Irregular verbs are a fascinating aspect of the English language. They are verbs that do not follow the regular pattern of adding -ed to the base form to form the past tense. Instead, they have their own unique forms. Irregular verbs can be challenging to learn because they do not follow a predictable pattern. However, once you master them, you will be able to use them with ease and precision in your writing and speaking. This article is prepared to help you learn all about irregular verbs and their usages.
What is an irregular verb?
An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the usual rules for verb forms. Most English verbs are regular verbs, which means that they follow a predictable pattern when forming their past tense and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form. However, irregular verbs each have their own unique tense forms and past participles.
2nd and 3rd Forms of English Irregular Verbs
The second and third forms of irregular verbs are the past tense and past participle forms respectively. Unlike regular verbs, which form their past tense and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form, irregular verbs each have their own unique tense forms and past participles. For example, the second and third forms of the irregular verb “be” are “was/were” and “been” respectively. Similarly, the second and third forms of the irregular verb “begin” are “began” and “begun”.
When to Use 2nd and 3rd Forms of Irregular Verbs in English?
The second and third forms of irregular verbs are used in the past tense and past participle respectively. When we form sentences in past tense we use the 2nd form of the irregular verbs, and when we form sentences with past participle, we use the 3rd form of the irregular verbs.
List of English Irregular Verbs and Examples
Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the normal patterns for tense and past participle. They do not form their past tense and participle by adding “-ed” or “-d” to the base form. They each have their own unique tense forms and past participles. Here is a table of examples of irregular verbs in English
| Base Form (v1) | Past Tense (v2) | Past Participle (v3) |
|---|---|---|
| arise | arose | arisen |
| awake | awoke | awoken |
| be | was/were | been |
| begin | began | begun |
| break | broke | broken |
| bring | brought | brought |
| buy | bought | bought |
| build | built | built |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| come | came | come |
| cost | cost | cost |
| cut | cut | cut |
| do | did | done |
| draw | drew | drawn |
| drive | drove | driven |
| dig | dug | dug |
| dream | dreamed | dreamed |
| drink | drank | drunk |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| feel | felt | felt |
| find | found | found |
| fall | fell | fallen |
| fight | fought | fought |
| find | found | found |
| fly | flew | flown |
| forget | forgot | forgotten |
| forgive | forgave | forgiven |
| freeze | froze | frozen |
| get | got | got |
| give | gave | given |
| go | went | gone |
| have | had | had |
| hear | heard | heard |
| hide | hid | hidden |
| hithit | hit | hit |
| hold | held | held |
| hurt | hurt | hurt |
| kneel | knelt | knelt |
| know | knew | known |
| keep | kept | kept |
| leave | left | left |
| make | made | made |
| meet | met | met |
| overtake | overtook | overtaken |
| pay | paid | paid |
| run | ran | run |
| read | read | read |
| ride | rode | ridden |
| ring | rang | rung |
| rise | rose | risen |
| say | said | said |
| take | took | took |
| teach | taught | taught |
| tear | tore | torn |
| tell | told | told |
| think | thought | thought |
| throw | threw | thrown |
| understand | understood | understood |
| wear | wore | worn |
| win | won | won |
| wind | wound | wound |
I ate a burger for lunch.
She broke her arm while skiing.
He brought his cat to the park.
They built a new building last year.
She caught the fish with one hand.
He chose the white cap over the blue one.
We came to the party early.
She did her work before dinner.
He drew a picture of his dog.
They drove to the beach for fun.
She fell off her bike and hurt her knee.
He flew to the US for business.
They forgot their bags at home.
She gave him a present for his 19th birthday.
He went to the store to buy some food.
They had a bad time at the concert last night.
She kept her promise to get him back.
He knew the answer to the question.
They left their shoes at the door.
She lost her phone and couldn’t find it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irregular Verbs in English:
What are irregular verbs?
They are verbs that do not follow the regular pattern of adding -ed to the base form to form the past tense. Instead, they have their own unique forms.
What are the examples of irregular verbs?
Irregular verbs have their own unique tense forms and past participles.
For example: Begin – began – begun
Go – went – gone
Get – got – got
Where are the second and the third forms of the irregular verbs used?
The second and third forms of irregular verbs are used in the past tense and past participle respectively.
What is the difference between a regular verb and an irregular verb?
The main difference between regular and irregular verbs is that regular verbs follow a predictable pattern when forming their past tense and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form. Irregular verbs, on the other hand, each have their own unique tense forms and past participles.
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