Everyone who has ever sat down at an English textbook knows about such a thing as a list of irregular English verbs. What is this list? It contains verbs that deviate from the standard rules for the formation of past tense forms and participles. It is believed that in everyday speech about seventy percent of irregular verbs (the English name for the term) are used.
From this we can conclude that to know the list of irregular verbs in English is simply necessary if you want to freely speak and understand the person you are talking to.
The total number of irregular verbs is about 470 words. Is it possible to learn such a volume? Of course, this is quite real. However, in order for you to feel confident when speaking in English, you only need to know 180 verbs.
Before turning directly to the list itself, we will give some tips on how to achieve the desired knowledge as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Mechanical memorization
The technique of mechanical storage of information is one of the most common techniques. But how effective is it?
When memorizing, we often notice that a large number of words are quickly forgotten, and some completely refuse to settle in our long-term memory. In order for this technique to show itself only from the best side, it is necessary to use learned verbs in practice as often as possible. By the way, their subsequent listening in some movie, program or just a song helps a lot.
Be sure to bring along a list of irregular English verbs with translation
To begin with, you will have to familiarize yourself with the meaning of each new word. Usually, all irregular verbs tables include a translation column, so don’t worry about hours of independent work with the dictionary. After the right associations with the native language are kept in mind, you can safely move on to the formed forms.
Irregular Verbs in Poems
Do not worry - you are not the only student trying to master the complete list of English irregular verbs, and there are someone to share your burdens with. And some craftsmen even try to somehow help.
On the Internet, you can easily find all kinds of poems created specifically for such purposes. They fit a number of the most common verbs, skillfully built into the general rhyme and tone of the work. And there are many funny associations there, so remembering the necessary information will be even easier.
Interactive games using irregular verbs
Games can be played not only by children, but also by adults. And if it comes to learning a foreign language, then games are one of the most effective ways to memorize. You can also find ready-made options on the Internet. Usually these are flash cards, various animations or mini-games, accompanied by sound examples of the correct pronunciation. If you don’t really want to play on the computer, you can easily do something with your own hands, for example, the same cards. If you have a partner in learning English, then an analogue of a word game or creating dialogs consisting of irregular verbs would be appropriate.
Meet: Irregular Verbs
Having told a little about the methods of memorization, we move on to the most important thing. So, here is a list of irregular English verbs with translation.
Verbs in alphabetical order (a, b, c, d)
Verbs on a:
abide - abode - abided - abide, hold on;
arise - arose - arisen - rise, arise;
awake - awoke - awaked; awoke - wake up, wake up.
To the letter b:
backbite - backbitten - backbitten - to slander;
backslide - backslid - backslid - fall off;
be - was (were) - been - to be, to be;
bear - bore - born - bear, be born;
beat - beat - beaten - to beat;
become - become - become - become;
befall - befell - befallen - to happen;
beget - begot (begat) - begotten - give birth;
begin - began - begun - begin;
begird - begirt - begirt - girdle;
behold - beheld - beheld - to mature;
bend - bent - bended - bend;
bereave - bereft (bereaved) - bereft (bereaved) - deprive;
beseech - besought (beseeched) - b-esought (beseeched) - to beg, entreat;
beset - beset - beset - besiege;
bespeak - bespoke - bespoken - to order;
bespit - bespat - bespat - spit;
bestride - bestrode - bestridden - sit down, sit astride;
bet - bet (betted) - bet (betted) - bet;
betake - betook - betaken - accepted, sent;
bid - bad (bade) - bid (bidden) - command, ask;
bind - bound - bound - bind;
bite - bit - bit (bitten) - bite;
bleed - bled - bled - to bleed;
bless - blessed - blessed (blest) - bless;
blow - blew - blown (blowed) - blow;
break - broke - broken - (c) break;
breed - bred - bred - to grow;
bring - brought - brought - bring;
broadcast - broadcast - broadcast - distribute, scatter;
browbeat - browbeat - browbeaten - scare;
build - built - built - build;
burn - burnt (burned) - burnt (burned) - burn, burn;
burst - burst - burst - burst out, explode;
bust - bust (busted) - bust (busted) - to split (someone);
buy - bought - bought - buy.
Verbs in c:
can - could - could - be able, able;
catch - caught - caught - catch, catch;
choose - chose - chosen - choose;
cleave - clove (cleft, cleaved) - cloven (cleft, cleaved) - dissect;
cling - clung - clung - cling, snuggle;
come - came - come - come;
cost - cost - cost - cost;
creep - crept - crept - crawl;
cut - cut - cut - cut.
Verbs on d:
dare - durst (dared) - dared - dare;
deal - dealt - dealt - deal;
dig - dug - dug - dig;
dive - dived (dove) - dived - dive, dive;
do - did - done - do;
draw - drew - drawn - draw, drag;
dream - dreamt (dreamed) - dreamt (dreamed) - sleep, dream;
drink - drank - drunk - drink,
drive - drove - driven - drive, drive;
dwell - dwelt - dwelt - dwell, linger.
Continuation of the alphabet (e, g, f, h)
Verbs on e:
eat - ate - eaten - eat, eat.
Verbs on f:
fall - fell - fallen - fall;
feed - fed - fed - to feed;
feel - felt - felt - feel;
fight - fought - fought - to fight;
find - found - found - find;
flee - fled - fled - run away, escape;
floodlight - floodlighted (floodlit) - floodlighted (floodlit) - to shine a searchlight;
fly - flew - flown - fly;
forbear - forbore - forborne - abstain;
forbid - forbad (forbade) - forbidden - forbid;
forecast - forecast (forecasted) - forecast (forecasted) - to predict;
foresee - foresaw - foreseen - foresee;
forget - forgot - forgotten - forget;
forgive - forgave - forgiven - forgive;
forsake - forsook - forsaken - leave;
forswear - forswore - forsworn - deny;
freeze - froze - frozen - freeze, freeze.
