Dictionary of irregular verbs. Simple past tense in English. Regular and irregular verbs. past simple. Regular and Irregular verbs

Everyone who has ever sat down at an English textbook knows about such a phenomenon as a list of irregular English verbs. What is this list? It contains verbs that deviate from the standard rules for the formation of past tenses and participles. It is believed that about seventy percent of irregular verbs (the English name of the term) is used in daily speech.

From this we can conclude that knowing the list of irregular verbs in English is simply necessary if you want to speak and understand the interlocutor fluently.

The total number of irregular verbs is about 470 words. Is it possible to learn such a volume? Of course, this is quite real. However, in order for you to feel confident when speaking in English, you only need to know 180 verbs.

Before turning directly to the list itself, we will give some tips on how to achieve the desired knowledge as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Mechanical learning

The technique of mechanical memorization of information is one of the most common techniques. But how effective is it?

When memorizing, we often notice that a large number of words are quickly forgotten, and some even flatly refuse to settle in our long-term memory. In order for this technique to show itself only from the best side, it is necessary to use the learned verbs in practice as often as possible. By the way, listening to them in a movie, program or just a song helps a lot.

Be sure to have a list of irregular English verbs with translation

To begin with, you will have to become familiar with the meaning of each new word. Usually all irregular verbs tables include a translation column, so you don't have to worry about many hours of self-study with a dictionary. After the correct associations with the native language fit in the head, you can safely move on to the formed forms.

Irregular Verbs in Poems

Don't worry - you're not the only student trying to master the full list of English irregular verbs, and your hardships have someone to share. And some craftsmen even try to somehow help.

On the Internet, you can easily find all kinds of poems created specifically for such purposes. They contain a number of the most common verbs, skillfully built into the overall rhyme and tone of the work. And there are also many funny associations, so remembering the necessary information will be even easier.

using irregular verbs

Games can be played not only by children, but also by adults. And if it comes to learning a foreign language, then games are one of the most effective ways of memorizing. You can also find ready-made options on the Internet. Usually these are flash cards, various animations or mini-games, accompanied by sound examples. If you don’t really want to play on a computer, then you can easily do something with your own hands, for example, the same cards. If you have an English learning partner, then an analogue of a word game or the creation of dialogues consisting of irregular verbs would be appropriate.

Meet Irregular Verbs

Having told a little about the methods of memorization, we move on to the most important thing. So, we present you a list of irregular English verbs with translation.

Alphabetical verbs (a, b, c, d)

Verbs starting with a:

abide - abode - abided - stay, hold on;

arise - arose - arisen - rise, arise;

awake-awoke-awaked; awoke - wake up, wake up.

For the letter b:

backbite - backbitten - backbitten - slander;

backslide - backslid - backslid - fall off;

be - was (were) - been - to be, to be;

bear - bore - born - carry, be born;

beat - beat - beaten - beat;

become - became - become - become, become;

befall - befell - befallen - happen;

beget - begot (begat) - begotten - generate;

begin - began - begun - begin;

begird - begirt - begirt - encircle;

behold - beheld - beheld - to mature;

bend - bent - bent - bend (sya);

bereave - bereft (bereaved) - bereft (bereaved) - deprive;

beseech - besought (beseeched) - b-esought (beseeched) - beg, beg;

beset - beset - beset - besiege;

bespeak - bespoke - bespoken - order;

bespit - bespat - bespat - spit;

bestride - bestrode - bestridden - sit down, sit on horseback;

bet - bet (betted) - bet (betted) - bet;

betake - betook - betaken - to be accepted, sent;

bid - bad (bade) - bid (bidden) - command, ask;

bind - bound - bound - bind;

bite - bit - bit (bitten) - bite;

bleed - bled - bled - bleed;

bless - blessed - blessed (blest) - bless;

blow - blew - blown (blowed) - blow;

break - broke - broken - (c) break;

breed - bred - bred - grow;

bring - brought - brought - bring;

broadcast - broadcast - broadcast - distribute, scatter;

browbeat - browbeat - browbeaten - scare;

build - built - built - build;

burn - burnt (burned) - burnt (burned) - burn, burn;

burst - burst - burst - burst, explode;

bust - bust (busted) - bust (busted) - split (someone);

buy - bought - bought - buy.

