English can be a bit strange. Sometimes it seems like it breaks all the rules, especially if you learn it as your second language. A good example of this is irregular verbs. These do not follow the standard rule for converting a verb to the past tense. While you can learn some repeating patterns, at some point you will need to start memorizing their past simple and participle forms. However, this is not as difficult as it sounds. When you're just starting out, you should learn the basics and focus on the most commonly used irregular verbs. Remember to practice the irregular verbs that you are learning, and read and listen to native speakers to be able to remember them more easily.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Grouping Irregular Verbs
Step 1. Learn the definition of irregular verbs
To learn how to use them, you must first understand what they are. An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the standard rule to create its form in the past tense. This rule consists of adding the suffix “-ed” to the base form of the verb (infinitive) to make it the past tense.
- Take the regular verb "to want" as an example. To make it past simple, the suffix “-ed” is added, so it becomes “wanted”. "Wanted" is also its past participle. The participle is the form of the verb that follows "have" or "has" in English verb constructions, as in the example "I have wanted".
- To obtain the past tense of an irregular verb, the same rule is not followed. For example, "to begin" is an irregular verb. Its past simple form is "began", while the participle is "begun". As you can see, irregular verbs don't follow a specific pattern.
- Some irregular verbs are different depending on whether you use American or British English. Therefore, try to focus on one of the two while learning the verbs. For example, in British English, a "t" is added to the end of some verbs to form the past tense, as is the case with "dream" and "dreamt" (to dream).
Step 2. Understand that some irregular verbs keep their basic form in past tenses
For example, a verb like “set” (to put) has the same infinitive form, past simple and participle. This means that you don't have to change it in any way.
- For example, it says “I set the book down here” in the present tense (“I put the book here”), “I set it here yesterday” in the past simple (“I put it here yesterday”) and “I have set it there”In participle (“I have put it there”).
- Other verbs that fall into this category are: “let” (to let, allow), “spread” (to spread), “shed” (to move), “thrust” (to push), “split” (to separate), “upset” (annoy, "hurt," "shut," "put," "burst," "hit," "cut," and "cost.").
Step 3. Find the verbs that are the same in the past simple and past participle
Some verbs change when they are transformed from present to past. However, its form remains the same in the past simple and participle. Some examples of this pattern are "keep" and "shoot".
- In the case of “keep”, it says “I keep this with me all the time” in the present tense (“I carry it with me all the time”), “I kept it with me all the time” in the past simple (“I took it with me all the time”) and“I have kept it with me the whole time”in participle (“I have carried it with me all the time”).
- These verbs follow several different patterns. Some change vowels, such as “sit” and “sat” (sit), and “get” and “got” (obtain).
- Some verbs add a "t" at the end, in addition to changing or omitting a vowel or consonant. For example, this is the case of "feel" and "felt" (feel), "lend" and "lent" (lend), "keep" and "kept" (maintain), or "build" and "built" (build up). Other verbs add a "d" and can add a vowel, or change a vowel or a consonant, as in the case of "pay" and "paid" (pay), "say" and "said" (say), "sell "And" sold "(to sell)," tell "and" told "(to say)," hear "and" heard "(to hear), and" stand "and" stood "(to stand).
- Verbs like “bring”, “buy”, “fight” and “think” become “brought”, “bought”, “fought” and “thought”, respectively. In these cases, the pattern is to add "ght" to the end.
Step 4. Pay attention to irregular verbs that have 3 different forms
Some verbs have a form for the present, one for the past simple, and one for the participle. These are the most difficult to learn. Unfortunately, some of the most common verbs are in this category, such as "be" (to be, to be) and "go" (to go).
- For example, for the verb “to be”, “I am here” is said in the present tense (“I am here”), “I was there” in the past simple (“I was there”) and “I have been there” in the participle ("I have been there").
- In this category, some verbs have the suffix "-en" added in the participle form, as in the case of "break, broke, broken" (break), "fall, fell, fallen" (fall), " ride, rode, ridden”(to ride),“see, saw, seen”(to see), and“speak, spoke, spoken”(to speak).
