If it is, add both the simple past and the past participle forms to your vocabulary list for the week.

When you learn a new verb, check the list to see if it is irregular.

The list for type 4 is the longest but can be broken down into smaller groups, as shown. The lists for type 1 and 2 are the shortest, so it may be easier to start with those.

Memorize verbs according to the type above.

Strategies for learning irregular verbs.

Some verbs of this type can be grouped together based on similarity:.

Be, begin, break, choose, do, drink, eat, fall, give, go, know, ring, rise, see, sing, swim, speak, take, wear.

Verbs that have a different base form, simple past and past participle: For example:.

Consult an irregular verbs list in a grammar book to find more verbs of this type.

Bring, build, buy, catch, feel, find, have, keep, lose, make, meet, read, say, sell, send, sit, teach, win.

Verbs that have the same form in the simple past and past participle.

Verbs that have the same base form and past participle (but a different simple past form).

Read in the simple past and past participle is pronounced like the color red.

Note: The spelling of read is the same in the base form, simple past and part participle, but the pronunciation is different.

Cost, cut, fit, hit, hurt, let, put, quit, set, shut, spread.

Verbs that have the same base form, simple past and past participle.

Most grammar books list around 100 common irregular verbs.Īlthough irregular verbs do not follow a pattern, they can be grouped into several types in order to help you to learn them: Many sources count around 200 irregular verbs in English, but not all of those are commonly used. They do not take the –ed ending in the simple past and past participle forms, and their irregular forms need to be memorized. Some of the most common English verbs are irregular.

I wore these shoes in the rain, and now they are ruined.

A group of tired students left the classroom.

This can only happen if the past participle describes a state (tired) and not an action (jumped). Some past participles can be used as adjectives (tired, frustrated, ruined, closed).

The Statue of Liberty can be seen from New Jersey.

Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare.

This bike was given to me by my parents.

The structure of the passive is be + past participle. Past participles are also used in the passive voice.

Past perfect: I had never lived in another country before moving to Spain.Present perfect: I have worked for this company since 2010.Past participles are used in the perfect tenses, such as the present perfect and the past perfect: If a regular verb ends in –y (*but not –ey), change the –y to –i. Regular verbs follow the same pattern in the simple past and the past participle forms.

Irregular verbs english present tense