Verbs starting with:

can - could - could - be able, be able;

catch - caught - caught - catch, catch;

choose - chose - chosen - choose;

cleave - clove (cleft, cleaved) - cloven (cleft, cleaved) - dissect;

cling - clung - clung - cling to, cling to;

come - came - come - come;

cost - cost - cost - cost;

creep - crept - crept - crawl;

cut - cut - cut - cut.

Verbs starting with d:

dare - durst (dared) - dared - dare;

deal - dealt - dealt - deal;

dig - dug - dug - dig;

dive - dived (dove) - dived - dive, dive;

do - did - done - do;

draw - drew - drawn - draw, drag;

dream - dream (dreamed) - dream (dreamed) - sleep, dream;

drink - drank - drunk - drink,

drive - drove - driven - drive, drive;

dwell - dwelt - dwelt - dwell, linger.

Alphabet continuation (e, g, f, h)

Verbs starting with e:

eat - ate - eaten - eat, eat.

Verbs starting with f:

fall - fell - fallen - fall;

feed - fed - fed - feed;

feel - felt - felt - feel;

fight - fought - fought - fight;

find - found - found - find;

flee - fled - fled - run away, escape;

floodlight - floodlighted (floodlit) - floodlighted (floodlit) - shine with a spotlight;

fly - flew - flown - fly;

forbear - forbore - forborne - refrain;

forbid - forbad (forbade) - forbidden - to forbid;

forecast - forecast (forecasted) - forecast (forecasted) - predict;

foresee - foresaw - foreseen - to foresee;

forget - forgot - forgotten - forget;

forgive - forgave - forgiven - forgive;

forsake - forsook - forsaken - leave;

forswear - forswore - forsworn - renounce;

freeze - froze - frozen - freeze, freeze.

Verbs starting with g:

gainsay - gainsaid - gainsaid - deny, contradict;

get - got - got - get;

gird - girded (girt) - girded (girt) - encircle;

give - gave - given - give;

go - went - gone - go, leave;

grave - graved - graved (graven) - engrave;

grind - ground - ground - sharpen, grind;

grow - grew - grown - grow.

Verbs starting with h:

hang - hung (hanged) - hung (hanged) - hang;

have - had - had - to have;

hear - heard - heard - hear;

hew - hewed - hewed; hewn - chop, hew;

hide - hid - hidden - hide (sya);

hit - hit - hit - hit, hit;

hold - held - held - hold;

hurt - hurt - hurt - deliver pain, offend.

Second part of the alphabet

Verbs starting with i:

inlay - inlaid - inlaid - invest, line;

input - input (inputted) - input (inputted) - enter;

inset - inset - inset - insert, invest;

interweave - interwove - interwoven - weave, cover with a pattern.

Verbs starting with k:

keep - kept - kept - store;

ken - kenned (kent) - kenned - know, recognize by sight;

kneel - knelt (kneeled) - knelt (kneeled) - kneel;

knit - knit (knitted) - knit (knitted) - knit;

know - knew - known - to know.

