Comprehensive Guide to English Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are a unique category of verbs in the English language. Unlike regular verbs, their forms in Past Simple and Past Participle do not follow the standard pattern of adding “-ed”. These verbs have their own distinct forms that need to be memorized, as they are frequently used in everyday speech and writing.
Why Study Irregular Verbs?
There are several hundred irregular verbs in modern English, many of which have roots in Old English, a much more complex language with various grammatical rules. Although English has simplified over time, some verbs have retained their ancient forms, which we now call irregular.
Tips for Mastery
- Practice Regularly: There is no one-size-fits-all rule for irregular verbs. Consistent practice and repetition are essential.
- Recognize Variations: Some verbs can have both regular and irregular forms, depending on context or regional use. Our guide highlights the most common variations.
- Regional Differences: Some irregular verbs have different forms in British and American English. For instance, “learn” can be “learned” or “learnt,” depending on the region.
How to Use This Guide
Our comprehensive table includes all essential irregular verbs in English. We list them in three forms:
- Infinitive
- Past Simple
- Past Participle
Why Keep This Guide?
Having a handy reference guide simplifies learning. Bookmark this page for regular review and practice. It will be a valuable resource in your journey to mastering English.
This guide will be your reliable companion for studying irregular verbs. With this table, you can quickly find the necessary verb forms and save time. Keep this page as a consistent source of useful information to help with exams or to improve your English proficiency.
Table of irregular verbs
Infinitive | Past Simple | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
A | ||
to abide | abode/abided | abode/abided |
to arise | arose | arisen |
to awake | awoke/awakened | awoken/awakened |
B | ||
to backslide | backslid | backslid / backslidden |
to be | was / were | been |
to bear | bore | born / borne |
to beat | beat | beaten |
to become | became | become |
to begin | began | begun |
to bend | bent | bent |
to bet | bet | bet / betted |
to bid | bid / bade | bid / bidden |
to bind | bound | bound |
to bite | bit | bitten |
to bleed | bled | bled |
to blow | blew | blown |
to break | broke | broken |
to breed | bred | bred |
to bring | brought | brought |
to broadcast | broadcast / broadcasted | broadcast / broadcasted |
to browbeat | browbeat | browbeaten / browbeat |
to build | built | built |
to burn | burnt / burned | burnt / burned |
to burst | burst | burst |
to bust | bust / busted | bust / busted |
to buy | bought | bought |
C | ||
to cast | cast | cast |
to catch | caught | caught |
to choose | chose | chosen |
to cling | clung | clung |
to clothe | clad / clothed | clad / clothed |
to come | cаme | come |
to cost | cost | cost |
to creep | crept | crept |
to crossbreed | crossbreed | crossbreed |
to cut | cut | cut |
D | ||
to daydream | daydreamt / daydreamed | daydreamt / daydreamed |
to dare | durst | dared |
to deal | dealt | dealt |
to dig | dug | dug |
to disprove | disproved | disproved / disproven |
to dive | dove / dived | dived |
to do | did | done |
to draw | drew | drawn |
to dream | dreamed / dreamt | dreamed / dreamt |
to drink | drank | drunk |
to drive | drove | driven |
to dwell | dwelt / dwelled | dwelt / dwelled |
E | ||
to eat | ate | eaten |
F | ||
to fall | fell | fallen |
to feed | fed | fed |
to feel | felt | felt |
to fight | fought | fought |
to find | found | found |
to fit | fit / fitted | fit / fitted |
to flee | fled | fled |
to fling | flung | flung |
to fly | flew | flown |
to forbid | forbade | forbidden |
