You might know that verb is the most significant part of a sentence which shows an action, state/ possession, presence or absence of a person or thing in a sentence. We talked about action verbs, in this article we will look at regular and irregular verbs, or how to change regular and irregular verbs into past and past participle forms? Indeed action verbs are subdivided into two groups “regular verbs and irregular verbs” on the basis of how their past tense and Past tense and past participle are formed.
How to Change Regular and Irregular Verbs Into Past and Past Participle?
Regular and Irregular verbs
1. Regular Verbs
Regular verbs are those verbs whose past tense and past participle (2nd and 3rd forms) are formed by adding “d” or “ed” to the end of the verb.
2. Irregular verbs
Irregular verbs are those verbs that do not take ‘ed’ ending for their past tense and past participle (2nd and 3rd forms).
Regular verbs “some rules.”
| Share | shared | shared |
| Scare | scared | scared |
| Hate | hated | hated |
| Ski | skied | skied |
| Echo | Echoed | Echoed |
| 3. Regular verbs ending in a “vowel +y” take “ed” in the simple past and past participle. | ||
| Play | played | played |
| Survey | surveyed | surveyed |
| Enjoy | enjoyed | enjoyed |
| 4. Regular verbs ending in a “consonant +y” change –y to I and add ‘ed’ for simple past and past participle. | ||
| Cry | cried | cried |
| Try | tried | tried |
| 5. Regular verbs ending in a consonant after a stressed vowel double the consonant before adding “ed” , if the vowel is not stressed, we do not double it. | ||
| Stop | stopped | stopped |
| Ban | banned | banned |
| Clap | clapped | clapped |
| Open | opened | opened |
List of irregular verbs in English
Irregular verbs do not take ‘ed’ ending for their past and past participle (2nd and 3rd forms), study the list of irregular verbs in English below.
| 1st Form (Infinitive) | 2nd Form (Simple Past) | 3rd Form (Past Participle) |
| A | ||
| arise | arose | arisen |
| awake | awakened / awoke | awakened / awoken |
| B | ||
| backslide | backslid | backslidden / backslid |
| be | was, were | been |
| bear | bore | born / borne |
| beat | beat | beaten / beat |
| become | became | become |
| begin | began | begun |
| bend | bent | bent |
| bet | bet / betted | bet / betted |
| bid | bid / bade | bidden |
| bid | bid | bid |
| 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 | browbeaten / browbeat |
| build | built | built |
| burn | burned / burnt | burned / burnt |
| burst | burst | burst |
| bust | busted / bust | busted / bust |
| buy | bought | bought |
| C | ||
| cast | cast | cast |
| catch | caught | caught |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| cling | clung | clung |
| clothe | clothed / clad | clothed / clad |
| come | came | come |
| cost | cost | cost |
| creep | crept | crept |
| crossbreed | crossbred | crossbred |
| cut | cut | cut |
| D | ||
| daydream | daydreamed / daydreamt | daydreamed / daydreamt |
| deal | dealt | dealt |
| dig | dug | dug |
| disprove | disproved | disproved / disproven |
| dive | dove / dived | dived |
| dive | dived / dove | dived |
| do | did | done |
| draw | drew | drawn |
| dream | dreamed / dreamt | dreamed / dreamt |
| drink | drank | drunk |
| drive | drove | driven |
| dwell | dwelt / dwelled | dwelt / dwelled |
| E | ||
| eat | ate | eaten |
| F | ||
| fall | fell | fallen |
| feed | fed | fed |
| feel | felt | felt |
| fight | fought | fought |
| find | found | found |
| fit | fitted / fit | fitted / fit |
| fit (be right size) | fit / fitted | fit / fitted |
| flee | fled | fled |
| fling | flung | flung |
| fly | flew | flown |
| forbid | forbade | forbidden |
| forecast | forecast | forecast |
| forego (also forgo) | forewent | foregone |
| foresee | foresaw | foreseen |
| foretell | foretold | foretold |
| forget | forgot | forgotten / forgot |
| forgive | forgave | forgiven |
| forsake | forsook | forsaken |
| freeze | froze | frozen |
| frostbite | frostbit | frostbitten |
| G | ||
| get | got | gotten / got |
| give | gave | given |
| go | went | gone |
| grind | ground | ground |
| grow | grew | grown |
| H | ||
| hand-feed | hand-fed | hand-fed |
