Our topic today is getting to know such an interesting phenomenon as forms of irregular verbs. As you know, the English language is very cunning. This language often lays all sorts of traps for us. One of them is irregular verbs. English is not the only language that has irregular verbs. The French language is also rich in irregular verbs. Irregular English verbs have three or four forms?
Romanian language, German language, Latin language, Greek language also contain irregular verbs. And even the Russian language is replete with them. I think you have repeatedly heard about irregular verbs in English, in other words Irregular Verbs. Why are such verbs called irregular? It's very simple: in the past tense they are conjugated in their own way, have their own special form, while all other verbs in the past tense have an ending -ed.
How to distinguish irregular verbs from regular ones?
For comparison, let's conjugate 3 regular regular verbs in the Past Simple:
Work - ra | sing | |
I worked | I translated | I managed |
You worked | You translated | You managed |
He worked | He translated | He managed |
She worked | She translated | She managed |
It worked | It translated | It managed |
We worked | We translated | We managed |
They worked | They translated | They managed |
As you can see, all 3 verbs are conjugated the same way, according to the pattern of stem + ending -ed.
The situation is completely different in the case of irregular verbs. Let's conjugate 3 more verbs in the Past Simple, which are irregular, and here pay attention to the fact that each of these verbs has its own, completely different form at the end or even at the root of the word:
Blow blow | Go - go | Bring - bring |
I blew | I went | I brought |
You blew | You went | You brought |
He blew | He went | He brought |
She blew | She went | She brought |
It blew | It went | It brought |
We blew | We went | We brought |
They blew | They went | They brought |
Even the naked eye can see that each of these verbs appeared in its own form, completely different from the others. The catch is that there is no specific rule by which you can find out the form of an irregular verb. Each of them is conjugated differently. The English language, friends, is full of tricks and underwater reefs. Another catch is that each irregular verb has not one form, but three.
Three forms of irregular verbs
So what are these three forms?
- The first is the infinitive or initial (indefinite) form of the verb
- The second is Past Participle I, that is, the form that corresponds to the simple past tense (Past Simple), it is also used in the 2nd and 3rd cases of the conditional mood (Conditional of the 2-d and of the 3-d case)
- The third is Past Participle II, the one that is used in the present perfect tense (Present Perfect) and in the long past tense (Past Perfect). The same form is used in the passive voice (Passive Voice), in the conditional mood of the 3-d case and some other grammatical rules.
Here are some examples of 3 forms of irregular verbs:
- To arise - arose - arisen - to rise
- To be - was, were - been - to be
- To bear - bore - born - to give birth
- To become - became - become - become, become
- To begin - began - began - to begin
- To catch - caught - caught - to catch, to catch
- To choose - chose - chosen - to choose
- To dig - dug - dug - dig, dig
- To dream - dreamt - dreamt - dream, dream
- To feel - felt - felt - to feel
- To forget - forgot - forgotten - to forget
- To have - had - had - to have
Now let’s look at these 3 forms using example sentences in all of the above verb tenses.
- So, the simple past tense of the verb (Past Simple Tense):
Yesterday she felt herself bad ( to feel). — Yesterday she felt bad. Last Wednesday we met Jim ( to meet). — Last Wednesday we met Jim. Last night I dream you ( to dream). “Last night I dreamed about you.” I was in Paris last year ( to be) — I was in Paris last year.
- Present Perfect Tense:
I have just seen him ( to see). - I just saw him. Tom has already brought my books ( to bring). — Tom has already brought my books. Have you ever been in London ( to be)? —Have you ever been to London? Ann has already forgotten her boy-friend ( to forget).- Anna has already forgotten her boyfriend.
- Past Perfect Tense:
I noticed that I had forgotten my keys ( to forget). — I noticed that I forgot my keys. He understood that he had lost his documents ( to lose). — He realized that he had lost his documents.
- Passive Voice:
The dog is fed by me ( to feed). — The dog was fed by me (I fed the dog). Made in France ( to make). — Made in France.