Verbs on g:
gainsay - gainsaid - gainsaid - deny, contradict;
get - got - got - get;
gird - girded (girt) - girded (girt) - girdle;
give - gave - given - give;
go - went - gone - go, go;
grave - graved - graved (graven) - engrave;
grind - ground - ground - sharpen, grind;
grow - grew - grown - grow.
Verbs on h:
hang - hung (hanged) - hung (hanged) - hang;
have - had - had - to have;
hear - heard - heard - hear;
hew - hewed - hewed; hewn - hack;
hide - hid - hidden - hide;
hit - hit - hit - hit, hit;
hold - held - held
hurt - hurt - hurt - deliver pain, offend.
The second part of the alphabet
Verbs on i:
inlay - inlaid - inlaid - invest, line;
input - input (inputted) - input (inputted) - enter;
inset - inset - inset - insert, embed;
interweave - interwove - interwoven - caulk, cover with a pattern.
Verbs on k:
keep - kept - kept - store;
ken - kenned (kent) - kenned - know, recognize by sight;
kneel - knelt (kneeled) - knelt (kneeled) - kneel down;
knit - knit (knitted) - knit (knitted) - knit;
know - knew - known - to know.
Verbs on l:
lade - laded - laded (laden) - load;
lay - laid - laid - put;
lead - led - led - lead;
lean - leant (leaned) - leant (leaned) - lean, lean;
leap - leapt (leaped) - leapt (leaped) - jump;
learn - learnt (learned) - learnt (learned) - learn;
leave - left - left - to throw;
lend - lent - lent - lend;
let - let - let - let go, give;
lie - lay - lain - to lie;
light - lit (lighted) - lit (lighted) - to illuminate;
lose - lost - lost - lose.
Verbs on m :
make - made - made - create;
may - might - might - to be able to;
mean - meant - meant - to have meaning;
meet - met - met - meet;
miscast - miscast - miscast - incorrectly distribute roles;
mishear - misheard - misheard - misheard;
mishit - mishit - mishit - miss;
mislay - mislaid - mislaid - put on another place;
mislead - misled - misled - confuse;
misread - misread - misread - misinterpreted;
misspell - misspelt (misspeled) - misspelt (misspeled) - write with errors;
misspend - misspent - misspent - save;
misunderstand - misunderstood - misunderstood - misunderstood;
mow - mowed - mown (mowed) - cut (lawn).
Verbs on r:
read - read (red) - read (red) - read;
rid - rid (ridded) - rid (ridded) - get rid;
ride - rode - ridden - ride;
ring - rang - rung - call;
rise - rose - risen - to rise;
run - ran - run - run, flow.
Verbs on s:
saw - sawed - sawn (sawed) - to saw;
say - said - said - say, say;
see - saw - seen - see;
seek - sought - sought - search;
sell - sold - sold - trade;
send - sent - sent - send;
set - set - set - install;
shake - shook - shaken - shake;
shave - shaved - shaved (shaven) - shave
shed - shed - shed - to shed;
shine - shone (shined) - shone (shined) - shine, shine;
shoot - shot - shot - shoot, shoot;
show - showed - shown (showed) - show;
shut - shut - shut - shut;
sing - sang - sung - to sing;
sink - sank - sunk - sink, sink, sink;
sit - sat - sat - sit;
sleep - slept - slept - sleep;
slide - slid - slid - slide;
slit - slit - slit - tear, cut;
smell - smelt (smelled) - smelt (smelled) - smell, smell;
speak - spoke - spoken - lead a conversation;
speed - sped (speeded) - sped (speeded) - accelerate, hurry;
spell - spelt (spelled) - spell (spelled) - write or read, pronouncing each letter;
spend - spent - spent - spend;
spill - spilt (spilled) - spilt (spilled) - shed;
spin - spun (span) - spun - spin;
spit - spat (spit) - spat (spit) - spit;
split - split - split - split (s);
spoil - spoilt (spoiled) - spoilt (spoiled) - spoil;
spotlight - spotlit (spotlighted) - spotlit (spotlighted) - to light;
spread - spread - spread - to spread;
stand — stood — stood — stand;
steal - stole - stolen - to steal;
stick - stuck - stuck - stick, glue;
sting - stung - stung - sting;
stink - stank; stunk - stunk - smell unpleasant;
strike - struck - struck - pound, beat, strike;
swear - swore - sworn - swear, take the oath;
swell - swelled - swollen (swelled) - swell;
swim - swam - swum - swim;
swing - swung - swung - swing.
Verbs on t:
take - took - taken - take, take;
teach - taught - taught - to learn;
tear - tore - torn - break;
tell - told - told - tell, say;
think - thought - thought - to think;
throw - threw - thrown - throw.
Verbs on w:
wake - woke (waked) - woken (waked) - wake up, wake up;
wear - wore - worn - wear (clothes);
weave - wove (weaved) - woven (weaved) - weave;
wed - wed (wedded) - wed (wedded) - marry;
weep - wept - wept - cry;
wet - wet (wetted) - wet (wetted) - to wet, moisturize;
win - won - won - win;
wind - wound - wound - wind up (mechanism);
write - wrote - written - write.
We hope that after reading the article, the English language has become a little clearer for you.