Irregular verbs in English
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This chapter is about the irregular verbs in English. The English irregular verbs all have their own form in the past tense and their past participle is formed differently.
Irregular verbs in English do not follow the same rules for the conjugation as the regular verbs. Each irregular verb has its own form in the past simple and past participle.
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The irregular verbs are conjugated the same as the regular verbs.
Only the 3rd person singular changes from the basic form of a regular verb in the present simple tense. The table below shows you these rules.
Rules for 3rd person singular | Example |
---|---|
Most regular verbs just add '-s' to the root of the verb for the 3rd person singular. |
|
Verbs that end with a vowel other than 'e' get a '-es'. |
|
Verbs that end with '-s', '-ch', '-sh', '-x', and '-z' get a '-es'. |
|
Verbs that end in consonant and '-y' changes to 'ies'. |
|
Verbs that end in vowel and '-y' gets '-s'. |
|
Note that the examples contain regular and irregular verbs.
The verbs 'to have' and 'to be' both have a different conjugation in the present tense.
As mentioned above, the past simple and past participle of the irregular verbs differ per verb.
Take a look at the list of irregular verbs to learn the past simple and past perfect per verb.
Do the exercises below to practice the different tenses of English irregular verbs.
Fill in the correct form of the English irregular verbs.
Remember:
To eat: eat - ate -
To drink: drink - - drunk
To freeze: freeze - froze -
To give: give - gave -
To go: go - - gone
To hurt: hurt - - hurt
To know: know - knew -
To leave: leave - left -
To pay: pay - - paid
To steal: steal - stole -
Fill in the correct form of the English irregular verbs.
The building of the houses has not . (to begin)
I my phone all the time. (to forget)
Her bike yesterday when she was cycling home. (to break)
She to Paris today. (to fly)
The boy a fish in the river. (to catch)
They had to their parents when they hit traffic. (to drive)
We that the class was cancelled. (to hear)
You to the wrong side of the city yesterday. (to run)
He his laptop when he finds a new one. (to sell)
The teacher has the children many things this year. (to teach)
Complete the sentences with the English irregular verbs.
Example:
Yesterday he his friends at the beach. (to see)
I have many essays for this course. (to write)
We accidentally the window while playing football. (to break)
Last week they a house in America. (to buy)
I had already before I went to the party. (to eat)
The girl an earring in the pool on Sunday. (to find)
They a bike in the city yesterday. (to steal)
You you were not going to tell anybody. (to swear)
Her hair has a lot since the last time I saw her. (to grow)
We the doorbell, but nobody answered. (to ring)
Fill in the correct form of the English irregular verbs.
Remember:
To eat: eat - ate -
To drink: drink - - drunk
To freeze: freeze - froze -
To give: give - gave -
To go: go - - gone
To hurt: hurt - - hurt
To know: know - knew -
To leave: leave - left -
To pay: pay - - paid
To steal: steal - stole -
Fill in the correct form of the English irregular verbs.
The building of the houses has not . (to begin)
I my phone all the time. (to forget)
Her bike yesterday when she was cycling home. (to break)
She to Paris today. (to fly)
The boy a fish in the river. (to catch)
They had to their parents when they hit traffic. (to drive)
We that the class was cancelled. (to hear)
You to the wrong side of the city yesterday. (to run)
He his laptop when he finds a new one. (to sell)
The teacher has the children many things this year. (to teach)
Complete the sentences with the English irregular verbs.
Example:
Yesterday he his friends at the beach. (to see)
I have many essays for this course. (to write)
We accidentally the window while playing football. (to break)
Last week they a house in America. (to buy)
I had already before I went to the party. (to eat)
The girl an earring in the pool on Sunday. (to find)
They a bike in the city yesterday. (to steal)
You you were not going to tell anybody. (to swear)
Her hair has a lot since the last time I saw her. (to grow)
We the doorbell, but nobody answered. (to ring)
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Hi! I've been teaching English in Spain for the last 3 years and have lots of experience with Cambridge official exams (Pre A1- C1), conversation classes, help with General English and CLIL.
My teaching style is student-centered and tailored to your needs and goals. There's always plenty of talking time to practice any new grammar and vocabulary to focus on fluency and accuracy, as well as building confidence to naturally practice your new skills in conversation. The courses I create always revise previous learning points and integrate them with new material so that you don't just learn something once and never see it again.
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I find that Beth was so easy to talk. I m always nervous when I speak English but talking to Beth I am not nervous because she has this power to let me just speak. She won’t rush to finish even the time is almost up. Is good. Hoping to take her class more and more. Her accent is easy to hear too!
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*I graduted from Marmara University (Top university in Turkey for Turkish language and literature teaching).
*I'm native Turkish language teacher.
*I worked at international colleges, language courses and online teaching platforms since 2005.
**I'm writing doctorate thesis about teaching Turkish to foreigners.
*I wrote many Turkish language course books and story books for foreigners.
*I use many effecting teaching methods in my lesson.
*I can understand your needs and create lessons.
*I had more than 2500 foreign students (65+ nationalities) before.
*You can learn all language skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening), grammar and vocabulary.
*Personalized lesson for your needs.
