/Verbs & Verb Patterns
A2Verbs & Verb Patterns

Irregular Verbs

1

What is it?

Irregular verbs DON'T follow the regular -ed pattern for past forms. They change unpredictably: GO → went → gone (not goed*), EAT → ate → eaten (not eated*), SEE → saw → seen (not seed*). You must MEMORIZE three forms: BASE (present), PAST SIMPLE, PAST PARTICIPLE. Common patterns help: No change: put-put-put, cost-cost-cost; -ought/-aught: buy-bought-bought, catch-caught-caught; Vowel change: sing-sang-sung, drink-drank-drunk. Most common verbs are irregular (go, have, do, see, make, take, come, get), so learning them is essential for everyday English.

2

How to form it

SubjectPositiveNegativeQuestion
Pattern: Same (A-A-A)put-put-put, cost-cost-cost, cut-cut-cut, let-let-let, hit-hit-hitnot applicablenot applicable
Pattern: -ought/-aughtbuy-bought-bought, bring-brought-brought, catch-caught-caught, teach-taught-taughtnot applicablenot applicable
Pattern: Vowel changesing-sang-sung, drink-drank-drunk, swim-swam-swum, begin-began-begun, ring-rang-rungnot applicablenot applicable
Pattern: -ew/-ownknow-knew-known, throw-threw-thrown, grow-grew-grown, fly-flew-flownnot applicablenot applicable
Most common (A-B-C)go-went-gone, eat-ate-eaten, see-saw-seen, do-did-done, take-took-takennot applicablenot applicable
  • • Irregular verbs: don't use -ed for past → go-went-gone (not goed*)
  • • Must memorize 3 forms: BASE / PAST SIMPLE / PAST PARTICIPLE
  • • Pattern A-A-A (no change): put-put-put, cost-cost-cost, cut-cut-cut
  • • Pattern -ought/-aught: buy-bought-bought, catch-caught-caught, teach-taught-taught
  • • Pattern vowel change (A-B-C): sing-sang-sung, drink-drank-drunk, swim-swam-swum
  • • Pattern -ew/-own: know-knew-known, throw-threw-thrown, grow-grew-grown
  • • Most common verbs are irregular: go, have, do, be, see, make, take, come, get
  • • Past participle used with: have (perfect tenses) and be (passive voice)
3

When to use it

  1. 1

    BASE form — present simple (except 3rd person)

    "I go to school." / "We eat breakfast." / "They see the movie." / "You do homework."

  2. 2

    PAST SIMPLE — past actions

    "I went to school yesterday." / "We ate breakfast." / "They saw the movie." / "You did homework."

  3. 3

    PAST PARTICIPLE — perfect tenses (have + past participle)

    "I have gone there." / "We have eaten." / "They have seen it." / "You have done it."

  4. 4

    PAST PARTICIPLE — passive voice (be + past participle)

    "It was done." / "The food was eaten." / "The letter was written." / "The car was taken."

4

Common mistakes

I goed to school.

I went to school.

GO is irregular: go-went-gone (not goed*).

I have went there.

I have gone there.

Use past participle (gone) after HAVE, not past simple (went).

He seed the movie.

He saw the movie.

SEE is irregular: see-saw-seen (not seed*).

I eated breakfast.

I ate breakfast.

EAT is irregular: eat-ate-eaten (not eated*).

5

Quick reference

  • Irregular verbs: don't use -ed → go-went-gone (not goed*)
  • 3 forms to learn: BASE / PAST SIMPLE / PAST PARTICIPLE
  • Common: go-went-gone, eat-ate-eaten, see-saw-seen, do-did-done
  • Pattern A-A-A: put-put-put, cost-cost-cost
  • Pattern -ought: buy-bought-bought, catch-caught-caught
  • Vowel change: sing-sang-sung, drink-drank-drunk
  • Past participle with: HAVE (perfect) or BE (passive)
6

Natural conversation example

Talking about yesterday

T

Tom

What did you do yesterday?
L

Lisa

I went to the park. Then I ate lunch with friends.
T

Tom

That sounds nice! Did you see anyone interesting?
L

Lisa

Yes! I saw my old teacher. We spoke for an hour.
T

Tom

Have you been to that park before?
L

Lisa

Yes, I've gone there many times. Have you been there?
T

Tom

No, I haven't. Maybe I'll go this weekend!

Practice Exercises

Complete with the correct irregular verb form.

  1. 1.
    I to school yesterday. (go, past)
  2. 2.
    I have there before. (go, past participle)
  3. 3.
    She breakfast this morning. (eat, past)
  4. 4.
    They the movie. (see, past)
  5. 5.
    I have my homework. (do, past participle)
  6. 6.
    He a book yesterday. (buy, past)
Verb PatternsAll TopicsStative Verbs

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