to forecast | forecast | forecast |
to forego / forgo | forewent | foregone |
to foresee | foresaw | foreseen |
to foretell | foretold | foretold |
to forget | forgot | forgotten |
to forgive | forgave | forgiven |
to forsake | forsook | forsaken |
to freeze | froze | frozen |
to frostbite | frostbit | frostbitten |
G | ||
to get | got | got / gotten |
to give | gave | given |
to go | went | gone |
to grind | ground | ground |
to grow | grew | grown |
H | ||
to hand-feed | hand-fed | hand-fed |
to handwrite | handwrote | handwritten |
to hang | hung | hung |
to have | had | had |
to hear | heard | heard |
to hew | hewed | hewn / hewed |
to hide | hid | hidden |
to hit | hit | hit |
to hold | held | held |
to hurt | hurt | hurt |
I | ||
to inbreed | inbred | inbred |
to inlay | inlaid | inlaid |
to input | input / inputted | input / inputted |
to interbreed | interbred | interbred |
to interweave | interwove / interweaved | interwoven / interweaved |
to interwind | interwound | interwound |
J | ||
to jerry-build | jerry-built | jerry-built |
K | ||
to keep | kept | kept |
to kneel | knelt / kneeled | knelt / kneeled |
to knit | knitted / knit | knitted / knit |
to know | knew | known |
L | ||
to lay | laid | laid |
to lead | led | led |
to lean | leaned / leant | leaned / leant |
to leap | leaped / leapt | leaped / leapt |
to learn | learned / learnt | learned / learnt |
to leave | left | left |
to lend | lent | lent |
to let | let | let |
to lie | lay | lain |
to light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted |
to lip-read | lip-read | lip-read |
to lose | lost | lost |
M | ||
to make | made | made |
to mean | meant | meant |
to meet | met | met |
to miscast | miscast | miscast |
to misdeal | misdealt | misdealt |
to misdo | misdid | misdone |
to misgive | misgave | misgiven |
to mishear | misheard | misheard |
to mislead | misled | misled |
to mishit | mishit | mishit |
to mislearn | mislearned / mislearnt | mislearned / mislearnt |
to misread | misread | misread |
to misset | misset | misset |
to misspeak | misspoke | misspoken |
to misspell | misspelled / misspelt | misspelled / misspelt |
to misspend | misspent | misspent |
to mistake | mistook | mistaken |
to misteach | mistaught | mistaught |
to misunderstand | misunderstood | misunderstood |
to miswrite | miswrote | miswritten |
to mow | mowed | mowed / mown |
О | ||
to offset | offset | offset |
to outbid | outbid | outbid |
to outbreed | outbred | outbred |
to outdo | outdid | outdone |
to outdraw | outdrew | outdrawn |
to outdrink | outdrank | outdrunk |
to outdrive | outdrove | outdriven |
to outfight | outfought | outfought |
to outfly | outflew | outflown |
to outgrow | outgrew | outgrown |
to outleap | outleaped / outleapt | outleaped / outleapt |
to outride | outrode | outridden |
to outrun | outran | outrun |
to outsell | outsold | outsold |
to outshine | outshined / outshone | outshined / outshone |
to outshoot | outshot | outshot |
to outsing | outsang | outsung |
to outsit | outsat | outsat |
to outsleep | outslept | outslept |
to outsmell | outsmelled / outsmelt | outsmelled / outsmelt |
to outspeak | outspoke | outspoken |
to outspeed | outsped | outsped |
to outspend | outspent | outspent |
to outswear | outswore | outsworn |
to outswim | outswam | outswum |
to outthink | outthought | outthought |
to outthrow | outthrew | outthrown |
to outwrite | outwrote | outwritten |
to overbid | overbid | overbid |
to overbuild | overbuilt | overbuilt |
to overbuy | overbought | overbought |
to overcome | overcame | overcome |
to overeat | overate | overeaten |
to overfeed | overfed | overfed |
to overhang | overhung | overhung |
to overhear | overheard | overheard |
to overlay | overlaid | overlaid |
to overpay | overpaid | overpaid |
to override | overrode | overridden |