- Conditional mood of the 2nd and 3rd cases (Conditional). The second and third forms appear here:
If I had money, I would buy a car ( to have). — If I had money, I would buy a car (real condition). If I had money, I would have bought a car ( to have, to buy).- If I had money, I would buy a car (unreal condition, past tense).
How to learn all forms of irregular verbs?
Cheat sheet for memorizing Irregular Verbs
As mentioned above, there are no rules by which the forms of irregular verbs are formed; everyone has their own. But we hope that this poetic form will help you quickly remember these irregular verbs:
To write-wrote-written
To eat-ate-eat
To speak-spoke-spoken
To break-broken-broken
To come-come-come
To become-became-become
To run-run-run
To swim-swam-swum
To know-knew-known
To throw-threw-thrown
To blow-blew-blown
To fly-flown
Tossing-sang-sung
To ring-rang-rung
To hide-hid-hidden
To bite-bit-bitten
To send-sent-sent
To spend-spent-spent
To sleep-slept-slept
To keep-kept-kept
To tell-told-told
To sell-sold-sold
To teach-taught-taught
To catch-caught-caught
To fight-fought-fought
To think-thought-thought
To buy-bought-bought
To bring-brought-brought
To cut-cut-cut
To shut-shut-shut
To cost-cost-cost
To lose-lost-lost
To lead-led-led
To feed-fed-fed
To feel-felt-felt
To hold-held-held
From this funny poetic form we see that some irregular verbs have the same letter combinations, which allows them to rhyme and thereby make it easier for us to remember them.
"Fourth" form of irregular verbs
There is a common belief that there is also a 4th form of irregular verbs. This 4th configuration is formed according to the scheme stem + ending -ing. It defines the Present Participle, that is, the present participle in such tenses as the Present Continuous and the Past Continuous. In other words, it is the present and past tense of the imperfect form. It follows from this that there are not 3, but 4 forms of irregular verbs. But this 4th configuration is, as it were, unofficial.
Let's look at this very 4th form using examples of sentences with the Present Continuous:
The same 4th form in sentences with Past Continuous.
The English language requires a detailed and systematic approach. Of course, if the priority is to gain knowledge that will help in practice. A special place within this goal is occupied by, for which there are quite rational explanations.
Verb / Verb |
|||
be | was, were | been | Be |
beat | beat | beaten ["bi:tn] | Beat |
become | became | become | Become |
begin | began | begun | Start off |
bleed | bled | bled | Bleed |
blow | blew | blown | Blow |
break | broke | broken ["brouk(e)n] | Break |
bring | brought | brought | Bring |
build | built | built | Build |
burn | burnt | burnt | burn |
burst | burst | burst | Break out |
buy | bought | bought | Buy |
catch | caught | caught | Catch, grab, catch |
choose | chose [ʃəuz] | chosen | Choose |
come | came | come | Come |
cost | cost | cost | Cost |
creep | crept | crept | Crawl |
cut | cut | cut | Cut |
do | did | done | Do |
draw | drew | drawn | Draw, drag |
dream | dream | dream | Dream, doze |
drink | drank | drunk | Drink |
drive | drove | driven ["drivn] | Drive |
eat | ate | eaten ["i:tn] | Eat |
fall | fell | fallen ["fɔ:lən] | Fall |
feed | fed | fed | Feed |
feel | felt | felt | Feel |
fight | fought | fought | Fight |
find | found | found | Find |
fit | fit | fit | Fit to size |
fly | flew | flown | Fly |
forget | forgot | forgotten | Forget |
forgive | forgave | forgiven | Forgive |
freeze | froze | frozen ["frouzn] | Freeze |
get[get] | got | got | Receive |
give | gave | given | Giving |
go | went | gone | Go |