Verbs starting with l:

lade - laded - laded (laden) - load;

lay - laid - laid - put, put;

lead - led - led - lead;

lean - lean (leaned) - leant (leaned) - lean, lean;

leap - leapt (leaped) - leapt (leaped) - jump;

learn - learned (learned) - learned (learned) - to teach;

leave - left - left - throw;

lend - lent - lent - lend;

let - let - let - let go, give;

lie - lay - lain - lie;

light - lit (lighted) - lit (lighted) - illuminate;

lose - lost - lost - lose.

m verbs:

make - made - made - create;

may - might - might - be able, be able;

mean - meant - meant - have a meaning;

meet - met - met - meet;

miscast - miscast - miscast - it is wrong to distribute roles;

mishear - misheard - misheard - misheard;

mishit - mishit - mishit - to miss;

mislay - mislaid - mislaid - put in another place;

mislead - misled - misled - confuse;

misread - misread - misread - misinterpret;

misspell - misspelt (misspeled) - misspelt (misspeled) - write with errors;

misspend - misspent - misspent - save;

misunderstand - misunderstood - misunderstood - misunderstand;

mow - mowed - mown (mowed) - cut (lawn).

Verbs starting with r:

rid - rid (ridded) - rid (ridded) - get rid of;

ride - rode - ridden - ride;

ring - rang - rung - call;

rise - rose - risen - rise;

run - ran - run - run, flow.

Verbs starting with s:

saw - sawed - sawn (sawed) - to saw;

say - said - said - to speak, to say;

see - saw - seen - see;

seek - sought - sought - to search;

sell - sold - sold - trade;

send - sent - sent - send;

set - set - set - install;

shake - shook - shaken - shake;

shave - shaved - shaved (shaven) - shave (Xia);

shed - shed - shed - shed;

shine - shone (shined) - shone (shined) - shine, shine;

shoot - shot - shot - shoot, shoot;

show - showed - shown (showed) - show;

shut - shut - shut - slam;

sing - sang - sung - sing;

sink - sank - sunk - sink, sink, sink;

sit - sat - sat - sit;

sleep - slept - slept - sleep;

slide - slide - slide - slide;

slit - slit - slit - tear, cut;

smell - smelt (smelled) - smelt (smelled) - smell, smell;

speak - spoken - spoken - conduct a conversation;

speed - sped (speeded) - sped (speeded) - accelerate, hurry;

spell - spelt (spelled) - spell (spelled) - write or read, pronouncing each letter;

spend - spent - spent - spend;

spill - spilt (spilled) - spilt (spilled) - spill;

spin - spun (span) - spun - spin;

spit - spat (spit) - spat (spit) - spit;

split - split - split - split (sya);

spoil - spoilt (spoiled) - spoilt (spoiled) - spoil;

spotlight - spotlit (spotlighted) - spotlit (spotlighted) - illuminate;

spread - spread - spread - spread;

stand - stood - stood - stand;

steal - stole - stolen - steal;

stick - stuck - stuck - prick, glue;

sting - stung - stung - sting;

stink-stank; stunk - stunk - smell unpleasant;

strike - struck - struck - to beat, beat, strike;

swear - swore - sworn - swear, take an oath;

swell - swelled - swollen (swelled) - swell;

swim - swam - swum - swim;

swing - swung - swung - swing.

Verbs starting with t:

take - took - taken - take, take;

teach - taught - taught - learn;

tear - tore - torn - break;

tell - told - told - tell, say;

think - thought - thought - think;

throw - threw - thrown - throw.

Verbs starting with w:

wake - woke (waked) - woken (waked) - wake up, wake up;

wear - wore - worn - wear (clothes);

weave - wove (weaved) - woven (weaved) - weave;

wed - wed (wedded) - wed (wedded) - to marry;

weep - wept - wept - cry;

wet - wet (wetted) - wet (wetted) - wet, moisturize;

win - won - won - win;

wind - wound - wound - start (mechanism);

write - wrote - written - write.

We hope that after reading the article, English has become a little clearer for you.

Verbs( verbs) are central to any English sentence. Therefore, it is so important to pay special attention to this part of speech. All verbs in English can be divided into 2 groups: regular and irregular. The forms of regular and irregular verbs are used to form the past tense (Past Simple) and participle II (Participle II). What is the difference between regular and irregular English verbs?