to overrun | overrun | overrun |
to oversee | oversaw | overseen |
to oversell | oversold | oversold |
to oversew | oversewed | oversewn / oversewed |
to overshoot | overshot | overshot |
to oversleep | overslept | overslept |
to overspeak | overspoke | overspoken |
to overspend | overspent | overspent |
to overtake | overtook | overtaken |
to overthink | overthought | overthought |
to overthrow | overthrew | overthrown |
to overwind | overwound | overwound |
to overwrite | overwrote | overwritten |
P | ||
to partake | partook | partaken |
to pay | paid | paid |
to plead | pleaded / pled | pleaded / pled |
to preset | preset | preset |
to proofread | proofread | proofread |
to prove | proved | proven / proved |
to put | put | put |
Q | ||
to quick-freeze | quick-froze | quick-frozen |
to quit | quit | quit |
R | ||
to read | read | read |
to relay | relaid | relaid |
to remake | remade | remade |
to repay | repaid | repaid |
to resell | resold | resold |
to reset | reset | reset |
to retell | retold | retold |
to rewind | rewound | rewound |
to rid | rid | rid |
to ride | rode | ridden |
to ring | rang | rung |
to rise | rose | risen |
to roughcast | roughcast | roughcast |
to run | ran | run |
S | ||
to saw | sawed | sawed / sawn |
to say | said | said |
to see | saw | seen |
to seek | sought | sought |
to sell | sold | sold |
to send | sent | sent |
to set | set | set |
to sew | sewed | sewn / sewed |
to shake | shook | shaken |
to shave | shaved | shaved / shaven |
to shear | sheared | sheared / shorn |
to shed | shed | shed |
to shine | shined / shone | shined / shone |
to shit | shit / shat / shitted | shit / shat / shitted |
to shoot | shot | shot |
to show | showed | shown / showed |
to shrink | shrank | shrunk |
to shut | shut | shut |
to sight-read | sight-read | sight-read |
to sing | sang | sung |
to sink | sank | sunk |
to sit | sat | sat |
to slay | slew | slain |
to sleep | slept | slept |
to slide | slid | slid |
to sling | slung | slung |
to slink | slunk | slunk |
to slit | slit | slit |
to smell | smelt | smelt |
to sneak | sneaked / snuck | sneaked / snuck |
to sow | sowed | sown |
to speak | spoke | spoken |
to speed | sped | sped |
to spell | spelt | spelt |
to spend | spent | spent |
to spill | spilt | spilt |
to spin | spun | spun |
to spit | spit / spat | spit / spat |
to split | split | split |
to spoil | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled |
to spoon-feed | spoon-fed | spoon-fed |
to spread | spread | spread |
to spring | sprang | sprung |
to stand | stood | stood |
to steal | stole | stole |
to stick | stuck | stuck |
to sting | stung | stung |
to stink | stank | stunk |
to strew | strewed | strewn |
to stride | strode | stridden |
to strike | struck | stricken |
to string | strung | strung |
to strive | strove | striven |
to sublet | sublet | sublet |
to sunburn | sunburnt | sunburnt |
to swear | swore | sworn |
to sweat | sweat | sweat |
to sweep | swept | swept |
to swell | swelled | swollen |
to swim | swam | swum |
to swing | swung | swung |
T | ||
to take | took | taken |
to teach | taught | taught |
to tear | tore | torn |
to telecast | telecast | telecast |
to tell | told | told |
to test-drive | test-drove | test-driven |
to test-fly | test-flew | test-flown |
to think | thought | thought |
to throw | threw | thrown |
to thrust | thrust | thrust |
to tread | trod | trodden |
to typeset | typeset | typeset |
to typewrite | typewrote | typewritten |
U | ||
to unbend | unbent | unbent |
to unbind | unbound | unbound |
to unclothe | unclothed / unclad | unclothed / unclad |
to underbid | underbid | underbid |
to undercut | undercut | undercut |
to underfeed | underfed | underfed |
to undergo | underwent | undergone |
to underlie | underlay | underlain |
to undersell | undersold | undersold |
to understand | understood | understood |