- Other verbs change the vowel of the present for an "e" in the past simple ". In the case of the participle, it can have “wn” at the end. Some examples are "flow, flew, flown" (to flow), "draw, drew, drawn" (to draw), and "grow, grew, grown" (to grow).
- Also, some verbs can change vowel in each of the forms, as in the case of “swim, swam, swum” (to swim), “begin, began, begun” (to begin), “sing, sang sung” (to sing), and "drink, drank, drunk" (to drink).
Step 5. Note that some verbs omit letters when they change to the past simple and past participle
Verbs are generally lengthened or remain the same size in the past tense. For this reason, some verbs such as “light” (to turn on), which are shortened in their past simple form and participle “lit”, can confuse new learners. Another similar example is the verb "shoot", which becomes "shot" in the past simple and participle.
Step 6. Get a large list of irregular verbs
You can try to find patterns in the different shapes. However, you will most likely have to memorize the vast majority of them. It begins with a list of the most commonly used irregular verbs, such as the ones provided below: https://www.giuseppeveronese.it/public/231/2478_Common-Irregular-Verbs-Grouped.pdf or https://www.chompchomp.com / rules / irregularrules01.htm.
This page is also a good source:
Part 2 of 3: Practice Irregular Verbs
Step 1. Use index cards or flashcards as study tools, to make it easier to remember
Write the infinitive of the verb on one side (that is, "to" plus the present verb). On the back, write down the form in the past simple. You can use the tiles to test your memory.
You can also add the participle on the back of the card
Step 2. Practice using irregular verbs in sentences
Each week you can focus on a set of verbs; 10 is a good number. Practice creating sentences with each of them. Write the sentence with the verb in the present, past simple and participle.
Using irregular verbs in sentences will help you internalize them and learn them well
Step 3. Use online games to practice irregular verbs
You can use digital resources to practice as much as possible. While most of the learning games are straightforward, these will help you become familiar with the most common irregular verbs.
For example, you can find games to practice irregular verbs on this page: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/verb_wheel/. Another option is this page:
Step 4. Download applications to learn irregular verbs
Some applications use games to help you learn. Once you have the app on your phone or tablet, play games to reinforce your knowledge of verbs. For example, you can use the application “English Irregular Verbs” (irregular verbs in English).
Step 5. Use online quizzes and tests to gauge your progress
These tools can be multiple choice or exercises to fill in the blanks with the correct verb form. Regardless of the type of work it requires, tests can help you see how much you have learned and how much you still have to learn.
For example, you can find short tests on the following website: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/past-simple-irregular-verbs or https://esl.fis.edu/grammar /verbs/5.htm
Part 3 of 3: Get Familiar with Using Irregular Verbs
Step 1. Read as much as you can
This suggestion may seem simple, but it is worth remembering that reading is one of the tools that helps you the most to learn irregular verbs. The more you read, the easier it will be for you to recognize the different forms of verbs.
It doesn't matter what material you decide to read, as long as you do. Irregular verbs are in all kinds of texts
Step 2. Watch or listen to programs with content in English
Hearing the irregular verbs in use can also help you become familiar with them. The more you listen to them, the more likely you are to use them correctly when speaking.
Try to watch one of your favorite shows in English at least once a day. In this way, your ear will pick up more information than you think
Step 3. Pay attention to the irregular verbs you see or hear
As you read or listen to material in English, be sure to identify the irregular verbs used. You can find them in sentences in the past tense where the verb does not end in "-ed".
Use context to understand. If the entire passage is in the past, then most likely a sentence in this part is also in the past, even if the verb does not end in “-ed”
Step 4. Look up the meaning of the words you don't know
If you are not sure whether a verb is irregular or not, you can look it up in the dictionary. A dictionary entry will provide you with the past simple and participle form of a verb, which can help you determine whether it is a regular or irregular verb.