Using Irregular Verbs

Understand the problem.

All verbs, whether regular or irregular, have five forms (often called principal parts). These forms are the infinitive, simple present, simple past, past participle, and present participle.

The difference between regular and irregular verbs is the formation of the simple past and past participle.

Regular verbs are dependably consistent—the simple past ends in ed as does the past participle.

Review this chart:

Infinitive Simple
Present Simple
Past Past
Participle Present
Participle

to laugh laugh(s) laughed laughed laughing

to start start(s) started started starting

to wash wash(es) washed washed washing

to wink wink(s) winked winked winking

In contrast, the simple past and past participle of irregular verbs can end in a variety of ways, with no consistent pattern.

Here are examples:

Infinitive Simple
Present Simple
Past Past
Participle Present
Participle

to drive drive(s) drove driven driving

to feel feel(s) felt felt feeling

to put put(s) put put putting

to swim swim(s) swam swum swimming

With irregular verbs, writers make two frequent errors. They either 1) add an incorrect ed to the end of the past tense or past participle or 2) confuse one form with the other.

Read this sentence:

Olivia feeled like exercising yesterday, so she putted on her bathing suit and drived to the city pool, where she swum so far that only an extra-large pepperoni pizza would satisfy her hunger.

What are the problems with this sentence? First, feeled should be felt. Next, putted needs no ed. The correct past tense of drive is drove. And we must change swum to swam.

Infinitive	Simple Present	Simple Past	Past Participle	Present Participle
to laugh	laugh(s)	laughed	laughed	laughing
to start	start(s)	started	started	starting
to wash	wash(es)	washed	washed	washing
to wink	wink(s)	winked	winked	winking

Infinitive	Simple Present	Simple Past	Past Participle	Present Participle
to drive	drive(s)	drove	driven	driving
to feel	feel(s)	felt	felt	feeling
to put	put(s)	put	put	putting
to swim	swim(s)	swam	swum	swimming

Know the solution.

To avoid making mistakes with irregular verbs, learn the very long chart below. (Or bookmark this page in your web browser for future reference!)