to undertake | undertook | undertaken |
to underwrite | underwrote | underwritten |
to undo | undid | undone |
to unfreeze | unfroze | unfrozen |
to unhang | unhung | unhung |
to unhide | unhid | unhidden |
to unknit | unknit | unknit |
to unlearn | unlearnt | unlearnt |
to unsew | unsewed | unsewn |
to unstick | unstuck | unstuck |
to unstring | unstrung | unstrung |
to unweave | unwove | unwoven |
to unwind | unwound | unwound |
to uphold | upheld | upheld |
to upset | upset | upset |
W | ||
to wake | woke | woken |
to waylay | waylaid | waylaid |
to wear | wore | worn |
to weave | wove | woven |
to wed | wed | wed |
to weep | wept | wept |
to wet | wet | wet |
to win | won | won |
to wind | wound | wound |
to withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
to withhold | withheld | withheld |
to withstand | withstood | withstood |
to wring | wrung | wrung |
to write | wrote | written |
View all irregular verbs in English
Infinitive | Past Simple | Past Participle |
A | ||
to abide | abode/abided | abode/abided |
to arise | arose | arisen |
to awake | awoke/awakened | awoken/awakened |
B | ||
to backslide | backslid | backslid / backslidden |
to be | was / were | been |
to bear | bore | born / borne |
to beat | beat | beaten |
to become | became | become |
to begin | began | begun |
to bend | bent | bent |
to bet | bet | bet / betted |
to bid | bid / bade | bid / bidden |
to bind | bound | bound |
to bite | bit | bitten |
to bleed | bled | bled |
to blow | blew | blown |
to break | broke | broken |
to breed | bred | bred |
to bring | brought | brought |
to broadcast | broadcast / broadcasted | broadcast / broadcasted |
to browbeat | browbeat | browbeaten / browbeat |
to build | built | built |
to burn | burnt / burned | burnt / burned |
to burst | burst | burst |
to bust | bust / busted | bust / busted |
to buy | bought | bought |
C | ||
to cast | cast | cast |
to catch | caught | caught |
to choose | chose | chosen |
to cling | clung | clung |
to clothe | clad / clothed | clad / clothed |
to come | cаme | come |
to cost | cost | cost |
to creep | crept | crept |
to crossbreed | crossbreed | crossbreed |
to cut | cut | cut |
D | ||
to daydream | daydreamt / daydreamed | daydreamt / daydreamed |
to dare | durst | dared |
to deal | dealt | dealt |
to dig | dug | dug |
to disprove | disproved | disproved / disproven |
to dive | dove / dived | dived |
to do | did | done |
to draw | drew | drawn |
to dream | dreamed / dreamt | dreamed / dreamt |
to drink | drank | drunk |
to drive | drove | driven |
to dwell | dwelt / dwelled | dwelt / dwelled |
E | ||
to eat | ate | eaten |
F | ||
to fall | fell | fallen |
to feed | fed | fed |
to feel | felt | felt |
to fight | fought | fought |
to find | found | found |
to fit | fit / fitted | fit / fitted |
to flee | fled | fled |
to fling | flung | flung |
to fly | flew | flown |
to forbid | forbade | forbidden |
to forecast | forecast | forecast |
to forego / forgo | forewent | foregone |
to foresee | foresaw | foreseen |
to foretell | foretold | foretold |
to forget | forgot | forgotten |
to forgive | forgave | forgiven |
to forsake | forsook | forsaken |
to freeze | froze | frozen |
to frostbite | frostbit | frostbitten |
G | ||
to get | got | got / gotten |
to give | gave | given |
to go | went | gone |
to grind | ground | ground |
to grow | grew | grown |
H | ||
to hand-feed | hand-fed | hand-fed |
to handwrite | handwrote | handwritten |
to hang | hung | hung |
to have | had | had |
to hear | heard | heard |
to hew | hewed | hewn / hewed |
to hide | hid | hidden |
to hit | hit | hit |
to hold | held | held |
to hurt | hurt | hurt |
I | ||
to inbreed | inbred | inbred |
to inlay | inlaid | inlaid |
to input | input / inputted | input / inputted |
to interbreed | interbred | interbred |
