Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are verbs that don't follow the standard -ed pattern to form their past simple (V2) and past participle (V3) forms. Mastering irregular verbs is essential for accurate English communication, as they include some of the most commonly used verbs in the language. This comprehensive A1–B1 lesson with online exercises and printable PDF worksheets teaches you 1 Core Rule and 3 Learning Steps:

• The Core Rule: Irregular verbs DON'T add -ed — you must memorize their unique forms
• Step 1: Learn past simple forms (V2) for common irregular verbs
• Step 2: Learn past participle forms (V3) used in perfect tenses
• Step 3: Master the critical skill of choosing between V2 and V3 in context

Every verb in English has three main forms:

Regular vs Irregular:

• Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern: add -ed to form V2 and V3 (work → worked → worked)
• Irregular verbs have unique forms that must be memorized (go → went → gone)

The biggest challenge? Understanding when to use V2 versus V3 — they're often confused because both express past meaning. For detailed tense usage, see Past Simple and Present Perfect.

Don't confuse irregular verb forms with other verb forms:

• Past simple (V2): "I went to Paris last year." (completed action in the past)
• Past participle (V3): "I have gone to Paris three times." (experience up to now)
• Present participle (-ing): "I am going to Paris tomorrow." (present continuous)

This lesson focuses on irregular past forms (V2 and V3). For -ing forms, see Gerunds and Present Continuous.

Past Simple Forms (V2): Common Irregular Verbs

The past simple form (V2) is used to describe completed actions in the past. Unlike regular verbs that add -ed, irregular verbs have unique V2 forms that must be memorized.

Most Common Irregular Verbs

Here are the most frequently used irregular verbs in their past simple forms:

Common Patterns in Irregular Verbs

Although irregular verbs must be memorized, many follow recognizable patterns that can help you learn them more efficiently:

Pattern 1: i → a → u (Vowel Progression)

Pattern 2: Vowel Change Only

Pattern 3: No Change (V1 = V2 = V3)

Some irregular verbs don't change at all:

Pattern 4: V2 = V3 (Same Past Forms)

⚠️ The -ed Trap

The most common beginner mistake is adding -ed to irregular verbs:

Remember: If a verb is irregular, it NEVER takes -ed in the past simple. You must use its unique V2 form.

👉 Practice Past Simple Forms →

Past Participle Forms (V3): Perfect Tenses

The past participle form (V3) is used with "have," "has," or "had" to form perfect tenses. It's also used in passive voice constructions. For irregular verbs, the V3 form is often different from the V2 form.

V3 in Perfect Tenses

The past participle follows auxiliary verbs "have/has/had":

For complete perfect tense rules and usage, see Present Perfect and Past Perfect.

V2 = V3 Verbs (Same Forms)

Many irregular verbs have identical V2 and V3 forms. This makes them easier to learn:

V2 ≠ V3 Verbs (Different Forms)

These verbs are trickier because V2 and V3 are different. Pay close attention to these:

V1 = V3 Verbs (But V2 Different)

Some verbs return to the base form for V3:

⚠️ The V2 Instead of V3 Trap

After "have/has/had," you MUST use V3, not V2. This is one of the most common errors:

Note: Past participles are also used in passive voice (e.g., "The cake was made yesterday"), but this lesson focuses on their use in perfect tenses. For passive voice, see Passive Voice.

👉 Practice Past Participle Forms →

Past Simple or Past Participle? The Critical Distinction

Being able to tell V2 from V3 is the most important skill when using irregular verbs. Both forms express past meaning, but they're used in completely different grammatical contexts. This is the #1 error zone for irregular verbs.

The Key Signals

Signal 1: Look for "have/has/had" → Use V3

If you see "have," "has," or "had," you MUST use the past participle (V3):

Remember: The presence of "have/has/had" is a 100% reliable signal for V3. Never use V2 after these words.

Signal 2: Time Markers Without "have" → Use V2

If you see past time markers (yesterday, last week, ago) and there's NO "have/has/had," use the past simple (V2):

Common V2 vs V3 Confusion Pairs

Here are the irregular verbs most commonly confused because their V2 and V3 forms are different:

go → went (V2) vs gone (V3)

see → saw (V2) vs seen (V3)

speak → spoke (V2) vs spoken (V3)

drink → drank (V2) vs drunk (V3)

write → wrote (V2) vs written (V3)

eat → ate (V2) vs eaten (V3)

⚠️ The V2/V3 Trap

This is the critical error zone. Remember:

• V2 = past simple tense (used alone, often with time markers)
• V3 = perfect tenses (always with have/has/had)

Look for "have/has/had" first. If you see it, you MUST use V3. If you don't see it and the sentence is about the past, use V2.