Comprehensive List of Irregular Verbs

Infinitive Simple
Present Simple
Past Past
Participle Present
Participle

to arise arise(s) arose arisen arising

to awake awake(s) awoke or awaked awaked or awoken awaking

to be am, is, are was, were been being

to bear bear(s) bore borne or born bearing

to beat beat(s) beat beaten beating

to become become(s) became become becoming

to begin begin(s) began begun beginning

to bend bend(s) bent bent bending

to bet bet(s) bet bet betting

to bid (to offer) bid(s) bid bid bidding

to bid (to command) bid(s) bade bidden bidding

to bind bind(s) bound bound binding

to bite bite(s) bit bitten or bit biting

to blow blow(s) blew blown blowing

to break break(s) broke broken breaking

to bring bring(s) brought brought bringing

to build build(s) built built building

to burst burst(s) burst or bursted burst or bursted bursting

to buy buy(s) bought bought buying

to cast cast(s) cast cast casting

to catch catch(es) caught caught catching

to choose choose(s) chose chosen choosing

to cling cling(s) clung clung clinging

to come come(s) came come coming

to cost cost(s) cost cost costing

to creep creep(s) crept crept creeping

to cut cut(s) cut cut cutting

to deal deal(s) dealt dealt dealing

to dig dig(s) dug dug digging

to dive dive(s) dived or dove dived diving

to do do(es) did done doing

to draw draw(s) drew drawn drawing

to dream dream(s) dreamed or dreamt dreamed or dreamt dreaming

to drink drink(s) drank drunk or drank drinking

to drive drive(s) drove driven driving

to eat eat(s) ate eaten eating

to fall fall(s) fell fallen falling

to feed feed(s) fed fed feeding

to feel feel(s) felt felt feeling

to fight fight(s) fought fought fighting

to find find(s) found found finding

to flee flee(s) fled fled fleeing

to fling fling(s) flung flung flinging

to fly flies, fly flew flown flying

to forbid forbid(s) forbade or forbad forbidden forbidding

to forget forget(s) forgot forgotten or forgot forgetting

to forgive forgive(s) forgave forgiven forgiving

to forsake forsake(s) forsook forsaken forsaking

to freeze freeze(s) froze frozen freezing

to get get(s) got gotten or got getting

to give give(s) gave given giving

to go go(es) went gone going

to grow grow(s) grew grown growing

to hang (to suspend) hang(s) hung hung hanging

to have has, have had had having

to hear hear(s) heard heard hearing

to hide hide(s) hid hidden or hid hiding

to hit hit(s) hit hit hitting

to hurt hurt(s) hurt hurt hurting

to keep keep(s) kept kept keeping

to know know(s) knew known knowing

to lay lay(s) laid laid laying

to lead lead(s) led led leading

to leap leap(s) leaped or leapt leaped or leapt leaping

to leave leave(s) left left leaving

to lend lend(s) lent lent lending

to let let(s) let let letting

to lie (to rest or recline) lie(s) lay lain lying

to light light(s) lighted or lit lighted or lit lighting

to lose lose(s) lost lost losing

to make make(s) made made making

to mean mean(s) meant meant meaning

to pay pay(s) paid paid paying

to prove prove(s) proved proved or proven proving

to quit quit(s) quit quit quitting

to read read(s) read read reading

to rid rid(s) rid rid ridding

to ride ride(s) rode ridden riding

to ring ring(s) rang rung ringing

to rise rise(s) rose risen rising

to run run(s) ran run running

to say say(s) said said saying

to see see(s) saw seen seeing

to seek seek(s) sought sought seeking

to send send(s) sent sent sending

to set set(s) set set setting

to shake shake(s) shook shaken shaking

to shine (to glow) shine(s) shone shone shining

to shoot shoot(s) shot shot shooting

to show show(s) showed shown or showed showing

to shrink shrink(s) shrank or shrunk shrunk or shrunken shrinking

to sing sing(s) sang or sung sung singing

to sink sink(s) sank or sunk sunk sinking

to sit sit(s) sat sat sitting

to slay slay(s) slew or slayed slain slaying

to sleep sleep(s) slept slept sleeping

to sling sling(s) slung slung slinging

to sneak sneak(s) sneaked or snuck sneaked or snuck sneaking

to speak speak(s) spoke spoken speaking

to spend spend(s) spent spent spending

to spin spin(s) spun spun spinning

to spring spring(s) sprang or sprung sprung springing

to stand stand(s) stood stood standing

to steal steal(s) stole stolen stealing

to stick stick(s) stuck stuck sticking

to sting sting(s) stung stung stinging

to stink stink(s) stank or stunk stunk stinking

to stride stride(s) strode stridden striding

to strike strike(s) struck struck striking

to strive strive(s) strove striven striving

to swear swear(s) swore sworn swearing

to sweep sweep(s) swept swept sweeping

to swim swim(s) swam swum swimming

to swing swing(s) swung swung swinging

to take take(s) took taken taking

to teach teach(es) taught taught teaching

to tear tear(s) tore torn tearing

to tell tell(s) told told telling

to think think(s) thought thought thinking

to throw throw(s) threw thrown throwing

to understand understand(s) understood understood understanding

to wake wake(s) woke or waked waked or woken waking

to wear wear(s) wore worn wearing

to weave weave(s) wove or weaved woven or wove weaving

to weep weep(s) wept wept weeping

to win win(s) won won winning