Regular verbs in English: regular verbs
Regular verbs in English ( regular verbs) - verbs in which the past tense form is formed by adding the ending -ed to the stem. For example:

  • Look (watch) - looked (looked).
  • Paint (draw) - painted (painted).
  • Call (call) - called (called).
To properly add the ending -ed to a verb, there are a few rules to keep in mind.
  1. If the verb ends with an unpronounceable -e, then we add only the letter -d:
    • Improve (improve) - improved (improved).
    • Like (like) - liked (liked).
  2. The ending -ed is pronounced like /t/ if the verb ends in a hissing or voiceless consonant:< >Stop (stop) - stopped (stopped). Polish (polish) - polished (polished). The ending -ed is pronounced as / d / if the verb ends in a vowel or voiced consonant:
    • Study (study) - studied (studied).
    • Travel (travel) - travelled (travelled).
  3. The ending -ed is pronounced like /id/ if the verb ends in -t or -d:
    • Report (report) - reported (reported).
    • Pretend (pretend) - pretended (pretended).
Regular English verbs do not cause difficulties, since the rules for their formation are very simple.

Irregular verbs in English: irregular webs
Irregular verbs in English (irregular verbs) differ in that they do not form the past tense according to the rule. Such verbs must be memorized.

The table of irregular verbs in English is like the multiplication table in mathematics. The foundation of the foundations! Do you want to speak the language fluently? Learn English verbs by heart.

How many irregular verbs does a modern person need to know?
In total, there are about 470 irregular verbs in English, but don't be alarmed, most of them are outdated and are not used in our time.

Beginners just need to learn 50 irregular verbs.

Those who want to approach the level of the average English speaker will have to learn about 200 irregular verbs.

Top 50 Irregular Verbs

The frequency of these 50 verbs in English speech is 87%

Top 200 Irregular Verbs


For those who want to get closer to the level of the native speaker - the 200 most popular irregular English verbs.










To study, you can use:
List of irregular verbs with pronunciation: http://www.irregularverbs.ru/table/
Another good way to learn irregular verbs with the help of rhyming verses.

And finally, a little humor. This video has long become super-popular, and its author, MC Fluency, is a celebrity widely known in circles of English lovers. Enjoy watching.

The correct and irregular form of the verb in English is a phenomenon unusual for native Russian speakers. It is important to learn to determine which group a particular word that describes an action belongs to.

Characteristics of regular verbs

English has a complex system of 16 grammatical tenses. In the process of the formation of the language, a complex system of conjugations with many endings gradually disappeared, as a result of which most verbs became regular. This feature of them is observed in the way the Simple Past Tense, Past Simple, and the Past Participle, Past Participle are formed.

The last form is used in various constructions from Present Perfect (Real Complete), Passive Voice (Passion voice) to type 3 conditional sentences.

Regular verbs add -ed to form Past Simple and Past Participle: look-looked (look), paint-painted (draw, paint).

The spelling of the ending obeys the rule:

  • -e at the end of the base is removed: change-changed (change), love-loved (love), improve-improved (improve);
  • the final consonant is doubled if there is a short stressed vowel in front of it: prefer-preferred (prefer), drop-dropped (drop);
  • -y at the end is replaced by -i when it comes after a consonant: carry-carried (transfer), marry-married (marry), worry-worried (worry).

Added to these features is the -ed pronunciation, which also causes many problems. This ending conveys three sounds:

  • /t/- for verbs ending in voiceless consonants: stop-stopped, look-looked, reach-reached;
  • /d/- when there is a voiced consonant or vowel at the end of the stem: cry-cried (shout, cry), open-opened (open);
  • /id/- for verbs with -t or -d: spot-spotted (notice), decide-decided (decide).

There are more regular verbs in English than exceptions. The only difficulty is learning the rules for adding and reading -ed.