*Sending lesson note end of each lesson (Word or pdf)
*Special videos, presentations, activities, overwievs for all topics
*Sending free materials (Books, exercises, videos, lesson notes)
*Writing online level exam
*Having certificate end of the course (optional)
*Speak and write fluently in a short time. You understand well what you read and listen.
*Homework after each lesson
*I can create the course content according to your request.
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Murat has over 15 years of teaching experience. He has a variety of learning materials. He has written several learning books and video's to go along with it. Furthermore, he is well-prepared and patient.
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I am a BA in Education graduate, with vast experience in primary, secondary and higher education levels, as well as in other activities related to education. I believe I have a diverse background which makes me a very adaptable teacher and with a lot to offer.
Most of my experience is in high school ,in adult education and university students. I have been able to develop a good relationship with my students, which has translated to better communication and an altogether more rounded experience for them and myself. My lesson planning has always aimed to reflect my students’ needs and interest applied into useful communicative language structures that they can actually use in their lives.
In my last years as a teacher, I have focused on preparing test-takers for the TOEFL. It has been a completely different experience from what I have had before, but I have helped my students accomplish the desired scores in the proposed time.
I believe in making the learning of a new language something exciting and not frightening at all, but challenging and gratifying instead. My material is dynamic and keeps my students engaged and continuesly developing their communiation skills.
I am flexible with my students' time and shcedule; naturally, it is open for deliberation if needed. I look forward to helping you get to the desired goals you set foryourself!
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Daniel is great!He was very kind in every lesson, and patient in explaining things to me that I did not understand. very easy to understand !! I definitely want to continue taking classes with him!
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English teacher with 13 years teaching experience in Italy. Speaks English and Italian.
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I am an English teacher from Liverpool in England. I have been teaching around the world in countries that include Indonesia, Malaysia, Belgium, Taiwan and Spain.
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Hi! I've been teaching English in Spain for the last 3 years and have lots of experience with Cambridge official exams (Pre A1- C1), conversation classes, help with General English and CLIL.
My teaching style is student-centered and tailored to your needs and goals. There's always plenty of talking time to practice any new grammar and vocabulary to focus on fluency and accuracy, as well as building confidence to naturally practice your new skills in conversation. The courses I create always revise previous learning points and integrate them with new material so that you don't just learn something once and never see it again.
I teach with a range of realia, textbook resources and online materials that have proven effective and engaging with my students in the past, but everything I use is adapted specifically for your areas of weakness and learning styles!
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I find that Beth was so easy to talk. I m always nervous when I speak English but talking to Beth I am not nervous because she has this power to let me just speak. She won’t rush to finish even the time is almost up. Is good. Hoping to take her class more and more. Her accent is easy to hear too!
Beth B.
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Thank you Achilles! I had a great time teaching you in your first class and it was great to see you already making so much progress and gaining confidence! I'm looking forward to seeing you in your next class!
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*I graduted from Marmara University (Top university in Turkey for Turkish language and literature teaching).
*I'm native Turkish language teacher.
*I worked at international colleges, language courses and online teaching platforms since 2005.
**I'm writing doctorate thesis about teaching Turkish to foreigners.
*I wrote many Turkish language course books and story books for foreigners.
*I use many effecting teaching methods in my lesson.
*I can understand your needs and create lessons.
*I had more than 2500 foreign students (65+ nationalities) before.
*You can learn all language skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening), grammar and vocabulary.
*Personalized lesson for your needs.
*Sending lesson note end of each lesson (Word or pdf)
*Special videos, presentations, activities, overwievs for all topics
*Sending free materials (Books, exercises, videos, lesson notes)
*Writing online level exam
*Having certificate end of the course (optional)
*Speak and write fluently in a short time. You understand well what you read and listen.
*Homework after each lesson
*I can create the course content according to your request.
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Murat has over 15 years of teaching experience. He has a variety of learning materials. He has written several learning books and video's to go along with it. Furthermore, he is well-prepared and patient.
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I am a BA in Education graduate, with vast experience in primary, secondary and higher education levels, as well as in other activities related to education. I believe I have a diverse background which makes me a very adaptable teacher and with a lot to offer.
Most of my experience is in high school ,in adult education and university students. I have been able to develop a good relationship with my students, which has translated to better communication and an altogether more rounded experience for them and myself. My lesson planning has always aimed to reflect my students’ needs and interest applied into useful communicative language structures that they can actually use in their lives.
In my last years as a teacher, I have focused on preparing test-takers for the TOEFL. It has been a completely different experience from what I have had before, but I have helped my students accomplish the desired scores in the proposed time.
I believe in making the learning of a new language something exciting and not frightening at all, but challenging and gratifying instead. My material is dynamic and keeps my students engaged and continuesly developing their communiation skills.
I am flexible with my students' time and shcedule; naturally, it is open for deliberation if needed. I look forward to helping you get to the desired goals you set foryourself!
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Daniel is great!He was very kind in every lesson, and patient in explaining things to me that I did not understand. very easy to understand !! I definitely want to continue taking classes with him!
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there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
there is no offer since there are no students
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Carl is an experienced teacher. He provides personalized lessons and learning materials. He teaches all ages.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
John S.
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Thanks Mei-Lin, it was a joy having you in class.
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1 List of irregular verbs in English | Study the list of English irregular verbs with this overview. |