By Carl H. Peterson ©2001

IRREGULAR VERB
FORMS LIST

Important
High-Frequency Verbs

ORDER OF FORMS

Present Tense
Past Tense
Past Participle

VERB "TO BE"

PRINCIPAL FORMS

am/are/is
was/were
been

PRESENT

I am
you are
he is
she is
we are
you are
they are




PAST

I was
you were
he was
she was
we were
you were
they were

PAST PARTICIPLE

I have been
you have been
he has been
she has been
we have been
you have been
they have been


IRREGULAR
THIRD PERSON VERBS

I have several
He has none
We had some
We have had

I do dishes
She does laundry
We did work

We have done
all this



I go far
He goes farther
He went home

We have gone
2 miles today
--------------------

OTHER
IRREGULAR VERBS

Present form
ends in /d/

Past forms
end in /t/

He bends metal
He bent it

He has bent
the nails

I build houses
I built trucks

I have built
a new house

Lends a hand
He lent it

He has lent us
lots of money

Sends me cake
for birthdays

He sent it

He has sent
some help

Spends a dime
He spent it

He has spent
all his cash
---------------------

LONG E TO
SHORT E VERBS

Simple present form
has /ee/ sound

wounds bleed

he feeds
the cows

she feeds
the kids

Past forms have
short /e/ sound

He bled

He has bled
to death

Animals feed

Tom fed
the geese
Have you
fed them?

I feel good
I felt bad

I have felt
very sad

He keeps giving
He kept it

He has kept
to himself

He leads me
He led her

He was
led astray

I leap over
I leapt over
the fence

The fire has
leapt the stream

The fire has
jumped the stream

The flames
have leapt
across the stream

He leaves now
He left
He has left
He means it
He meant it

He has meant
so much to me

I meet them
I met them

I have met
them before

She reads daily
She read it

She has read
many books

She sleeps well
She slept badly

She has slept
all night

I have slept
very well

You sweep it
You swept floors

You have swept
the whole room

They weep more
They all wept

They have wept
for him
--------------------------

I-A-U VERBS

Present form
has short
/i/ sound

Past form has
short /a/ sound

Past participle form
has short /u/ sound

He begins now
He began it

He has begun
to speak

I drink Coke
I drank it

I have drunk
several bottles

She rings bells
She rang them

She has rung
the doorbell

He sings songs
He sang tenor

He has sung
for hours

Ships sink daily
Thousands sank

All of them
have sunk

Fish swim
Sharks swam here

They swam
to the boat

except for:

I sit alone
I sat quietly

I have sat
by myself
every week
-------------------

PAST IN -AUGHT VERBS

Past forms
spelled -aught

Catchers catch balls
They caught one

She has caught
several fish

I teach English
You taught French

We have taught
both languages
--------------------

PAST IN -OUGHT VERBS

Past forms
spelled -ought


I bring gifts
to my friends

I brought money

I have brought
lots of things

It fights cancer
Max fought battles

They have fought
all alone

She thinks so
She thought too much

She has thought
about it

You buy cars
You bought trucks

You have bought
both cars
-----------------

VARIOUS VOWEL
CHANGES

It becomes clear
It became dark

It has become
very cloudy

He comes from
South America

We came in
We have
come in

The wind blows
Leaves blew in

It has blown
for three days

He draws trees
He drew shells

He has drawn
many birds

Planes fly low
One flew over

It has flown
back to Paris

Some grow rich
Some grew corn

Some have grown
very tall


I know you
I knew her

I have known
many Spaniards

He throws parties
He threw rocks

He has thrown
big rocks.