to interweave | interwove / interweaved | interwoven / interweaved |
to interwind | interwound | interwound |
J | ||
to jerry-build | jerry-built | jerry-built |
K | ||
to keep | kept | kept |
to kneel | knelt / kneeled | knelt / kneeled |
to knit | knitted / knit | knitted / knit |
to know | knew | known |
L | ||
to lay | laid | laid |
to lead | led | led |
to lean | leaned / leant | leaned / leant |
to leap | leaped / leapt | leaped / leapt |
to learn | learned / learnt | learned / learnt |
to leave | left | left |
to lend | lent | lent |
to let | let | let |
to lie | lay | lain |
to light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted |
to lip-read | lip-read | lip-read |
to lose | lost | lost |
M | ||
to make | made | made |
to mean | meant | meant |
to meet | met | met |
to miscast | miscast | miscast |
to misdeal | misdealt | misdealt |
to misdo | misdid | misdone |
to misgive | misgave | misgiven |
to mishear | misheard | misheard |
to mislead | misled | misled |
to mishit | mishit | mishit |
to mislearn | mislearned / mislearnt | mislearned / mislearnt |
to misread | misread | misread |
to misset | misset | misset |
to misspeak | misspoke | misspoken |
to misspell | misspelled / misspelt | misspelled / misspelt |
to misspend | misspent | misspent |
to mistake | mistook | mistaken |
to misteach | mistaught | mistaught |
to misunderstand | misunderstood | misunderstood |
to miswrite | miswrote | miswritten |
to mow | mowed | mowed / mown |
О | ||
to offset | offset | offset |
to outbid | outbid | outbid |
to outbreed | outbred | outbred |
to outdo | outdid | outdone |
to outdraw | outdrew | outdrawn |
to outdrink | outdrank | outdrunk |
to outdrive | outdrove | outdriven |
to outfight | outfought | outfought |
to outfly | outflew | outflown |
to outgrow | outgrew | outgrown |
to outleap | outleaped / outleapt | outleaped / outleapt |
to outride | outrode | outridden |
to outrun | outran | outrun |
to outsell | outsold | outsold |
to outshine | outshined / outshone | outshined / outshone |
to outshoot | outshot | outshot |
to outsing | outsang | outsung |
to outsit | outsat | outsat |
to outsleep | outslept | outslept |
to outsmell | outsmelled / outsmelt | outsmelled / outsmelt |
to outspeak | outspoke | outspoken |
to outspeed | outsped | outsped |
to outspend | outspent | outspent |
to outswear | outswore | outsworn |
to outswim | outswam | outswum |
to outthink | outthought | outthought |
to outthrow | outthrew | outthrown |
to outwrite | outwrote | outwritten |
to overbid | overbid | overbid |
to overbuild | overbuilt | overbuilt |
to overbuy | overbought | overbought |
to overcome | overcame | overcome |
to overeat | overate | overeaten |
to overfeed | overfed | overfed |
to overhang | overhung | overhung |
to overhear | overheard | overheard |
to overlay | overlaid | overlaid |
to overpay | overpaid | overpaid |
to override | overrode | overridden |
to overrun | overrun | overrun |
to oversee | oversaw | overseen |
to oversell | oversold | oversold |
to oversew | oversewed | oversewn / oversewed |
to overshoot | overshot | overshot |
to oversleep | overslept | overslept |
to overspeak | overspoke | overspoken |
to overspend | overspent | overspent |
to overtake | overtook | overtaken |
to overthink | overthought | overthought |
to overthrow | overthrew | overthrown |
to overwind | overwound | overwound |
to overwrite | overwrote | overwritten |
P | ||
to partake | partook | partaken |
to pay | paid | paid |
to plead | pleaded / pled | pleaded / pled |
to preset | preset | preset |
to proofread | proofread | proofread |
to prove | proved | proven / proved |
to put | put | put |
Q | ||
to quick-freeze | quick-froze | quick-frozen |
to quit | quit | quit |
R | ||
to read | read | read |
to relay | relaid | relaid |
to remake | remade | remade |
to repay | repaid | repaid |
