Understanding Regular and Irregular Verbs
As we discussed in the introductory material, one of the main unique features of English verbs is their ability to change form to match the time of an event (Tenses).
Based on how they change form, English verbs are divided into two major groups: Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs.
Before distinguishing between the two, we need to know the three basic forms of verbs:
- Verb 1 (Base Form / Infinitive): The original form of the verb. Used for present events (Present Tense).
- Verb 2 (Past Form): Used for past events (Past Tense).
- Verb 3 (Past Participle): Used for Perfect Tenses and passive voice sentences.
1. Regular Verbs
Regular Verbs are verbs that have a regular and highly predictable pattern of change.
Spelling Rules for Regular Verbs:
Although we generally just add -ed or -d, there are several specific spelling rules you need to follow when changing Verb 1 into Verb 2 / Verb 3:
-
Basic Rule: Add -ed to the base verb.
- work -> worked
- watch -> watched
- clean -> cleaned
-
Ending in e: If the verb already ends with an e, just add -d.
- arrive -> arrived
- dance -> danced
- like -> liked
-
Ending in Consonant + y: If the verb ends in y and is preceded by a consonant, change the y to i, then add -ed.
- study -> studied
- cry -> cried
- try -> tried
-
Ending in Vowel + y: If the verb ends in y but is preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), the y DOES NOT change. Just add -ed.
- play -> played
- enjoy -> enjoyed
- stay -> stayed
-
Ending in One Consonant preceded by One Vowel (CVC rule): If the last syllable is stressed and ends in a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant pattern, double the last consonant, then add -ed. (Exception: do not double w, x, or y).
- stop -> stopped
- plan -> planned
- hug -> hugged
The Verb 2 and Verb 3 forms of these verbs are always the same.
Examples of Regular Verbs:
| V1 (Present) | V2 (Past) | V3 (Past Participle) |
|---|---|---|
| play | played | played |
| work | worked | worked |
| want | wanted | wanted |
| arrive | arrived | arrived |
| study | studied | studied |
Note: For _arrive, since it ends in e, just add d. For study, since it ends in y after a consonant, the y changes to i + ed._
Examples in sentences:
- V1: I play football every Sunday. (Present)
- V2: I played football yesterday. (Past)
- V3: I have played football for 2 hours. (Perfect tense)
2. Irregular Verbs
Unlike regular verbs, Irregular Verbs are the rebellious group of verbs. They do not follow the rule of adding -ed or -d. The V2 and V3 forms of these words can change drastically, remain the same, or have a unique pattern.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for memorizing this group of words other than frequently reading and practicing them.
Patterns of Change for Irregular Verbs
Even though they are irregular, we can group them into several patterns to make them easier to memorize:
A. V1, V2, and V3 are All Different
| V1 (Present) | V2 (Past) | V3 (Past Participle) |
|---|---|---|
| go | went | gone |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| see | saw | seen |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
B. V2 and V3 are the Same
| V1 (Present) | V2 (Past) | V3 (Past Participle) |
|---|---|---|
| buy | bought | bought |
| feel | felt | felt |
| keep | kept | kept |
| have | had | had |
C. V1, V2, and V3 are All the Same (No Change)
| V1 (Present) | V2 (Past) | V3 (Past Participle) |
|---|---|---|
| cut | cut | cut |
| put | put | put |
| read* | read* | read* |
| hit | hit | hit |
Exception: The spelling is the same, but the pronunciation for V2/V3 sounds like the color _red._
Examples in sentences:
- V1: I eat an apple every day.
- V2: I ate an apple yesterday.
- V3: I have eaten an apple.
Conclusion: Mastering the difference between Regular and Irregular verbs is a crucial foundation before you study English Tenses. Make sure you always have a list of Irregular Verbs handy to learn little by little every day!