Irregular Verbs - Definition, Rules, Conjugation and Examples

Have you been finding it difficult to learn how irregular verbs work? Do not worry; we have got your back. This article on irregular verbs will help you understand the definition of irregular verbs and how to conjugate them to represent the simple past and past participle forms of verbs. There are also a number of examples and instructions on how you can remember them. Go through the table of contents given below to learn more.

Table of Contents

• Definition of an Irregular Verb
• Conjugating Irregular Verbs – Rules
• Irregular Verbs Examples

• • Group 1 – Irregular Verbs with the Same Spelling across All Forms
  • Group 2 – Irregular Verbs with the Same Simple Past Form and Past Participle Form
  • Group 3 – Irregular Verbs with Completely Different Spellings for Each Form
• An Alternative Method to Learn Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugation
• Test your Knowledge of Irregular Verbs
• Frequently Asked Questions on Irregular Verbs in English

Definition of an Irregular Verb

An irregular verb is defined as “a verb that does not follow the usual rules of grammar. For example, ‘eat’ is an irregular verb because its past tense is ‘ate’ and its past participle is ‘eaten’, not ‘eated’,” according to the Macmillan Dictionary. According to the Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, an irregular verb is a verb that is “not formed in the normal way.” The normal way of forming past and past participle forms of a verb in English is by adding ‘ed’ to it. Irregular verbs do not follow this rule.

Conjugating Irregular Verbs – Rules and Examples

Learning to conjugate irregular verbs can be a little tricky. It is often considered a difficult task, but that is not the case. Before we start, try to unlearn the concepts or notions about irregular verbs you have in your mind. Let us start from the beginning with a fresh and clear mind.

The conjugation of irregular verbs can be learnt under three main groups based on how they behave when changed to represent the simple past and past participle forms.

It can be grouped as follows:

• Group 1 – Irregular verbs which take the same spelling as the base verb in the simple past form and the past participle form. These verbs remain the same throughout all tense forms.
• Group 2 – Irregular verbs which have the same spelling in the simple past form and the past participle form. There are some irregular verbs in this group that take an alternate spelling too.
• Group 3 – Irregular verbs which have three different spelling patterns in the base form, the simple past form and the past participle form.

Let us now look at the list of irregular verbs which fall under the three groups to have a better understanding.

Irregular Verbs Examples

Group 1 – Irregular Verbs with the Same Spelling across All Forms

Group 2 – Irregular Verbs with the Same Simple Past Form and Past Participle Form

Group 3 – Irregular Verbs with Completely Different Spellings for Each Form

An Alternative Method to Learn Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugation

There is one other way in which you can learn irregular verbs easily by categorising words according to their change in spelling. Have a look at the following table to understand how.

Test Your Knowledge of Irregular Verbs

Find out the simple past form and the past participle form of the following irregular verbs:

1. Find

2. Give

3. Drink

4. Catch

5. See

6. Take

7. Sing

8. Choose

9. Ride

10. Write

Let us find out if you got the answers right.

1. Find – Found – Found

2. Give – Gave – Given

3. Drink – Drank – Drunk

4. Catch – Caught – Caught

5. See – Saw – Seen

6. Take -Took – Taken

7. Sing – Sang – Sung

8. Choose – Chose – Chosen

9. Ride – Rode – Ridden

10. Write – Wrote – Written

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb as mentioned:

1. Peter _________ (use the simple past form of bring) home a puppy.

2. Emma ________ (use the simple past form of see) the car ______ (use the simple past form of hit) the little boy.

3. My cell phone was ___________ (use the past participle of steal) yesterday.

4. Have you ____________ (use the past participle of think) of what to do today?

5. Toby _________ (use the simple past form of choose) to strike first.

6. The dress you ___________ (use the simple past form of wear) yesterday looked really good on you.

7. Have you ever ___________ (use the past participle of sing) alone in front of a huge audience?

8. The little girl _________ (use the simple past form of break) the glass by mistake.

9. Has the movie _________ (use the past participle form of begin) yet?

10. The teacher ___________ (use the simple past form of mistake) Jenny for Miranda.

Let us find out if you got the answers right.

1. Peter brought home a puppy.

2. Emma saw the car hit the little boy.

3. My cell phone was stolen yesterday.

4. Have you thought of what to do today?

5. Toby chose to strike first.

6. The dress you wore yesterday looked really good on you.

7. Have you ever sung alone in front of a huge audience?

8. The little girl broke the glass by mistake.

9. Has the movie begun yet?

10. The teacher mistook Jenny for Miranda.