👉 Practice V2 vs V3 Distinction →

Regular and Irregular Verbs: Mixed Practice

In real English, you'll use both regular and irregular verbs in the same conversation. You need to be able to identify which is which and apply the correct rules.

Quick Regular Verb Spelling Review

Regular verbs form V2 and V3 by adding -ed, but there are important spelling rules:

Examples in sentences:

• She employed over 200 people last year. (employ + -ed)
• I tried to call you, but my phone died. (try → tried, not *tryed)
• They managed to finish the project by Friday. (manage + -d)
• We discussed the problem many times. (discuss + -ed)

For complete regular verb rules, see Past Simple.

Mixing Regular and Irregular: Spotting the Difference

Not all common verbs are irregular! Here are pairs to watch:

Key insight: When you encounter a verb you don't recognize, assume it's regular (add -ed) unless you know it's irregular. Most verbs in English are regular; only about 200 verbs are irregular, though these include the most frequently used verbs.

Tricky Pairs: Verbs Easily Confused

Some pairs of verbs are especially problematic because they look or sound similar but follow different patterns.

Lay vs Lie: One of the Trickiest Irregular Verbs

This is frequently cited as the most confusing irregular verb pair in English because the forms overlap:

The confusion: The past simple of "lie" (recline) is "lay," which is also the base form of "lay" (put down).

Memory tip: "Lay" needs an object (you lay something down), while "lie" doesn't (you just lie down).

Raise vs Rise: Regular vs Irregular

Memory tip: "Raise" needs an object (you raise your hand), while "rise" doesn't (the sun rises by itself). "Raise" is regular (add -ed), "rise" is irregular.

Hang → Hung vs Hanged

The verb "hang" has two different past forms depending on meaning:

Note: In modern English, "hanged" is almost exclusively used in historical or legal contexts referring to execution. For everyday use (hanging pictures, clothes, etc.), always use "hung."

Read: Same Spelling, Different Pronunciation

This is the only English verb where V1, V2, and V3 have identical spelling but V1 has a different pronunciation.

👉 Practice Regular & Irregular Verbs Mixed →

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Quick Summary

Common Irregular Verbs List: Reference Table

Pattern 1: V2 = V3 (Same Forms)

Pattern 2: V2 ≠ V3 (Different Forms)

Pattern 3: No Change (V1 = V2 = V3)

3-Step Decision Process: How to Choose the Right Form

Use this decision tree to select the correct irregular verb form:

Step 1: Identify the tense

• Is it present tense? → Use V1 (base form)
  • Example: I go to school every day.
• Is it past simple? → Use V2
  • Example: I went to school yesterday.
• Is it a perfect tense (have/has/had + ...)? → Use V3
  • Example: I have gone to school three times this week.

Step 2: Check the verb type

• Is the verb regular? → Add -ed (or -d, -ied, etc.)
  • Example: work → worked, try → tried
• Is the verb irregular? → Use the irregular form from the table above
  • Example: go → went, make → made

Step 3: For V2 vs V3 confusion

• See "have/has/had"? → MUST be V3
  • Example: I have seen (not saw)
• See a past time marker (yesterday, last week, ago)? → Usually V2
  • Example: I saw him yesterday (not seen)
• No "have" + past time context? → V2
  • Example: She went home early (not gone)

Quick Test: Can you replace the verb with a noun after "have"? If yes, it's a past participle (V3).

• "I have seen that film" → "I have an opinion about that film" ✓
• This confirms "seen" is correct (V3).

Practice Tips

1. Learn irregular verbs in groups by pattern Group verbs with similar patterns (like i→a→u: swim/swam/swum, sing/sang/sung, drink/drank/drunk). This makes memorization much easier than learning random lists.

2. Focus on the most common ones first The 25 most common irregular verbs account for the vast majority of usage. Master go, have, make, see, say, do, get, take, give, and know before moving to less frequent verbs.

3. Create flashcards with all three forms Write V1 on one side, V2 and V3 on the other. Test yourself in both directions. Include an example sentence to learn the verb in context.

4. Pay special attention to V2 ≠ V3 verbs Verbs where V2 and V3 are different (go/went/gone, see/saw/seen) cause the most errors. Practice these more than verbs where V2 = V3 (make/made/made).

5. Use the verbs in real sentences Don't just memorize lists. Write sentences using the verbs in different tenses. This helps you remember both the forms and how to use them correctly.

Practice All Exercises

All exercises include answers and explanations. Available in multiple choice format online, plus downloadable PDF worksheets.

Total: 80 irregular verbs exercises with answers across 4 progressive sets, from beginner (A1) to advanced (B1) level.

👉 Start with Set 1: Past Simple Forms →