What is an irregular verb in English?
What is an irregular verb in English?
Irregular verbs in English are verbs that do not follow the usual conjugation rules to form their simple past tense and past participle. Unlike regular verbs which generally follow a standard conjugation pattern (such as adding -ed to the end of the verb to form the simple past tense and the past participle), irregular verbs have specific forms for each tense.
When learning irregular verbs in English, it is important to memorize the three main forms: present tense, simple past tense and past participle. Here is an example with the verb “to go”:
- Present: go / go
- Simple past: went
- Past participle: gone
These forms can be used to correctly conjugate the verb in different situations. For example :
- Present: “I go to school every day.”
- Past simple: “Yesterday I went to the store.”
- Past participle: “I went to Paris.”
When learning irregular verbs, it is often helpful to practice them regularly to memorize them effectively. Some people use memorization methods such as flashcards, songs, or games to make learning easier.
Here is a list of common irregular English verbs:
- To be for the sake of being):
- Present: am, is, are
- Past: was, were
- Past participle: summer
- Must have):
- Present: have, has
- Past: had
- Past participle: had
- To do):
- Present: to do, to do
- Past: done
- Past participle: done
- I have to go):
- Present: go, go
- Past: gone
- Past participle: gone
- Come come):
- Present: come, come
- Past: came
- Past participle: come
- Eat:
- Present: eat, eat
- Past: eaten
- Past participle: eaten
- Drink (drink):
- Gift: drink, drinks
- Past tense: drank
- Past participle: drunk
- Take:
- Present: take, take
- Past: taken
- Past participle: taken
- See see):
- Present: see, see
- Past tense: saw
- Past participle: seen
- To break:
- Present: pause, pauses
- Past: broke
- Past participle: broken
- Talk:
- Present: speak, speak
- Past: spoken
- Past participle: spoken
- To write:
- Present: write, written
- Past: written
- Past participle: written
There are of course many others, but these are among the most common.
How to learn the complete list of irregular verbs?
Learning the full list of irregular verbs in English may seem daunting, but with a methodical approach and a little regular practice, it becomes quite achievable.
Here are some tips to help you memorize irregular verbs:
- Divide and Conquer : Don't feel like you have to learn the whole list at once. Break it up into smaller sections and focus on a few verbs at a time.
- Use a variety of resources : Use a variety of resources to learn irregular verbs. This could include mobile apps, websites, grammar books, review sheets, songs or even games.
- Practice regularly : spend time every day reviewing irregular verbs. Regular repetition is essential for long-term memorization.
- Use mnemonics : Create associations or mnemonics to help you remember irregular shapes. For example, for the verb “to swim,” you might remember the phrase “I swam across the river” to recall the past form.
- Practice verbs in context : Use irregular verbs in sentences and conversations to anchor them in your memory. Try to integrate them into your daily English practice.
- Test yourself : Regularly test your knowledge using exercises, quizzes or review games. This will help you identify which verbs you know well and which ones you need to work on more.
- Be patient and persistent : Learning irregular verbs can take time, so be patient with yourself and keep practicing regularly.
By following these tips and adopting a consistent approach, you can gradually master the list of irregular verbs in English.
But first let's see how an English verb can be irregular.
Why is a verb irregular?
Irregular verbs in English are so designated because they do not follow regular conjugation patterns to form their simple past tense and past participle. Unlike regular verbs which generally follow predictable conjugation patterns (such as adding -ed to the end of the verb to form the simple past tense and the past participle), irregular verbs have specific forms for each tense.
There are several reasons why a verb may be irregular:
- Historical evolution of the language : Many irregular verbs in English have forms that evolved from Old English, a Germanic language that preceded modern English. Over time, some forms have changed irregularly rather than following fixed conjugation rules.
- Linguistic Influence : English is a language that has been influenced by many other languages over the centuries, including Latin, French, and Germanic languages. This diversity of linguistic influences has contributed to the presence of many irregular verbs in the English language.
- Pronunciation Conventions : In some cases, irregular forms may be related to pronunciation considerations. For example, the verb "être" has irregular forms ("am", "is", "are", "was", "were") that are easier to pronounce than if they followed regular conjugation patterns.
- Frequent usage : Some verbs have become irregular due to their frequency of use in the English language. The most commonly used verbs often have irregular forms because they have been used so often that the irregular forms have become more familiar than the regular forms.
In short, irregular verbs in English are the result of the historical evolution of the language, its influence by other languages, pronunciation considerations and the frequent use of certain verbs.