to wring wring(s) wrung wrung wringing

to write write(s) wrote written writing

Comprehensive List of Irregular Verbs
Infinitive	Simple Present	Simple Past	Past Participle	Present Participle
to arise	arise(s)	arose	arisen	arising
to awake	awake(s)	awoke or awaked	awaked or awoken	awaking
to be	am, is, are	was, were	been	being
to bear	bear(s)	bore	borne or born	bearing
to beat	beat(s)	beat	beaten	beating
to become	become(s)	became	become	becoming
to begin	begin(s)	began	begun	beginning
to bend	bend(s)	bent	bent	bending
to bet	bet(s)	bet	bet	betting
to bid (to offer)	bid(s)	bid	bid	bidding
to bid (to command)	bid(s)	bade	bidden	bidding
to bind	bind(s)	bound	bound	binding
to bite	bite(s)	bit	bitten or bit	biting
to blow	blow(s)	blew	blown	blowing
to break	break(s)	broke	broken	breaking
to bring	bring(s)	brought	brought	bringing
to build	build(s)	built	built	building
to burst	burst(s)	burst or bursted	burst or bursted	bursting
to buy	buy(s)	bought	bought	buying
to cast	cast(s)	cast	cast	casting
to catch	catch(es)	caught	caught	catching
to choose	choose(s)	chose	chosen	choosing
to cling	cling(s)	clung	clung	clinging
to come	come(s)	came	come	coming
to cost	cost(s)	cost	cost	costing
to creep	creep(s)	crept	crept	creeping
to cut	cut(s)	cut	cut	cutting
to deal	deal(s)	dealt	dealt	dealing
to dig	dig(s)	dug	dug	digging
to dive	dive(s)	dived or dove	dived	diving
to do	do(es)	did	done	doing
to draw	draw(s)	drew	drawn	drawing
to dream	dream(s)	dreamed or dreamt	dreamed or dreamt	dreaming
to drink	drink(s)	drank	drunk or drank	drinking
to drive	drive(s)	drove	driven	driving
to eat	eat(s)	ate	eaten	eating
to fall	fall(s)	fell	fallen	falling
to feed	feed(s)	fed	fed	feeding
to feel	feel(s)	felt	felt	feeling
to fight	fight(s)	fought	fought	fighting
to find	find(s)	found	found	finding
to flee	flee(s)	fled	fled	fleeing
to fling	fling(s)	flung	flung	flinging
to fly	flies, fly	flew	flown	flying
to forbid	forbid(s)	forbade or forbad	forbidden	forbidding
to forget	forget(s)	forgot	forgotten or forgot	forgetting
to forgive	forgive(s)	forgave	forgiven	forgiving
to forsake	forsake(s)	forsook	forsaken	forsaking
to freeze	freeze(s)	froze	frozen	freezing
to get	get(s)	got	gotten or got	getting
to give	give(s)	gave	given	giving
to go	go(es)	went	gone	going
to grow	grow(s)	grew	grown	growing
to hang (to suspend)	hang(s)	hung	hung	hanging
to have	has, have	had	had	having
to hear	hear(s)	heard	heard	hearing
to hide	hide(s)	hid	hidden or hid	hiding
to hit	hit(s)	hit	hit	hitting
to hurt	hurt(s)	hurt	hurt	hurting
to keep	keep(s)	kept	kept	keeping
to know	know(s)	knew	known	knowing
to lay	lay(s)	laid	laid	laying
to lead	lead(s)	led	led	leading
to leap	leap(s)	leaped or leapt	leaped or leapt	leaping
to leave	leave(s)	left	left	leaving
to lend	lend(s)	lent	lent	lending
to let	let(s)	let	let	letting
to lie (to rest or recline)	lie(s)	lay	lain	lying
to light	light(s)	lighted or lit	lighted or lit	lighting
to lose	lose(s)	lost	lost	losing
to make	make(s)	made	made	making
to mean	mean(s)	meant	meant	meaning
to pay	pay(s)	paid	paid	paying
to prove	prove(s)	proved	proved or proven	proving
to quit	quit(s)	quit	quit	quitting
to read	read(s)	read	read	reading
to rid	rid(s)	rid	rid	ridding
to ride	ride(s)	rode	ridden	riding
to ring	ring(s)	rang	rung	ringing
to rise	rise(s)	rose	risen	rising
to run	run(s)	ran	run	running
to say	say(s)	said	said	saying
to see	see(s)	saw	seen	seeing
to seek	seek(s)	sought	sought	seeking
to send	send(s)	sent	sent	sending
to set	set(s)	set	set	setting
to shake	shake(s)	shook	shaken	shaking
to shine (to glow)	shine(s)	shone	shone	shining
to shoot	shoot(s)	shot	shot	shooting
to show	show(s)	showed	shown or showed	showing
to shrink	shrink(s)	shrank or shrunk	shrunk or shrunken	shrinking
to sing	sing(s)	sang or sung	sung	singing
to sink	sink(s)	sank or sunk	sunk	sinking
to sit	sit(s)	sat	sat	sitting
to slay	slay(s)	slew or slayed	slain	slaying
to sleep	sleep(s)	slept	slept	sleeping
to sling	sling(s)	slung	slung	slinging
to sneak	sneak(s)	sneaked or snuck	sneaked or snuck	sneaking
to speak	speak(s)	spoke	spoken	speaking
to spend	spend(s)	spent	spent	spending
to spin	spin(s)	spun	spun	spinning
to spring	spring(s)	sprang or sprung	sprung	springing
to stand	stand(s)	stood	stood	standing
to steal	steal(s)	stole	stolen	stealing
to stick	stick(s)	stuck	stuck	sticking
to sting	sting(s)	stung	stung	stinging
to stink	stink(s)	stank or stunk	stunk	stinking
to stride	stride(s)	strode	stridden	striding
to strike	strike(s)	struck	struck	striking
to strive	strive(s)	strove	striven	striving
to swear	swear(s)	swore	sworn	swearing
to sweep	sweep(s)	swept	swept	sweeping
to swim	swim(s)	swam	swum	swimming
to swing	swing(s)	swung	swung	swinging
to take	take(s)	took	taken	taking
to teach	teach(es)	taught	taught	teaching
to tear	tear(s)	tore	torn	tearing
to tell	tell(s)	told	told	telling
to think	think(s)	thought	thought	thinking
to throw	throw(s)	threw	thrown	throwing
to understand	understand(s)	understood	understood	understanding
to wake	wake(s)	woke or waked	waked or woken	waking
to wear	wear(s)	wore	worn	wearing
to weave	weave(s)	wove or weaved	woven or wove	weaving
to weep	weep(s)	wept	wept	weeping
to win	win(s)	won	won	winning
to wring	wring(s)	wrung	wrung	wringing
to write	write(s)	wrote	written	writing

