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Introduction
Irregular verbs English are unique words that do not follow the usual “–ed” pattern when changing from their base form to past tense and past participle. Mastering irregular verbs is a must for learners and candidates appearing for competitive examinations, as these verbs are frequently tested and vital for fluent English communication.
100+ Irregular Verbs English with Meanings
| Base Form | Past Tense | Past Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| arise | arose | arisen | to get up or emerge |
| awake | awoke | awoken | to wake up |
| be | was/were | been | to exist |
| bear | bore | borne | to carry or endure |
| beat | beat | beaten | to defeat or hit |
| become | became | become | to turn into |
| begin | began | begun | to start |
| bend | bent | bent | to curve |
| bet | bet | bet | to wager |
| bind | bound | bound | to tie |
| bite | bit | bitten | to use teeth |
| bleed | bled | bled | to lose blood |
| blow | blew | blown | to move air |
| break | broke | broken | to separate into pieces |
| bring | brought | brought | to carry |
| build | built | built | to construct |
| buy | bought | bought | to purchase |
| catch | caught | caught | to grab |
| choose | chose | chosen | to select |
| come | came | come | to arrive |
| cost | cost | cost | to have a price |
| cut | cut | cut | to split |
| deal | dealt | dealt | to handle |
| dig | dug | dug | to make a hole |
| do | did | done | to perform |
| draw | drew | drawn | to sketch |
| drink | drank | drunk | to consume liquid |
| drive | drove | driven | to operate a vehicle |
| eat | ate | eaten | to consume food |
| fall | fell | fallen | to drop down |
| feed | fed | fed | to give food |
| feel | felt | felt | to sense |
| fight | fought | fought | to battle |
| find | found | found | to discover |
| fit | fit | fit | to match size |
| fly | flew | flown | to move in air |
| forget | forgot | forgotten | to not remember |
| forgive | forgave | forgiven | to pardon |
| freeze | froze | frozen | to turn to ice |
| get | got | got/gotten | to obtain |
| give | gave | given | to hand over |
| go | went | gone | to travel |
| grow | grew | grown | to increase |
| hang | hung | hung | to suspend |
| have | had | had | to possess |
| hear | heard | heard | to listen |
| hide | hid | hidden | to conceal |
| hit | hit | hit | to strike |
| hold | held | held | to grip |
| hurt | hurt | hurt | to cause pain |
| keep | kept | kept | to retain |
| know | knew | known | to be aware |
| lay | laid | laid | to put down |
| lead | led | led | to guide |
| leave | left | left | to depart |
| lend | lent | lent | to allow use temporarily |
| let | let | let | to permit |
| lie | lay | lain | to recline |
| lose | lost | lost | to not have anymore |
| make | made | made | to create |
| mean | meant | meant | to signify |
| meet | met | met | to encounter |
| pay | paid | paid | to give money |
| put | put | put | to place |
| read | read | read | to look at written text |
| ride | rode | ridden | to travel on |
| ring | rang | rung | to make a bell sound |
| rise | rose | risen | to move upward |
| run | ran | run | to move quickly |
| say | said | said | to speak |
| see | saw | seen | to look |
| sell | sold | sold | to exchange for money |
| send | sent | sent | to dispatch |
| set | set | set | to place in position |
| shake | shook | shaken | to move back and forth |
| show | showed | shown | to display |
| shut | shut | shut | to close |
| sing | sang | sung | to vocalize music |
| sink | sank | sunk | to go down |
| sit | sat | sat | to be seated |
| sleep | slept | slept | to rest |
| speak | spoke | spoken | to talk |
| spend | spent | spent | to use resources |
| spin | spun | spun | to rotate |
| stand | stood | stood | to be upright |
| steal | stole | stolen | to take unlawfully |
| stick | stuck | stuck | to attach |
| sting | stung | stung | to pierce |
| strike | struck | struck | to hit |
| swear | swore | sworn | to promise |
| sweep | swept | swept | to clean with a broom |
| swim | swam | swum | to move in water |
| swing | swung | swung | to move back and forth |
| take | took | taken | to obtain |
| teach | taught | taught | to instruct |
| tell | told | told | to narrate |
| think | thought | thought | to consider |
| throw | threw | thrown | to hurl |
| understand | understood | understood | to comprehend |
| wake | woke | woken | to stop sleeping |
| wear | wore | worn | to have clothing on |
| win | won | won | to achieve victory |
| write | wrote | written | to compose text |
Note: This list includes the most frequently used irregular verbs in English, their three main forms, and a brief meaning for clarity.
Important Tips for Irregular Verbs English
- Group them: Irregular verbs can be classified into three main groups: those with the same forms for all tenses, those with identical past and past participle forms, and those where all forms vary.
- Practice regularly: Create flashcards, do online quizzes, and write sentences using new verbs.
- Spot the pattern: If the verb in past tense does not end in “–ed”, it is almost always irregular.
- Use in context: Making sentences with irregular verbs solidifies memory. Example: “She ate an apple” versus “She eated an apple”.
- Memorise through stories and songs: Associating irregular verbs with songs or stories enhances recall.
- Visual reminders: Keep lists and charts visible for daily revision.
- Competitive exam tip: Irregular verbs are often used in error spotting, fill-in-the-blanks, and sentence correction parts of exams.
Conclusion
Irregular verbs English are essential for mastering grammar rules, speaking accurately, and succeeding in competitive examinations. With regular practice, contextual usage, and systematic study, learners can conquer the challenge posed by these rule breakers and excel in both written and spoken English.
Also Read: Perfect Tense Definition with 100+ Examples
Verb Conjugation Practice: 100+ Examples with Meanings for Students & Exam Preparation
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