| handwrite | handwrote | handwritten |
| hang | hung | hung |
| have | had | had |
| hear | heard | heard |
| hew | hewed | hewn / hewed |
| hide | hid | hidden |
| hit | hit | hit |
| hold | held | held |
| hurt | hurt | hurt |
| I | ||
| inbreed | inbred | inbred |
| inlay | inlaid | inlaid |
| input | input / inputted | input / inputted |
| interbreed | interbred | interbred |
| interweave | interwove / interweaved | interwoven / interweaved |
| interwind | interwound | interwound |
| J | ||
| jerry-build | jerry-built | jerry-built |
| K | ||
| keep | kept | kept |
| kneel | knelt / kneeled | knelt / kneeled |
| knit | knitted / knit | knitted / knit |
| know | knew | known |
| L | ||
| lay | laid | laid |
| lead | led | led |
| lean | leaned / leant | leaned / leant |
| leap | leaped / leapt | leaped / leapt |
| learn | learned / learnt | learned / learnt |
| leave | left | left |
| lend | lent | lent |
| let | let | let |
| lie | lay | lain |
| lie | lied | lied |
| light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted |
| lip-read | lip-read | lip-read |
| lose | lost | lost |
| M | ||
| 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 | mislearned / mislearnt | mislearned / mislearnt |
| misread | misread | misread |
| misset | misset | misset |
| misspeak | misspoke | misspoken |
| misspell | misspelled / misspelt | misspelled / misspelt |
| misspend | misspent | misspent |
| mistake | mistook | mistaken |
| misteach | mistaught | mistaught |
| misunderstand | misunderstood | misunderstood |
| miswrite | miswrote | miswritten |
| mow | mowed | mowed / mown |
| N | ||
| No irregular verbs beginning with “N.” | ||
| O | ||
| 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 | outleaped / outleapt | outleaped / outleapt |
| outlie | outlied | outlied |
| outride | outrode | outridden |
| outrun | outran | outrun |
| outsell | outsold | outsold |
| outshine | outshined / outshone | outshined / outshone |
| outshoot | outshot | outshot |
| outsing | outsang | outsung |
| outsit | outsat | outsat |
| outsleep | outslept | outslept |
| outsmell | outsmelled / outsmelt | outsmelled / outsmelt |
| outspeak | outspoke | outspoken |
| outspeed | outsped | outsped |
| outspend | outspent | outspent |
| outswear | outswore | outsworn |
| outswim | outswam | outswum |
| outthink | outthought | outthought |
| outthrow | outthrew | outthrown |
| outwrite | outwrote | outwritten |
| overbid | overbid | overbid |
| overbreed | overbred | overbred |
| overbuild | overbuilt | overbuilt |
| overbuy | overbought | overbought |
| overcome | overcame | overcome |
| overdo | overdid | overdone |
| overdraw | overdrew | 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 | oversewn / oversewed |
| overshoot | overshot | overshot |
| oversleep | overslept | overslept |
| overspeak | overspoke | overspoken |
| overspend | overspent | overspent |
| overspill | overspilled / overspilt | overspilled / overspilt |
| overtake | overtook | overtaken |
| overthink | overthought | overthought |
| overthrow | overthrew | overthrown |
| overwind | overwound | overwound |
| overwrite | overwrote | overwritten |
| P | ||
| partake | partook | partaken |
| pay | paid | paid |
| plead | pleaded / pled | pleaded / pled |
| prebuild | prebuilt | prebuilt |
| predo | predid | predone |
| premake | premade | premade |
| prepay | prepaid | prepaid |
| presell | presold | presold |
| preset | preset | preset |
| preshrink | preshrank | preshrunk |
| proofread | proofread | proofread |
| prove | proved | proven / proved |
| put | put | put |
| Q | ||
| quick-freeze | quick-froze | quick-frozen |
| quit | quit / quitted | quit / quitted |
| R | ||
| read | read (sounds like “red”) | read (sounds like “red”) |
| 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 (replace parts) | refit / refitted | refit / refitted |
| refit (retailor) | refitted / refit | refitted / refit |
| regrind | reground | reground |
| regrow | regrew | regrown |
| rehang | rehung | rehung |
| rehear | reheard | reheard |
| reknit | reknitted / reknit | reknitted / reknit |
| relay | relaid | relaid |
| relay | relayed | relayed |
| relearn | relearned / relearnt | relearned / relearnt |