grow | grew | grown | Grow |
hang | hung | hung | Hang |
have | had | had | Have |
hear | heard | heard | Hear |
hide | hid | hidden ["hidn] | Hide |
hit | hit | hit | Hit the target |
hold | held | held | Hold |
hurt | hurt | hurt | Hurt |
keep | kept | kept | Contain |
kneel | knelt | knelt | Kneel |
know | knew | known | Know |
lay | laid | laid | Putting |
lead | led | led | News |
lean | leant | leant | Tilt |
learn | learn | learn | Learn |
leave | left | left | Leave |
lend | tape | tape | Occupy |
let | let | let | Let |
lie | lay | lain | Lie |
light | lit | lit | illuminate |
lose | lost | lost | Lose |
make | made | made | Produce |
mean | meant | meant | Mean |
meet | met | met | Meet |
mistake | mistook | mistaken | To be wrong |
pay | paid | paid | Pay |
prove | proved | proven | Prove |
put | put | put | Put |
quit | quit | quit | Go out |
read | read | read | Read |
ride | rode | ridden ["ridn] | Ride a horse |
ring | rank | rung | Ring |
rise | rose | risen ["rizn] | Get up |
run | ran | run | Run |
say | said | said | Speak |
see | saw | seen | See |
seek | sought | sought | Search |
sell | sold | sold | Sell |
send | sent | sent | Send |
set | set | set | Put |
sew | sewed | sewn | Sew |
shake [ʃeik] | shook [ʃuk] | shaken ["ʃeik(ə)n] | Shake |
show [ʃəu] | showed [ʃəud] | shown [ʃəun] | Show |
shrink [ʃriŋk] | shrank [ʃræŋk] | shrunk [ʃrʌŋk] | Reduce |
shut [ʃʌt] | shut [ʃʌt] | shut [ʃʌt] | Close |
sing | sang | sung | Sing |
sink | sank, sunk | sunk | Drown |
sit | sat | sat | Sit |
sleep | slept | slept | Sleep |
slide | slide | slide | Slide |
sow | sowed | south | Sow |
speak | spoke | spoken ["spouk(e)n] | Speak |
spell | spelled | spelled | Spell it out |
spend | spent | spent | Spend |
spill | spilt | spilt | Spill |
spoiler | spoilt | spoilt | Spoil |
spread | spread | spread | spread out |
spring | sprang | sprung | Jump |
stand | stood | stood | Stand |
steal | stole | stolen ["stəulən] | Steal |
stick | stuck | stuck | prick |
sting | stung | stung | Sting |
sweep | swept | swept | Sweep |
swell | swelled | swollen ["swoul(e)n] | Swell |
swim | swam | swum | Swim |
swing | swung | swung | Sway |
take | took | taken ["teik(ə)n] | Take, take |
teach | taught | taught | Learn |
tear | tore | torn | Tear |
tell | told | told | Tell |
think [θiŋk] | thought [θɔ:t] | thought [θɔ:t] | Think |
throw [θrəu] | threw [θru:] | thrown [θrəun] | Throw |
understand [ʌndə"stænd] | understood [ʌndə"stud] | understood [ʌndə"stud] | Understand |
wake | woke up | woken ["wouk(e)n] | Wake up |
wear | wore | worn | Wear |
weep | wept | wept | Cry |
wet | wet | wet | Get wet |
win | won | won | Win |
wind | wound | wound | Wriggle |
write | wrote | written ["ritn] | Write |
Why is it important to know English irregular verbs?
So, irregular verbs, as mentioned above, play a key role in the successful learning of the English language. Many people were able to verify this. Let's consider the main nuances.
Practice shows: half of the mistakes made in speech and writing are in the incorrect use of verb forms and tenses. Often a verb is superfluous in a sentence or used falsely. This can completely change the meaning. The principle of learning English is that you need to start with those topics in which mistakes are often made. That's why table of irregular verbs must be fully studied. Otherwise, you can really get negative consequences consisting of confusion of phrases. When a lot of mistakes occur, the desire to learn a language disappears. This cannot be allowed. It is important to focus on the success of the task. With the right approach, all goals will be achieved.
