Irregular verbs in English – a comprehensive list
Irregular verbs are a unique and essential aspect of English grammar, defying the standard rules of conjugation that apply to regular verbs. Unlike their predictable counterparts, these verbs change forms in unexpected ways when shifting from present to past tense or past participle, making them a critical focus for language learners. This guide provides a comprehensive list of irregular verbs, detailing their simple past and past participle forms, to aid in mastering their usage. For a deeper exploration of what defines irregular verbs, refer to the article “Irregular Verbs.” Understanding these verbs enhances fluency and accuracy in both spoken and written English.
Comprehensive list of irregular verbs in English
Irregular verbs are verbs that don’t follow English grammar rules. If you want to learn more about what these verbs are, read the article entitled, “Irregular verbs“. The following list is broken down into the verb followed by the conjugations for the simple past and past participle.
be: was/were | been
become: became | become
begin: began | begun
bend: bent | bent
bet: bet | bet
bite: bit | bitten
bleed: bled | bled
blow: blew | blown
break: broke | broken
breed: bred | bred
bring: brought | brought
build: built | built
burn: burnt/burned | burnt/burned (burned is more common in American English)
burst: burst | burst
buy: bought | bought
can: could | (no past participle)
catch: caught | caught
choose: chose | chosen
cling: clung | clung
come: came | come
cost: cost | cost
cut: cut | cut
deal: dealt | dealt
dig: dug | dug
do: did | done
draw: drew | drawn
dream: dreamt/dreamed | dreamt/dreamed (dreamed is more common)
drink: drank | drunk
drive: drove | driven
eat: ate | eaten
fall: fell | fallen
feed: fed | fed
feel: felt | felt
fight: fought | fought
find: found | found
flee: fled | fled
fling: flung | flung
fly: flew | flown
forbid: forbade | forbidden
forget: forgot | forgotten
forgive: forgave | forgiven
freeze: froze | frozen
get: got | gotten/got (gotten is more common in American English)
give: gave | given
go: went | gone
grind: ground | ground
grow: grew | grown
hang: hung/hanged (for things), hanged (for people) | hung/hanged (for things), hanged (for people)
have: had | had
hear: heard | heard
hide: hid | hidden
hit: hit | hit
hold: held | held
hurt: hurt | hurt
keep: kept | kept
kneel: knelt/kneeled | knelt/kneeled
know: knew | known
lay: laid | laid
lead: led | led
leap: leapt/leaped | leapt/leaped
learn: learnt/learned | learnt/learned
leave: left | left
lend: lent | lent
let: let | let
lie: lay | lain (for inanimate objects); lied | lied (for telling a falsehood)
light: lit/lighted | lit/lighted
lose: lost | lost
make: made | made
may: might | (no past participle)
mean: meant | meant
meet: met | met
melt: melted | molten/melted
misspell: misspelled/misspelt | misspelled/misspelt
mistake: mistook | mistaken
mow: mowed | mown/mowed
overcome: overcame | overcome
overtake: overtook | overtaken
pay: paid | paid
put: put | put
quit: quit | quit
read: read | read (pronunciation changes)
ride: rode | ridden
ring: rang | rung
rise: rose | risen
run: ran | run
saw: sawed | sawn/sawed
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
shed: shed | shed
shine: shone/shined | shone/shined
shoot: shot | shot
show: showed | shown/showed
shrink: shrank/shrunk | shrunk/shrunken
shut: shut | shut
sing: sang | sung
sink: sank | sunk
sit: sat | sat
sleep: slept | slept
slide: slid | slid
sling: slung | slung
slink: slunk | slunk
slit: slit | slit
smell: smelt/smelled | smelt/smelled
speak: spoke | spoken
speed: sped | sped
spend: spent | spent
spin: spun | spun
spit: spat | spat
split: split | split
spoil: spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled
spread: spread | spread
spring: sprang | sprung
stand: stood | stood
steal: stole | stolen
stick: stuck | stuck
sting: stung | stung
stink: stank | stunk
stride: strode | stridden
strike: struck | struck/stricken
string: strung | strung
swear: swore | sworn
sweep: swept | swept
swim: swam | swum
swing: swung | swung
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
understand: understood | understood
uphold: upheld | upheld
upset: upset | upset
wake: woke | woken
wear: wore | worn
weave: wove | woven
wed: wed/wedded | wed/wedded
weep: wept | wept
wet: wet/wetted | wet/wetted
win: won | won
wind: wound | wound
withdraw: withdrew | withdrawn
withhold: withheld | withheld
withstand: withstood | withstood
wring: wrung | wrung
write: wrote | written
In summary
This resource presents an extensive list of irregular verbs in English, cataloging each verb alongside its simple past and past participle forms, such as “be: was/were | been,” “go: went | gone,” and “write: wrote | written.” Unlike regular verbs that typically add “-ed” for past forms, these verbs follow no uniform pattern, with variations like “drink: drank | drunk” or “lie: lay | lain” showcasing their irregularity. The list includes over 100 verbs, covering common ones like “have,” “see,” and “take,” as well as less frequent ones like “slink” and “wring.” Notes highlight regional preferences (e.g., “burnt” vs. “burned”) and contextual distinctions (e.g., “hang: hung | hung” for objects vs. “hanged | hanged” for people). This compilation is a valuable tool for learners and speakers aiming to navigate the complexities of English verb conjugation accurately.
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