| 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 | resewn / resewed |
| retake | retook | retaken |
| reteach | retaught | retaught |
| retear | retore | retorn |
| retell | retold | retold |
| rethink | rethought | rethought |
| retread | retread | retread |
| retrofit | retrofitted / retrofit | retrofitted / retrofit |
| rewake | rewoke / rewaked | rewaken / rewaked |
| rewear | rewore | reworn |
| reweave | rewove / reweaved | rewoven / reweaved |
| rewed | rewed / rewedded | rewed / rewedded |
| 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 |
| S | ||
| 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 | sewn / sewed |
| shake | shook | shaken |
| shave | shaved | shaved / shaven |
| shear | sheared | sheared / shorn |
| shed | shed | shed |
| shine | shined / shone | shined / shone |
| shoot | shot | shot |
| show | showed | shown / showed |
| shrink | shrank / shrunk | shrunk |
| shut | shut | shut |
| sight-read | sight-read | sight-read |
| sing | sang | sung |
| sink | sank / sunk | sunk |
| sit | sat | sat |
| slay | slew / slayed | slain / slayed |
| slay | slayed | slayed |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| slide | slid | slid |
| sling | slung | slung |
| slink | slinked / slunk | slinked / slunk |
| slit | slit | slit |
| smell | smelled / smelt | smelled / smelt |
| sneak | sneaked / snuck | sneaked / snuck |
| sow | sowed | sown / sowed |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
| speed | sped / speeded | sped / speeded |
| spell | spelled / spelt | spelled / spelt |
| spend | spent | spent |
| spill | spilled / spilt | spilled / spilt |
| spin | spun | spun |
| spit | spit / spat | spit / spat |
| split | split | split |
| spoil | spoiled / spoilt | spoiled / spoilt |
| spoon-feed | spoon-fed | spoon-fed |
| spread | spread | spread |
| spring | sprang / sprung | sprung |
| stand | stood | stood |
| steal | stole | stolen |
| stick | stuck | stuck |
| sting | stung | stung |
| stink | stunk / stank | stunk |
| strew | strewed | strewn / strewed |
| stride | strode | stridden |
| strike (delete) | struck | stricken |
| strike (hit) | struck | struck / stricken |
| string | strung | strung |
| strive | strove / strived | striven / strived |
| sublet | sublet | sublet |
| sunburn | sunburned / sunburnt | sunburned / sunburnt |
| swear | swore | sworn |
| sweat | sweat / sweated | sweat / sweated |
| sweep | swept | swept |
| swell | swelled | swollen / swelled |
| swim | swam | swum |
| swing | swung | swung |
| T | ||
| 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 | trodden / trod |
| typecast | typecast | typecast |
| typeset | typeset | typeset |
| typewrite | typewrote | typewritten |
| U | ||
| unbend | unbent | unbent |
| unbind | unbound | unbound |
| unclothe | unclothed / unclad | unclothed / unclad |
| 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 | unknitted / unknit | unknitted / unknit |
| unlearn | unlearned / unlearnt | unlearned / unlearnt |
| unsew | unsewed | unsewn / unsewed |
| unsling | unslung | unslung |
| unspin | unspun | unspun |
| unstick | unstuck | unstuck |
| unstring | unstrung | unstrung |
| unweave | unwove / unweaved | unwoven / unweaved |
| unwind | unwound | unwound |
| uphold | upheld | upheld |
| upset | upset | upset |
| V | ||
| No commonly used irregular verbs beginning with “V.” |
||
| W | ||
| 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 |
| whet REGULAR | whetted | whetted |
| win | won | won |
| wind | wound | wound |
| withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
| withhold | withheld | withheld |
| withstand | withstood | withstood |
| wring | wrung | wrung |
| write | wrote | written |
| X | ||
| No irregular verbs beginning with “X.” | ||
| Y | ||
| No irregular verbs beginning with “Y.” | ||
| Z | ||
| No irregular verbs beginning with “Z.” | ||
Studying about the rules how to change regular and irregular verbs into past and past participle is quite compulsory for ESL learners, because both in written and spoken you have to know about these rules in order to construct your sentences accurately.
2 comments
Helpful article thank you.
Welcome dear, hope it was useful.