to resell | resold | resold |
to reset | reset | reset |
to retell | retold | retold |
to rewind | rewound | rewound |
to rid | rid | rid |
to ride | rode | ridden |
to ring | rang | rung |
to rise | rose | risen |
to roughcast | roughcast | roughcast |
to run | ran | run |
S | ||
to saw | sawed | sawed / sawn |
to say | said | said |
to see | saw | seen |
to seek | sought | sought |
to sell | sold | sold |
to send | sent | sent |
to set | set | set |
to sew | sewed | sewn / sewed |
to shake | shook | shaken |
to shave | shaved | shaved / shaven |
to shear | sheared | sheared / shorn |
to shed | shed | shed |
to shine | shined / shone | shined / shone |
to shit | shit / shat / shitted | shit / shat / shitted |
to shoot | shot | shot |
to show | showed | shown / showed |
to shrink | shrank | shrunk |
to shut | shut | shut |
to sight-read | sight-read | sight-read |
to sing | sang | sung |
to sink | sank | sunk |
to sit | sat | sat |
to slay | slew | slain |
to sleep | slept | slept |
to slide | slid | slid |
to sling | slung | slung |
to slink | slunk | slunk |
to slit | slit | slit |
to smell | smelt | smelt |
to sneak | sneaked / snuck | sneaked / snuck |
to sow | sowed | sown |
to speak | spoke | spoken |
to speed | sped | sped |
to spell | spelt | spelt |
to spend | spent | spent |
to spill | spilt | spilt |
to spin | spun | spun |
to spit | spit / spat | spit / spat |
to split | split | split |
to spoil | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled |
to spoon-feed | spoon-fed | spoon-fed |
to spread | spread | spread |
to spring | sprang | sprung |
to stand | stood | stood |
to steal | stole | stole |
to stick | stuck | stuck |
to sting | stung | stung |
to stink | stank | stunk |
to strew | strewed | strewn |
to stride | strode | stridden |
to strike | struck | stricken |
to string | strung | strung |
to strive | strove | striven |
to sublet | sublet | sublet |
to sunburn | sunburnt | sunburnt |
to swear | swore | sworn |
to sweat | sweat | sweat |
to sweep | swept | swept |
to swell | swelled | swollen |
to swim | swam | swum |
to swing | swung | swung |
T | ||
to take | took | taken |
to teach | taught | taught |
to tear | tore | torn |
to telecast | telecast | telecast |
to tell | told | told |
to test-drive | test-drove | test-driven |
to test-fly | test-flew | test-flown |
to think | thought | thought |
to throw | threw | thrown |
to thrust | thrust | thrust |
to tread | trod | trodden |
to typeset | typeset | typeset |
to typewrite | typewrote | typewritten |
U | ||
to unbend | unbent | unbent |
to unbind | unbound | unbound |
to unclothe | unclothed / unclad | unclothed / unclad |
to underbid | underbid | underbid |
to undercut | undercut | undercut |
to underfeed | underfed | underfed |
to undergo | underwent | undergone |
to underlie | underlay | underlain |
to undersell | undersold | undersold |
to understand | understood | understood |
to undertake | undertook | undertaken |
to underwrite | underwrote | underwritten |
to undo | undid | undone |
to unfreeze | unfroze | unfrozen |
to unhang | unhung | unhung |
to unhide | unhid | unhidden |
to unknit | unknit | unknit |
to unlearn | unlearnt | unlearnt |
to unsew | unsewed | unsewn |
to unstick | unstuck | unstuck |
to unstring | unstrung | unstrung |
to unweave | unwove | unwoven |
to unwind | unwound | unwound |
to uphold | upheld | upheld |
to upset | upset | upset |
W | ||
to wake | woke | woken |
to waylay | waylaid | waylaid |
to wear | wore | worn |
to weave | wove | woven |
to wed | wed | wed |
to weep | wept | wept |
to wet | wet | wet |
to win | won | won |
to wind | wound | wound |
to withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
to withhold | withheld | withheld |
to withstand | withstood | withstood |
to wring | wrung | wrung |
to write | wrote | written |