Irregular Verbs
English has hundreds of irregular verbs — verbs that don't form the simple past or past participle by simply adding -ed. Instead, they follow their own patterns, and mastering them is one of the most important steps toward fluent, natural English.
Irregular verbs fall into a handful of recognisable groups. Some stay the same in all three forms: hit, hit, hit. Others change once: feel, felt, felt. And many change twice, sometimes following vowel-shift patterns like sing, sang, sung or blow, blew, blown.
This reference lists the most common irregular verbs grouped by pattern, so you can spot the logic behind each group rather than memorising every verb in isolation. For each entry, you'll see the base form, the simple past, the past participle, and an example sentence that shows the verb in real use.
135 entries in this category
Irregular Verbs: Every Pattern Explained (go/went/gone & More) | @MyProGrammar Reference Library
Watch on YouTubeCompletely Irregular
25“She has been a teacher for twenty years.”
“He did everything he promised.”
“She had a long day at work.”
“They made a huge effort.”
“He could speak three languages.”
“She said she would call later.”
“You should take an umbrella.”
“It might rain this afternoon.”
“He had to leave early that day.”
“They went abroad for the holidays.”
“She brought flowers to the party.”
“He bought a new laptop.”
“She caught the ball with one hand.”
“They fought for their rights.”
“She sought advice from her mentor.”
“He taught English for thirty years.”
“She thought carefully before answering.”
“He paid the bill immediately.”
“She said she would be late.”
“He laid the tablecloth carefully.”
“She heard a knock at the door.”
“He led the team to victory.”
“She lost her phone at the concert.”
“He shot the winning goal.”
“She stood up and addressed the crowd.”
Irregular Past Participle (−en / −ne)
30“A new problem arose during the meeting.”
“She bore the responsibility with dignity.”
“He was bitten by a mosquito.”
“She broke the world record.”
“He chose the most difficult path.”
“She drove across the country alone.”
“He had eaten before she arrived.”
“Leaves had fallen all over the path.”
“She forgot her password again.”
“He forgave her without hesitation.”
“The pipes froze overnight.”
“She got the job she had always wanted.”
“He gave his seat to the elderly lady.”
“She went to Paris last summer.”
“He hid the gift behind the sofa.”
“She lay on the grass and looked at the sky.”
“He mistook her for someone else.”
“She had ridden horses since childhood.”
“The sun had risen before she woke.”
“He saw a shooting star from his window.”
“She shook his hand firmly.”
“He spoke fluent French.”
“Someone had stolen her bicycle.”
“She swore to tell the truth.”
“He took the first available train.”
“She tore open the envelope.”
“He woke early to watch the sunrise.”
“She wore her grandmother's necklace.”
“She wove a basket from reeds.”
“He had written ten pages by noon.”
Past = Past Participle (−t ending)
40“She bent the wire into a circle.”
“They built a new school in the town.”
“He burnt the toast again.”
“She dealt the cards quickly.”
“He dreamt of flying through clouds.”
“They dwelt in the mountains for years.”
“She felt a sudden chill in the room.”
“He kept all her old letters.”
“She knelt down to tie her shoelace.”
“He leant against the wall and waited.”
“The cat leapt onto the windowsill.”
“She learnt the poem by heart.”
“He left his umbrella on the train.”
“She lent him her bicycle for the day.”
“He meant what he said.”
“The explosion rent the silence of the night.”
“She sent the package overnight.”
“He slept through his alarm.”
“She smelt smoke from the kitchen.”
“He spelt his name for the receptionist.”
“She spent the weekend reading.”
“He spilt coffee on his shirt.”
“The milk spoilt in the heat.”
“She swept the floor before dinner.”
“He wept at the end of the film.”
“The cat crept silently across the floor.”
“She knit a scarf for the winter.”
“He lit the candles for the celebration.”
“She met her old friend at the market.”
“He sat in the front row.”
“She won the spelling bee.”
“He held the door open for her.”
“They sold the house in spring.”
“She told him the truth.”
“He stood at the back of the room.”
“She understood the instructions immediately.”
“He found his keys under the couch.”
“She bound the documents together.”
“He ground the coffee beans fresh.”
“She wound the clock before bed.”
Pattern: −ew / −own
10“The wind blew all night.”
“She drew a detailed map from memory.”
“The eagle flew over the mountains.”
“He grew tomatoes in his garden.”
“She knew the answer straight away.”
“He threw the ball across the field.”
“She showed great courage.”
“He sowed seeds in early spring.”
“She mowed the lawn before the guests arrived.”
“The river flowed gently through the valley.”
Same Form (Base = Past = Past Participle)
20“He bet ten dollars on the game.”
“The pipe burst during the winter frost.”
“She cast her fishing line into the river.”
“The repairs cost more than expected.”
“He cut the ribbon at the ceremony.”
“The key fit perfectly in the lock.”
“She hit the ball out of the park.”
“He hurt his ankle during training.”
“She let me borrow her pen.”
“He put the book on the shelf.”
“She read the report twice. (Past: pronounced 'red')”
“He set the alarm for six in the morning.”
“She shut the window before the rain came.”
“They split the bill evenly.”
“She spread the map across the table.”
“The news upset the whole team.”
“He finally rid himself of the bad habit.”
“The dog shed its winter coat.”
“She slit open the envelope carefully.”
“He thrust the door open.”
Vowel Change: i → a → u
10“She began a new chapter in her life.”
“He drank three glasses of water.”
“The doorbell rang twice.”
“The sweater shrank in the wash.”
“She sang at the school concert.”
“The small boat sank in the storm.”
“He sprang to his feet.”
“The bin stank in the heat.”
“She swam ten laps before breakfast.”
“He ran to catch the bus.”