Struggling with Irregular Verbs in English? These don’t follow standard -ed rules for past tense and past participle. Master 100 essential examples, conjugation tips, and exam strategies in this guide. Ideal for Telangana SSC students, competitive exams, and grammar enthusiasts, transform your English skills effortlessly!
Introduction to Irregular Verbs in English
Irregular Verbs in English challenge learners because they skip the predictable “-ed” ending for past and past participle forms. Unlike regular verbs (e.g., walk-walked), irregular ones like “go-went-gone” demand memorization. This guide delivers 100 Irregular Verbs in English examples, tips for exams, and FAQs to help students ace competitive tests like SSC, IELTS, and bank exams.
Why focus on Irregular Verbs in English? They appear in 70% of everyday speech and writing, making them crucial for fluency and scoring high in grammar sections.
What Are Irregular Verbs in English?
Irregular Verbs in English change forms unpredictably:
- Base form (present): Original verb.
- Past simple: For completed actions.
- Past participle: Used in perfect tenses (e.g., have gone).
Quick Tip: Group them by patterns—about 200 exist, but 100 cover 90% of usage.
100 Examples of Irregular Verbs in English
Here’s a comprehensive, alphabetized list of 100 Irregular Verbs in English with base, past simple, and past participle forms. Use this for flashcards or quizzes.
- arise – arose – arisen
- awake – awoke – awoken
- be – was/were – been
- bear – bore – borne
- beat – beat – beaten
- become – became – become
- begin – began – begun
- bend – bent – bent
- bet – bet – bet
- bid – bid – bid
- bind – bound – bound
- bite – bit – bitten
- bleed – bled – bled
- blow – blew – blown
- break – broke – broken
- breed – bred – bred
- bring – brought – brought
- build – built – built
- burn – burned/burnt – burned/burnt
- burst – burst – burst
- buy – bought – bought
- cast – cast – cast
- catch – caught – caught
- choose – chose – chosen
- cling – clung – clung
- come – came – come
- cost – cost – cost
- creep – crept – crept
- cut – cut – cut
- deal – dealt – dealt
- dig – dug – dug
- do – did – done
- draw – drew – drawn
- dream – dreamed/dreamt – dreamed/dreamt
- 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 – got/gotten
- give – gave – given
- go – went – gone
- grow – grew – grown
- hang – hung – hung
- have – had – had
- hear – heard – heard
- hide – hid – hidden
- hit – hit – hit
- hold – held – held
- hurt – hurt – hurt
- keep – kept – kept
- kneel – knelt – knelt
- know – knew – known
- lay – laid – laid
- lead – led – led
- lean – leaned/leant – leaned/leant
- leap – leaped/leapt – leaped/leapt
- learn – learned/learnt – learned/learnt
- leave – left – left
- lend – lent – lent
- let – let – let
- lie – lay – lain
- light – lit/lighted – lit/lighted
- lose – lost – lost
- make – made – made
- mean – meant – meant
- meet – met – met
- mow – mowed – mown/mowed
- pay – paid – paid
- put – put – put
- quit – quit – quit
- read – read – read
- 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
- shine – shone – shone
- shoot – shot – shot
- show – showed – shown/showed
- shut – shut – shut
- sing – sang – sung
Important Tips on Irregular Verbs in English for Exams
For students and competitive exam candidates (SSC, IBPS, Telangana Board):
- Memorize in Groups: Categorize by similar patterns (e.g., sing-sang-sung, ring-rang-rung).
- Use Mnemonics: “Buy-bought” like “bought a boat.”
- Practice Sentences: “She [went/gone] to the store” → Correct: went (past simple).
- Common Exam Traps: Watch “lay/lie” (lay-laid vs. lie-lay); “rise/raise” (rise-rose vs. raise-raised).
- Tenses Focus: Past participle for passives/perfects—e.g., “The work has been [done].”
- Frequency: Top 10 (be, have, do, say, get, make, go, know, take, see) appear in 50% of sentences.
These boost scores in grammar, cloze tests, and error spotting.
FAQs on Irregular Verbs in English
1. How many Irregular Verbs in English are there?
Around 200, but master 100 for daily use and exams. Focus on high-frequency ones like “go-went-gone.”
2. What’s the difference between regular and Irregular Verbs in English?
Regular add “-ed” (walk-walked); irregular change fully (eat-ate-eaten). No rule—just memorize!
3. Can Irregular Verbs in English have two past forms?
Yes, e.g., “burn-burned/burnt.” British English favors “-t”; American prefers “-ed.”
Conclusion: Conquer Irregular Verbs in English
Mastering Irregular Verbs in English unlocks fluent speaking, writing, and exam success. Practice the 100 examples daily, apply tips, and watch your grammar soar. Share this with Telangana SSC students.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes. Verb forms may vary slightly by dialect (British vs. American). Consult official syllabi for exams.
Also Read: The Difference Between Affect and Effect Explained: Master English Grammar Easily
How to Use Pronouns Correctly in English: 100 Examples & Expert Tips
