April 12, 2008

irregular verbs

The English language has a large number of irregular verbs. In the great majority of these, the past participle and/or past tense is not formed according to the usual patterns of English regular verbs. Other parts of the verb — such as the present 3rd person singular -s or -es, and present participle -ing — may still be formed regularly.

Most irregular verbs exist as remnants of historical conjugation systems. What is today an exception actually followed a set, normal rule long ago. When that rule fell into disuse, some verbs kept the old conjugation.

I will group irregular verbs into some groups by some common signs:

  • The first group includes indefinite, past simple and past participle which are all different.
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bewas/werebeen
    dodiddone
    gowentgone
    lielaylain
    sawsawedsawn
    seesawseen
    showshowedshown
    sowsowedsown

    -ew   -own/-awn   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    blowblewblown
    drawdrewdrawn
    flyflewflawn
    growgrewgrown
    knowknewknown
    throwthrewthrown

    -ear   -ore   -orn   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bearboreborn
    swearsworesworn
    teartoretorn
    wearworeworn

    -i-   -a-   -u-   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    beginbeganbegun
    drinkdrankdrunk
    ringrangrung
    shrinkshrankshrunk
    singsangsung
    sinksanksunk
    spinspanspun
    springsprangsprung
    swimswamswum

    ablaut subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    arisearosearisen
    bitebitbitten
    breakbrokebroken
    choosechosechoosen
    drivedrovedriven
    eatateeaten
    fallfellfallen
    forbidforbadeforbidden
    forgetforgotforgotten
    freezefrozefrozen
    givegavegiven
    rideroderidden
    riseroserisen
    shakeshookshaken
    speekspokespoken
    stealstolestolen
    strivestrovestriven
    swellswelledswollen
    taketooktaken
    treadtrodtrodden
    writewrotewritten


  • The second group contains verbs with equal indefinite, past simple and past participle forms.
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    burst   x 3
    cast   x 3
    cost   x 3
    hit   x 3
    hurt   x 3
    let   x 3
    put   x 3
    readread [red]*read [red]*
    set   x 3
    shed   x 3
    shut   x 3
    split   x 3
    spread   x 3
    * pronunciation

  • The third group consists of verbs with two equal forms.
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    beatbeatbeaten
    (be)come(be)came(be)come
    buildbuilt   x 2
    fleefled   x 2
    getgot   x 2
    hanghung   x 2
    havehad   x 2
    hearheard   x 2
    holdheld   x 2
    leadled   x 2
    leaveleft   x 2
    loselost   x 2
    makemade   x 2
    runranrun
    sellsold   x 2
    shineshone   x 2
    sitsat   x 2
    slideslid   x 2
    spitspat   x 2
    standstood   x 2
    teachtaught   x 2
    telltold   x 2
    understandunderstood   x 2
    winwon   x 2

    -end   -ent   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bendbent   x 2
    lendlent   x 2
    sendsent   x 2
    spendspent   x 2

    -ught   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bringbrought   x 2
    buybought   x 2
    catchcaught   x 2
    fightfought   x 2
    seeksaught   x 2
    thinkthought   x 2

    -eep   -ept   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    creepcrept   x 2
    keepkept   x 2
    sleepslept   x 2
    sweepswept   x 2
    weepwept   x 2

    -vvc   -vc   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bleedbled   x 2
    breedbred   x 2
    feedfed   x 2
    meetmet   x 2
    shootshot   x 2
    speedsped   x 2

    -ay   -aid   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    laylaid   x 2
    paypaid   x 2
    saysaid   x 2

    -i-   -u-   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    clingclung   x 2
    digdug   x 2
    flingflung   x 2
    stickstuck   x 2
    stingstung   x 2
    strikestruck   x 2
    swingswung   x 2

    -ind   -ound   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    bindbound   x 2
    findfound   x 2
    grindground   x 2
    windwound   x 2

    -c   -ct   subgroup:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    burnburnt   x 2
    dealdealt   x 2
    dwelldwelt   x 2
    kneelknelt   x 2
    meanmeant   x 2

  • A verbs of the fourth group can be regular or irregular:
    indefinitivepast simplepast participle
    awakeawoke/awakedawoke/awaked
    broadcastbroadcast/broadcastedbroadcast/broadcasted
    dreamdreamt/dreameddreamt/dreamed
    leanleant/leanedleant/leaned
    leapleapt/leapedleapt/leaped
    learnlearnt/learnedlearnt/learned
    lightlit/lightedlit/lighted
    smellsmelt/smelledsmelt/smelled
    spellspelt/spelledspelt/spelled
    spillspilt/spilledspilt/spilled
    spoilspoilt/spoiledspoilt/spoiled
    wakewoke/awakedwoke/awaked

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