Characteristics of irregular verbs

Unlike the words that form Past Simple and Past Participle according to the rule, these verbs, in the process of forming modern English, have retained some features of ancient word forms. For this reason, about 470 representatives of this part of speech do not add -ed, but change the stem itself. Such transformations include:

  • root vowel alternation: drink-drank-drunk (to drink), swim-swam-swum (to swim);
  • changing the root vowel and adding an ending: give-gave-given (to give);
  • syllable contraction: meet-met-met (meet), choose-chose-chosen (choose);
  • base transformation: buy-bought-bought (buy), catch-caught-caught (catch);
  • no change: cost-cost-cost (cost), cut-cut-cut (cut).

There are no recommendations on how to distinguish regular verbs from irregular English verbs in the initial form. To help students, many pivot tables have been created that need to be learned. For an elementary level of English, it is enough to know the 50 most common irregular verbs.

What have we learned?

Regular and irregular verbs in English differ in the way they form the Past Simple and the Past Participle. The second group of words must be learned in order to successfully master English.

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English is the language of exceptions, where when studying a new grammatical rule, students are faced with a dozen buts in which this rule does not work. One of these rules is the use of irregular verbs in the past tense. For many English learners, this topic is a nightmare. But without them it is impossible, because these are the realities of English! However, there is good news - modern English is gradually getting rid of irregular verbs, replacing them with regular ones. Why and how - we will consider in the article.

Why are English verbs irregular?

The difficulty in using irregular verbs is experienced not only by foreigners, but also by the speakers themselves. Nevertheless, for English philologists, the non-standard nature of this part of speech is not a drawback, but a reason for pride. They believe that irregular verbs are a cultural monument that perpetuates the history of the English language. The explanation for this fact is the Germanic roots of the origin of irregular verbs, which makes British English a traditional variant of the language. For comparison, the Americans are trying with might and main to get rid of the wrong form, converting it into the correct one. Therefore, the list of non-standard verbs increases for those who learn both variants of the language. Thus, the incorrect version is ancient, which is reflected in prose and poetry.

How many forms does a verb have in English?

Speaking about verbs in English, it should be noted that they have 3 forms:

  • infinitive, aka ;
  • I, or Participle I, - this form is used in the simple past tense (Past Simple) and the 2nd and 3rd cases of the conditional mood (Conditional of the 2-d and of the 3-d case);
  • Past Participle II, or Participle II, for Past Perfect, Passive Voice and Conditional of the 3-d case.

The table "Three in English" is presented later in the article.

What are regular and irregular verbs? Education rules

Regular verbs are those in which the past form (Past Simple) and the form Participle II (Participle II) are formed by adding the ending -ed to the initial form. The table "Three forms of the verb in English. Regular verbs" will help you better understand this rule.

When forming the forms Participle I and Participle II, there are some features:

  • if the verb ends with the letter -e, then adding -ed does not double it;
  • the consonant in monosyllabic verbs is duplicated when added. Example: stop - stopped (stop - stopped);
  • if the verb ends in -y followed by a consonant, then y is changed to i before adding -ed.

Irregular verbs are those that do not obey the general rule when forming temporary forms. In English, these include the simple past tense verb forms (Past Simple) and Participle II (Participle II).

Irregular verbs are formed with:

    ablaut, in which the root is changed. Example: swim - swam - swum (swim - swam - swam);

    the use of suffixes that are different from those accepted in the grammar of the language. Example: do - did - done (do - did - did);

    the same or unchanged form. Example: cut - cut - cut (cut - cut - cut).

Due to the fact that each irregular verb has its own form of change, they should be learned by heart.

In total, there are 218 irregular verbs in English, of which approximately 195 are in active use.

Recent studies in the field of language show that rare verbs are gradually disappearing from the language due to the replacement of the 2nd and 3rd forms with regular verb forms, that is, the addition of the ending - ed. This fact is confirmed by the table "Three forms of the verb in English" - the table represents a number of verbs that have both regular and irregular forms.

table of irregular verbs

The table "Three forms of irregular verbs in English" includes the most commonly used verbs. The table shows 3 forms and a translation.

Irregular verbs came into modern English from Old English, which was spoken by the Angles and Saxons - British tribes.