Irregular verbs can be used as builders of phrases and sentences that are unique in their impact and originality. English philologists are proud of such verbs, attributing them to the origins of the ancient Germanic language. Many English-speaking poets and writers drew creative strength from them. Readers may say that they are not going to write poetry in English (although in time everything is possible, it is difficult to predict the turns of fate). However, they form its foundation. Without them it is impossible to master the English language. Many people who devoted their free time to studying an international language were able to verify this. A systematic approach will allow you to master all topics, including those that are considered difficult to study.
The study of irregular verbs is also required for the reason that some regular verbs are very similar to them. For example, found is similar to an irregular verb. If you perceive it this way, then in practice you will end up with confusion. Every nuance is important and should be taken into account.
You need to start learning irregular verbs as early as possible. They are mostly based on exceptions rather than rules. This difficult moment should spur and stimulate. Regular verbs will become much easier to learn later. At all, basic irregular verbs in English still have a certain system. She will help in their development.
Irregular verbs are difficult, that's a fact. However, it is worth devoting at least 10 minutes every day to these “insidious parts of speech” so that they are learned once and for all. Having a certain system will make the task a little easier. It is important to understand: without irregular verbs there will be no English language. Therefore, it is worth spending time on them.
If you've gotten to the point of learning verbs, you've already gone through a lot. But there is still a long road to perfection ahead. The temporary system is based on such a distinction between this part of speech as correct and incorrect. It is the latter that we will talk about and explain how to quickly learn irregular verbs.
So, we already know that with the passage of time, foreign conquests or other interactions of people, the English language also did not stand aside. This is especially true for verbs. If we study times, then we have to differentiate according to this category. Irregular Verbs are found in almost every one of them.
Forms of irregular verbs in English
Where to start? From familiarization. What types are there, when and how are they used. After all, when reading the rule, you often come across the expression 2nd form, 3rd. We will now look at what it is. Once again, it is worth recalling that there are 3 forms of irregular verbs (some linguists distinguish four).
First form is an infinitive or first column of the table. This is how the verb is used in the dictionary: run, swim, give. It is used in Present Simple, Future Simple, in interrogative and negative sentences Past Simple.
Second form - This is the simple past tense: ran, swam, gave (second column). In this form, irregular English verbs are used in the Past Simple (with the exception of interrogative and negative sentences).
Third form- this is the past participle (Past Participle or Participle II): run, swun, given. This form of the verb is used most often. In Perfect times, in all times Passive Voice. You will find it in third column of the table.
Fourth form- this is the present participle (Present Participle or Participle I): running, swimming, giving. It is used by the group tenses Continuous and Perfect Continuous. Not all tables contain a fourth column, only some do.
When considering sentences with irregular verbs, pay attention to the tense.
How are the main irregular verbs of the English language formed?
It is impossible to clearly determine that these words are changed in this way, and others in the second or third way. But it is still possible to trace a certain trend, and then it will not be a collection of words and incomprehensible forms.
- By changing the vowel in the root of the word: meet - met - met; begin - began - begun.
- Changing the root and adding a suffix: speak - spoke - spoken; give - gave - given.
- The ending changes: send - sent - sent; build - built - built.
- And some verbs are the same in all forms: cut - cut - cut; put - put - put.
How to learn irregular verbs?
Everyone has their own methodology, their own method, which has its own pros and cons. But first I would like to say a few generally accepted facts. First, learn all three forms at once and with translation. Irregular verbs with translation can be found in almost any grammar textbook, dictionary, on Internet resources and on our website. The entire table can be downloaded. Don’t learn 10 at once, take 5, stretch them out over 3-4 days, do the exercises. Many learn in a row, in alphabetical order, some in groups (depending on the method of education). I believe that the second one is more effective and easier. Therefore, we will divide all irregular English verbs into groups.
