Most English learners find irregular verbs frustrating because they break the rules we work so hard to learn. While regular verbs follow a predictable pattern, irregular verbs require a different approach. This guide simplifies that process, providing a clear list of the most common irregular forms to help you sound more like a native speaker.
What makes a verb irregular?
Most English verbs are “regular,” meaning they follow a predictable pattern: you simply add -ed to the end to form the past tense (e.g., walk becomes walked). Irregular verbs, however, follow no uniform pattern. Some change vowels (e.g., sing to sang), some change completely (e.g., go to went), and some do not change at all (e.g., put).
Are you confused by the sounds of -ed? See our guide on how to properly pronounce words that end in -ed.
Comprehensive list of irregular verbs
The following table catalogs the base form (infinitive), simple past, and past participle for common and advanced irregular verbs.
How to use this list: You can browse the table below or use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to quickly find a specific verb you’re struggling with. To help you study on the go, you can download our Irregular Verbs List PDF Handout. It includes all the patterns and conjugations found in the table below for quick reference.
Pro-tip: Memorize by pattern
Instead of alphabetical order, try grouping verbs that behave similarly:
- The “Vowel Shift” group: Begin, began, begun | Drink, drank, drunk
- The “No Change” group: Cost, cost, cost | Let, let, let
- The “D to T” group: Send, sent, sent | Build, built, built
| Base form (Infinitive) | Simple past | Past participle |
| be | was/were | been |
| become | became | become |
| begin | began | begun |
| bend | bent | bent |
| bet | bet | bet |
| bite | bit | bitten |
| bleed | bled | bled |
| blow | blew | blown |
| break | broke | broken |
| breed | bred | bred |
| bring | brought | brought |
| build | built | built |
| burn | burnt/burned | burnt/burned |
| burst | burst | burst |
| buy | bought | bought |
| can | could | (none) |
| catch | caught | caught |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| cling | clung | clung |
| come | came | come |
| cost | cost | cost |
| cut | cut | cut |
| deal | dealt | dealt |
| dig | dug | dug |
| do | did | done |
| draw | drew | drawn |
| dream | dreamt/dreamed | dreamt/dreamed |
| drink | drank | drunk |
| drive | drove | driven |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| fall | fell | fallen |
| feed | fed | fed |
| feel | felt | felt |
| fight | fought | fought |
| find | found | found |
| flee | fled | fled |
| fling | flung | flung |
| fly | flew | flown |
| forbid | forbade | forbidden |
| forget | forgot | forgotten |
| forgive | forgave | forgiven |
| freeze | froze | frozen |
| get | got | gotten/got |
| give | gave | given |
| go | went | gone |
| grind | ground | ground |
| grow | grew | grown |
| hang | hung/hanged | hung/hanged |
| have | had | had |
| hear | heard | heard |
| hide | hid | hidden |
| hit | hit | hit |
| hold | held | held |
| hurt | hurt | hurt |
| keep | kept | kept |
| kneel | knelt/kneeled | knelt/kneeled |
| know | knew | known |
| lay | laid | laid |
| lead | led | led |
| leap | leapt/leaped | leapt/leaped |
| learn | learnt/learned | learnt/learned |
| leave | left | left |
| lend | lent | lent |
| let | let | let |
| lie | lay (inanimate) / lied (falsehood) | lain / lied |
| light | lit/lighted | lit/lighted |
| lose | lost | lost |
| make | made | made |
| may | might | (none) |
| mean | meant | meant |
| meet | met | met |
| melt | melted | molten/melted |
| misspell | misspelled/misspelt | misspelled/misspelt |
| mistake | mistook | mistaken |
| mow | mowed | mown/mowed |
| overcome | overcame | overcome |
| overtake | overtook | overtaken |
| pay | paid | paid |
| put | put | put |
| quit | quit | quit |
| read | read (pronounced “red”) | read (pronounced “red”) |
| ride | rode | ridden |
| ring | rang | rung |
| rise | rose | risen |
| run | ran | run |
| saw | sawed | sawn/sawed |
| say | said | said |
| see | saw | seen |
| seek | sought | sought |
| sell | sold | sold |
| send | sent | sent |
| set | set | set |
| sew | sewed | sewn/sewed |
| shake | shook | shaken |
| shed | shed | shed |
| shine | shone/shined | shone/shined |
| shoot | shot | shot |
| show | showed | shown/showed |
| shrink | shrank/shrunk | shrunk/shrunken |
| shut | shut | shut |
| sing | sang | sung |
| sink | sank | sunk |
| sit | sat | sat |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| slide | slid | slid |
| sling | slung | slung |
| slink | slunk | slunk |
| slit | slit | slit |
| smell | smelt/smelled | smelt/smelled |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
| speed | sped | sped |
| spend | spent | spent |
| spin | spun | spun |
| spit | spat | spat |
| split | split | split |
| spoil | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled |
| spread | spread | spread |
| spring | sprang | sprung |
| stand | stood | stood |
| steal | stole | stolen |
| stick | stuck | stuck |
| sting | stung | stung |
| stink | stank | stunk |
| stride | strode | stridden |
| strike | struck | struck/stricken |
| string | strung | strung |
| swear | swore | sworn |
| sweep | swept | swept |
| swim | swam | swum |
| swing | swung | swung |
| take | took | taken |
| teach | taught | taught |
| tear | tore | torn |
| tell | told | told |
| think | thought | thought |
| throw | threw | thrown |
| thrust | thrust | thrust |
| tread | trod | trodden/trod |
| understand | understood | understood |
| uphold | upheld | upheld |
| upset | upset | upset |
| wake | woke | woken |
| wear | wore | worn |
| weave | wove | woven |
| wed | wed/wedded | wed/wedded |
| weep | wept | wept |
| wet | wet/wetted | wet/wetted |
| win | won | won |
| wind | wound | wound |
| withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
| withhold | withheld | withheld |
| withstand | withstood | withstood |
| wring | wrung | wrung |
| write | wrote | written |
Frequently asked questions about irregular verbs
Videos to help you learn
Regular vs irregular verbs
A perfect visual breakdown for beginners who are still confusing “-ed” endings.
50 common irregular verbs in English
Great for hearing the correct pronunciation of the “read” (red) vs. “read” (reed) distinction mentioned earlier.
Final thoughts on mastering irregular verbs
Memorizing an extensive list of irregular verbs is a journey into the historical roots of the English language. Unlike regular verbs that follow a predictable “-ed” pattern, these “strong” verbs require dedicated practice and a sharp ear for patterns. By understanding the specific conjugations for the simple past and past participle, you significantly improve your fluency and professional writing accuracy.
Join the conversation
We want to hear from you! Which irregular verb always trips you up when you’re speaking or writing? Is there a specific pattern you use to memorize these faster?
What’s your toughest verb? Even native speakers occasionally struggle with “lay vs. lie” or “shrunk vs. shrank.” Which irregular verb is your “arch-nemesis”? Tell us in the comments below, and let’s clear up the confusion together!
Discover more from English Learning Tips
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
