Irregular Verbs - Definition, Uses, Examples

Irregular Verbs

In English grammar, verbs are the most important part of a sentence because they show action, state, or occurrence. Some verbs follow regular patterns when changing tenses, while others do not. These are known as irregular verbs. Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the standard “-ed” pattern when forming their past tense or past participle. 

Unlike regular verbs, which follow predictable rules, irregular verbs change forms in unique and sometimes unpredictable ways. Understanding these verbs is important for improving English grammar, speaking, and writing skills.

Read More: Modal Verbs

What is an Irregular Verbs?

An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the normal rule of adding “-ed” to form its past tense or past participle. Instead, these verbs change their form completely or remain the same. For example, go → went → gone and cut → cut → cut.

Irregular verbs are common in everyday English and are important for speaking and writing correctly. They help express actions in different tenses and are used frequently in both written and spoken communication.

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Irregular Verbs Rules

Irregular verbs do not follow one single pattern. However, there are some general irregular verbs rules that can help learners recognize patterns and remember them more easily.

Rule 1: Vowel Changes

Some verbs change the vowel inside the word to form the past and past participle. Example:

• Sing → Sang → Sung

• Drink → Drank → Drunk

• Begin → Began → Begun

Rule 2: No Change

Some verbs remain the same in all three forms. Example:

• Cut → Cut → Cut

• Put → Put → Put

• Hit → Hit → Hit

Rule 3: Consonant Changes

Some verbs change consonants in their past and past participle forms. Example:

• Build → Built → Built

• Send → Sent → Sent

• Lend → Lent → Lent

Rule 4: Mixed Forms

Some verbs have two acceptable forms, meaning both versions are correct. Example:

• Dream → Dreamed/Dreamt → Dreamed/Dreamt

• Burn → Burned/Burnt → Burned/Burnt

• Learn → Learned/Learnt → Learned/Learnt

Rule 5: Completely Irregular

A few verbs change form entirely with no visible pattern. Example:

• Go → Went → Gone

• Be → Was/Were → Been

• Do → Did → Done

Learning these patterns helps you identify common irregular verbs faster and use them correctly in writing and speaking.

Read More: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

List of Common Irregular Verbs

Below is a list of common irregular verbs that are most often used in everyday English communication:

These common irregular verbs are used in daily conversations, essays, and exams, so learning them helps students gain confidence in both speaking and writing English.

Read More: Phrasal Verbs

Irregular Verbs Examples

To better understand how irregular verbs are used in sentences, following are some irregular verbs examples:

1. She went to the park yesterday. (go → went → gone)

2. He has eaten his breakfast already. (eat → ate → eaten)

3. They saw a rainbow after the rain. (see → saw → seen)

4. I bought a new book last week. (buy → bought → bought)

5. She has written three stories this month. (write → wrote → written)

6. He spoke clearly during the presentation. (speak → spoke → spoken)

7. We drank juice at the picnic. (drink → drank → drunk)

8. The glass broke into pieces. (break → broke → broken)

9. She cut the paper neatly. (cut → cut → cut)

10. They built a new house last year. (build → built → built)

These sentences show how irregular verbs change their form depending on the tense used.

Read More: Auxiliary Verbs

Difference Between Regular and Irregular Verbs

The difference between regular and irregular verbs is based on how they form their past tense and past participle.

How to Learn Irregular Verbs Easily

Learning irregular verbs can seem difficult, but here are a few tips to make it easier:

• Group similar verbs together: For example, sing–sang–sung, drink–drank–drunk, ring–rang–rung.

• Use flashcards: Write the base form on one side and the past/past participle on the other.

• Practice through sentences: Make simple sentences to remember each form.

• Read and listen regularly: Exposure to books, songs, and conversations helps you see how verbs are used.

• Revise regularly: Small, daily practice builds memory faster than memorizing all at once.

Also Read: Gerunds

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