1. Completely identical
bet | bet | bet | bet |
cost | cost | cost | cost |
cut | cut | cut | cut |
hit | hit | hit | hit |
hurt | hurt | hurt | damage |
let | let | let | let |
put | put | put | put |
set | set | set | install, put |
shed | shed | shed | reset |
shut | shut | shut | close |
spit | spit | spit | spit |
split | split | split | divide, split |
spread | spread | spread | distribute |
trust | trust | trust | trust |
2. The second and third shapes coincide - p-t
3. The second and third forms coincide - d-t
4. The root vowel changes - ew - own
5. A group of verbs with different root vowels
6. Endings aught/ought
7. Vowel alternation
become | became | become | become |
come | came | come | come |
run | ran | run | run |
8. Alternating vowel + ending en
9. Alternation, ending en, doubling a consonant
bite | bit | bitten | bite |
fall | fell | fallen | fall |
forbid | forbade | forbidden | forbid |
hide | hid | hidden | hide |
ride | rode | ridden | ride |
write | wrote | written | write |
forget | forgot | forgotten | forget |
10. The second and third forms coincide
second and third | ||
built | built | build |
dig | dug | drip |
find | found | find |
get | got | receive |
have | had | have |
hear | heard | hear |
hold | held | hold |
lead | led | lead |
leave | left | leave |
lose | lost | lose |
make | made | do |
shine | shone | shine |
shoot | shot | fire |
sit | sat | sit |
win | won | win |
stick | stuck | stick, get stuck, |
strike | struke | hit, hit |
stand | stood | stand |
understand | understood | understand |
deal | dealt | deal with |
mean | meant | mean |
sell | sold | sell |
tell | told | speak |
lay | laid | put |
pay | paid | pay |
say | said | say |
bleed | bled | bleed |
feel | felt | feel |
meet | met | meet |
feed | fed | feed |
11.Have two options
burn | burnt/burned | burnt/burned | burn, burn |
dream | dreamed/dreamed | dreamed/dreamed | dream |
dwell | dwelt/dwelled | dwelt/dwelled | dwell, live |
hang | hung/hanged | hung/hanged | hang |
kneel | knelt/kneeled | knelt/kneeled | kneel down, bow down |
knit | knit/knitted | knit/knitted | knit |
lean | lean/leaned | lean/leaned | lean, lean |
leap | leapt/leaped | leapt/leaped | jump up, jump |
learn | learned/learned | learned/learned | learn |
light | lit/lighted | lit/lighted | light up |
prove | proved | proven/proved | prove |
sew | sewed | sewn/sewed | sew |
smell | smelt/smelled | smelt/smelled | sniff, smell |
speed | sped/speeded | sped/speeded | accelerate |
spell | spelled/spelled | spelled/spelled | spell |
spoiler | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled | spoil |
12. Completely different shapes
Remembering irregular verbs in English at first seems difficult and tedious. But believe me, if you don’t reboot yourself, study using the groups that we have provided, you will easily master them. And this is very important! All irregular verbs are very often used in speech. Learn grammar and expand your vocabulary.
Remember the multiplication tables in mathematics? So, in English this is a table of irregular verbs. This is one of the basics in English that you need to learn. An irregular verb is one that does not follow the generally accepted rules of grammar. Below is table of irregular verbs in English with audio accompaniment. And if you really want to speak English fluently, you need to learn these verbs.