Irregular verbs originated from the so-called strong verbs, each of which had its own type of conjugation.

Harvard researchers found that most of the verbs used are irregular, and they will remain so, as they are used more often than others.

In the history of the English language there is such a phenomenon when the correct verb became irregular. For example, sneak, which has 2 forms - sneaked and snuck.

Not only English learners have problems with verbs, but also native speakers, as even they get into awkward situations when it comes to this difficult part of speech.

One of them is Jennifer Garner, who has been sure all her life that the verb sneak is correct.

She was corrected by the host of one of the programs in which the actress took part. Dictionary in hand, he pointed out to Jennifer her mistake.

Therefore, do not be upset if you make mistakes when using irregular verbs. The main thing is that they do not become systematic.

Regular verbs

The table "Three forms of regular verbs in English with transcription and translation" is compiled on the basis of the most commonly used verbs.

Past Participle I and II

ask

to answer

allow

agree

borrow, borrow

copy, rewrite

Cook

close

carry, drag

call, call

discuss

decide, decide

explain

explain

slide

cry, scream

finish, finish, end

shine

rub

grab

to help

happen, happen

to manage

look

like

move, move

to manage

be necessary, need

open

recall

suggest

sajgest

study, learn

stop, stop

start off

travel

talk

transfer

transitlate

try, try

use

worry

walk, walk

look

work

Examples of the use of 3 forms of verbs with translation

Above we looked at 3 forms of verbs in English. A table with examples of usage and translation will help reinforce the topic.

Here, for each grammatical construction, two examples are given - one with regular, the other with irregular verbs.

Grammar

design

Example in EnglishTranslation
past simple
  1. Peter worked yesterday.
  2. She felt bad last week.
  1. Peter worked yesterday.
  2. She didn't feel well last week.
Present perfect tense
  1. James has already helped me.
  2. Have you ever been to Thailand?
  1. James has already helped me.
  2. Have you ever been to Thailand?
Past Perfect Tense
  1. I understood that I had used my last ticket.
  2. Helen noticed that she had forgotten her documents at home.
  1. I realized that I had used the last ticket.
  2. She realized that she forgot the documents at home.
Passive Voice
  1. Amy was taken to the zoo last Sunday.
  2. A baby is sung a lullaby every night.
  1. Amy was taken to the zoo last Sunday.
  2. The baby is sung a lullaby every night.
Conditional
  1. If I had money, I would buy a car.
  2. If she could help us, she would have done it.
  1. If I had money, I would buy a car.
  2. If she could help us, she would.

Exercises

For better memorization of irregular verbs, you need not only to learn them by heart and repeat, but also to perform various exercises.

Exercise 1. Before you is a table "Three forms of the verb in English. Irregular verbs." Fill in one of the three missing forms.

Exercise 2. Before you is a table "Three forms of the verb in English. Regular verbs." Insert forms Participle I and II.

Exercise 3. Using the tables, translate the following sentences into English.

  1. I was reading a book.
  2. We saw them yesterday.
  3. The Smiths lived in London until 2000. Then they moved to Manchester.
  4. Alice was a university student in 2014.
  5. They worked for the same company two years ago.
  6. He just finished training.
  7. When we were children, my mother often took us to this park.
  8. I drove a toy car as a child.

Answers to the exercises

Exercise 1.

Exercise 2.

asked, borrowed, closed, decided, explained, helped, started, travelled, used, worked.

Exercise 3

  1. I read a book.
  2. We saw them yesterday.
  3. The Smiths lived in London till 2000. Then they moved to Manchester.
  4. Alice was a student of Univercity in 2014.
  5. They worked in the same company two years ago.
  6. He has just finished training.
  7. When we were children we were taken for a walk to this park.
  8. I drove a toy car in my childhood.

Get in the habit of periodically repeating the basic forms of the English verb. A table with irregular verbs, exercises and periodic repetition will help you quickly cope with the difficulties of the English language.