Know the difference between the simple past tense and the past participle.

In addition to learning the chart above, you must also understand the difference between the simple past tense and the past participle.

Simple Past Tense

A simple past tense verb always has just one part. You need no auxiliary verb to form this tense.

Read these examples:

Because dinner time was near, my dog Oreo bit the spine of Moby-Dick and pulled the novel off my lap.

Since Denise had ignored bills for so long, she wrote checks for an hour straight.

Despite the noise, jolts, and jerks, Alex slept so soundly on the city bus that he missed his stop.

Past Participle

The past participle, on the other hand, follows one or more auxiliary verbs.

Read these sentences:

Raymond had bitten into the muffin before Charise mentioned that it was her infamous chocolate-broccoli variety.

Had = auxiliary verb; bitten = past participle.

Once Woody has written his essay for Professor Stover, he plans to reward himself with a hot fudge sundae.

Has = auxiliary verb; written = past participle.

Cynthia might have slept better if she had avoided The Nightmare on Elm Street marathon.

Might, have = auxiliary verbs; slept = past participle.

Where the Confusion Lies

For regular verbs, knowing the distinction between the simple past and past participle is unnecessary because both are identical, reliably ending in ed.

Consider these two sentences:

Diane giggled as her beagle Reliable pushed his cold, wet nose into her stomach, searching for cookie crumbs.

Giggled = simple past.

Until the disapproving Daniela elbowed Latoya in the ribs, the young woman had giggled without stop at the toilet paper streamer attached to Professor Clemens's shoe.

Had = auxiliary verb; giggled = past participle.

When you choose an irregular verb for a sentence, however, the simple past and past participle are often different, so you must know the distinction.

Here are two examples:

Essie drove so cautiously that traffic piled up behind her, causing angry drivers to honk their horns and shout obscenities.

Drove = simple past.

Essie might have drove driven faster if she had remembered her glasses and saw more than big colored blurs through the windshield.

Might, have = auxiliary verbs; driven = past participle.

Past Participles as Adjectives

In addition, past participles function as adjectives, describing other words. When you use a past participle in this manner, you must choose the correct form.

Read these sentences:

The calculus exams gave given by Professor Ribley are so difficult that his students believe their brains will burst.

The leg of the relay race swam swum by Delores put the team ahead.

The solo sang sung by Bianca uplifted everyone’s spirit.

Remember that you can always consult a dictionary when you have a question about the correct form of an irregular verb.

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