Infinitive | Past Simple (simple past tense) |
Past participle (past participle) |
Translation | |
be | was / were | been | be | |
beat | beat | beaten | beat | |
become | became | become | become | |
begin | began | begun | start off | |
break | broke | broken | break | |
bring | brought | brought | bring | |
build | built | built | build | |
burn | burnt | burnt | burn | |
burst | burst | burst | explode | |
buy | bought | bought | buy | |
can | could | could | be able to, be able to | |
catch | caught | caught | catch, grab | |
choose | chose | chosen | choose | |
come | came | come | come | |
cost | cost | cost | cost | |
cut | cut | cut | cut | |
do | did | done | do | |
draw | drew | drawn | draw (pencil) | |
drink | drank | drunk | drink | |
drive | drove | driven | drive (a car) | |
eat | ate | eaten | eat, eat | |
fall | fell | fallen | fall | |
feel | felt | felt | feel | |
fight | fought | fought | fight | |
find | found | found | find | |
fly | flew | flown | fly | |
forget | forgot | forgotten | forget | |
get | got | got | receive, become | |
give | gave | given | give | |
go | went | gone | go | |
grow | grew | grown | grow, grow | |
hang | hung | hung | hang, hang | |
have | had | had | have | |
hear | heard | heard | hear | |
hide | hid | hidden | hide | |
hit | hit | hit | hit, hit | |
hold | held | held | hold | |
hurt | hurt | hurt | hurt | |
keep | kept | kept | keep; keep doing | |
know | knew | known | know | |
learn | learn | learn | study) | |
leave | left | left | leave, leave | |
let | let | let | let | |
lie | lay | lain | lie | |
lose | lost | lost | lose | |
make | made | made | do, manufacture | |
mean | meant | meant | keep in mind | |
meet | met | met | meet; meet | |
pay | paid | paid | pay | |
prove | proved | proven | prove | |
put | put | put | put, put | |
read | read | read | read | |
ring | rank | rung | call | |
run | ran | run | run | |
say | said | said | say | |
see | saw | seen | see | |
set | set | set | put | |
sew | sewed | sewn | sew | |
sell | sold | sold | sell | |
send | sent | sent | send, send | |
shine | shone | shone | shine | |
show | showed | shown | show | |
shut | shut | shut | close, slam | |
sing | sang | sung | sing | |
sit | sat | sat | sit | |
sleep | slept | slept | sleep | |
speak | spoke | spoken | speak | |
spend | spent | spent | spend (time) | |
spoiler | spoilt | spoilt | spoil | |
spread | spread | spread | spread out | |
spring | sprang | sprung | jump | |
stand | stood | stood | stand | |
steal | stole | stolen | steal, steal | |
swim | swam | swum | swim | |
take | took | taken | take | |
teach | taught | taught | teach, learn | |
tell | told | told | tell (to someone) | |
think | thought | thought | think | |
throw | threw | thrown | throw | |
understand | understood | understood | understand | |
wake | woke up | woken | wake up, wake up | |
wear | wore | worn | wear (clothes) | |
weep | wept | wept | cry | |
win | won | won | win | |
write | wrote | written | write |
Anyone who begins to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of learning English often faces a whole bunch of problems and difficulties. This is not surprising. After all, incomprehensible speech patterns, confusing tenses and irregular verbs can darken the science of even the most cheerful student. Let's figure out what to do and Where do irregular verbs come from in English??
It's no secret that every language goes through many stages of its development, formed through the influence of nearby countries and cultures. English is no exception. It is generally accepted that irregular verbs are echoes of the past, when the language was only at the stage of development.
The influence of European society on England was colossal and made its own adjustments to the sphere of communication. But the English are a people who did not like change too much and respected their native speech. Therefore, he continued to communicate in his usual way. Thus, verbs that have passed through centuries have taken root in modern society. It is worth noting that there is nothing wrong with these words, they are correct, they are simply quite original and do not obey any time frame, so they are conjugated in their own way. So how can you master these parts of speech and finally learn them? There are a lot of ways.
How to learn irregular verbs in English?
Table of irregular verbs in English It is quite extensive and contains more than two hundred words. Wow, you say! Don't worry, most native English people don't know them all themselves. It is enough to learn basic words and you will be able to support any conversation and look at a decent level among the English-speaking society. And knowing a couple of effective ways, you can turn boring science into an exciting game.
To simplify this task, it is necessary to visualize the object of study. To do this, write out irregular verbs on cards and hang them throughout the apartment, especially in the places where you visit most often. So, they will always be in front of your eyes, thereby helping you memorize them without much difficulty.
If you want to teach your child a verb, you can prepare cards on which all forms will be written. So, by putting the table together like a puzzle, the child will remember more and more constructions over and over again. Although, this type of study can also be practiced by an adult.
Another effective method is to download the audio version of verbs and listen to them systematically, for example, on the way to work and home. And for a child, an excellent option would be to compose a song that consists of these words. Sing it together on the way to the store or when doing something together and after a week you will notice the first results.
English is quite easy to learn if you approach it creatively. Throw away boring memorization and monotonous repetition, and soon you will not even notice how you will begin not only to speak, but also to think in this language.