone |
| talk | talked | talked | eat | eaten |
| play | played | played | run | run |
How many irregular verbs are there in English?
According to the use of irregular verbs in the English language, more than 200 verbs are in use. Irregular verbs are very important and useful for making English sentences whose prefixes are in counted form.
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