Irregular Verbs Part II
Here's a list of some commonly used irregular verbs suitable for intermediate learners. These verbs appear frequently in everyday conversation and writing.
Before this, learn: Irregular Verbs Part I
1.Irregular Verbs List
1.1Mental Activities
These verbs relate to thinking, emotions, or perception.
| Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| arise | arose | arisen |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| dream | dreamt/dreamed | dreamt/dreamed |
| forget | forgot | forgotten |
| mean | meant | meant |
| read | read | read |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
Test yourself
1.2Physical Activities
These verbs involve physical actions or movements.
| Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| break | broke | broken |
| build | built | built |
| burn | burnt/burned | burnt/burned |
| cut | cut | cut |
| draw | drew | drawn |
| fall | fell | fallen |
| fight | fought | fought |
| fly | flew | flown |
| freeze | froze | frozen |
| grow | grew | grown |
| hang | hung | hung |
| hold | held | held |
| hurt | hurt | hurt |
| ride | rode | ridden |
| shake | shook | shaken |
| sit | sat | sat |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| steal | stole | stolen |
| swim | swam | swum |
| tear | tore | torn |
| wear | wore | worn |
Test yourself
1.3Transactions/Communication
These verbs focus on exchanges, communication, or actions between people.
| Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| feed | fed | fed |
| lend | lent | lent |
| let | let | let |
| lose | lost | lost |
| sell | sold | sold |
| send | sent | sent |
Test yourself
2.Frequently asked questions
Swam or swum: which is the past tense of swim?
"Swam" is the past simple of swim, and "swum" is the past participle, used after have, has or had. Say "He swam across the river yesterday" and "He has swum across the river", not "He swum across the river" or "He has swam across the river". Ride, fly, grow and draw follow the same pattern: "ride - rode - ridden", "fly - flew - flown", "grow - grew - grown", "draw - drew - drawn". Use the second form on its own for a finished past action: "She rode her bike to school", not "She ridden her bike to school".
Is it correct to say "cutted", "lended" or "arised" in the past tense?
No, these irregular verbs don't take -ed: their past forms are "cut", "lent" and "arose". Cut, let, hurt and cost stay the same in all three forms ("cut - cut - cut"), while lend, send and sell change: "lent", "sent", "sold". Say "She lent me her car", not "She lended me her car", and "A problem arose", not "A problem arised". Don't add -ed to a past form either: "wore", "slept" and "held" are already past, so "wored", "slepted" and "helded" are wrong.
What is the past tense of read, and how do you pronounce it?
The past tense of read is spelled "read", like the infinitive, but it is pronounced like "red", not like "reed". The past participle is the same: "read - read - read". Compare "I usually read in the evening" (sounds like "reed") with "I read that book last week" and "I have read it twice" (both sound like "red"). Never write "readed" or "red" for the verb. With he or she, the present is "reads", so "She read the book" is past.
Hung or hanged: what is the past tense of hang?
The past tense and past participle of hang are "hung" for objects: "hang - hung - hung". "Hanged" is kept for people who are killed by hanging. Say "He hung his coat on the hook" and "We have hung the pictures on the wall", not "He hanged his coat on the hook". When you talk about clothes, pictures, lights or decorations, the correct form is "hung".
Burnt or burned, dreamt or dreamed: which irregular verb form is correct?
Both are correct: burn and dream have two accepted past forms. British English uses "burnt" and "dreamt" as well as "burned" and "dreamed", while American English mostly uses "burned" and "dreamed". The same form works for the past simple and the past participle: "I burned the toast" or "I burnt the toast", "She has dreamed of this day" or "She has dreamt of this day". In American English, "burnt" is still common as an adjective: "burnt toast".