Some dogs bite
One bit me

It has bitten
many people

You drive fast
You drove home

You have driven
200 miles

Thieves hide loot
They hid treasure

They have hidden
gold and jewels

Rex lights fires
He lit candles

He has lit
the fire

I make toys
I made gifts
I have made
many stops

Cowboys ride well
They rode off

They have ridden
far away

The dough rises
It rose slowly

It has risen
enough now

John writes letters

He wrote her
a poem

He has written
in his book

Bones break
very easily

This one
broke in half

It has broken
in two

I choose one
I chose three

I have chosen
to go

Water freezes

It froze
last night

It has frozen
into a block

She speaks well
She spoke fast

She has spoken
to them

Worry steals time
You stole time

They have stolen
lots of money

You wake early
You woke up

Old cloth
tears easily

It tore loose
from the post

It has torn
in half

I wear Levi's
I wore purple

I have worn
several suits

He sells cars
He sold many

Few have sold
this month

He tells stories

He told me
to leave

He has told
them to go

He shakes hands
He shook hers

He has shaken
our faith

It takes time
It took hours

It has taken
too long

You stand here
You stood there

You have stood
long enough

I understand
your problem

I understood
his answer

I have
understood it

Foxes dig holes
Foxes dug here

They have dug
a deep pit

It hangs there
in the closet

It hung
upside down

It has hung
there all day

Glue sticks
tight to doors

It stuck
to his hands

It has stuck
to him

They swing
on hinges

Doors swung open
to the outside

They have swung
from the lamp

Cats eat mice
for lunch
Ours just ate
two birds

It has eaten
three more

Rain falls
on the roof

It fell briefly
yesterday

It has fallen
all day

He finds money
He found her

He has found
his dreamgirl

She forgets

She forgot
all her keys

She has forgotten
her French

They get candy
They got mail

Few have gotten
very rich

We give support
We gave blood

We have given
all we can

I hear rustling
I heard rattling

I have heard
ghosts moaning

It holds sugar
It held jewels

It has held
many things

They lie resting
They lay quietly

They have lain
there for hours

They lose sleep
They lost money

Many have lost
all they had

Time runs fast
It ran out

It has run
out for him

We see movies
We saw friends

We have seen
the latest films
They say "No"
They said "OK"

They have said
you could work

He shoots photos
of children

He shot
twice as many

He has shot
some winners

Athletes win medals
Some won prizes

They have won
first place
------------------

UNCHANGING PAST VERBS

He puts on
silk socks

He put on
a jacket

He has put
his tux on

They set aside
what they can

They set out
for the pole
Some have set
fire to houses

He lets go
of the reins

He let
the horse gallop

He has let
it escape

They cut off
the power

They cut it
off yesterday

They have cut it
off since noon

Fighter planes
hit hard

They hit
both targets

They have hit
all their targets

She quits often

She quit
that job

She has quit
going back

It costs plenty
It cost less

It has cost
too much

She shuts
the door

She shut it

She has shut
both windows

He hurts people
He hurt himself

He has hurt
his chances

It casts shadows

He cast off
the rope

He has cast
the dice

He lost
----------------------

MORE PRACTICE
WITH
IRREGULAR VERBS

(Including imperatives
and passive constructions)

Be good
I am good
Is he good
Are you good
They are good

I was there
We were there

I have been
to Venice

It begins here
It began last night

It has begun
to smolder

Don't bite him
He bit me
He was bitten

Break it
It broke
It was broken

Bring it now
She brought it

She has brought
two jars

It bursts
as it rises

It burst
yesterday

The bubble
has burst

He chooses it
He chose it

It was chosen
for its beauty

Come over here
It came late

It has come
in the mail

Dive in now

You dove
into the water

You have dived
for fun

Drink the milk
We drank it

We have drunk
several glasses

Drive the car
You drove home

You were driven
to madness

They drown
their sorrows

They drowned
in the sea

They have drowned
out the noise

Eat supper
You ate it

It was eaten
in five minutes

Don't fall off
He fell off

He has fallen
off the train

Forsake it
He forsook it

He has forsaken
all his friends

Hide it somewhere
He hid it

It was hidden
under the bed

Lay it down

He laid it
on its side

He was laid
to rest

Lie down

He lay
in bed

I have lain
in bed

Don't lie

He lied
to me

He has lied
many times

Raise your hand
She raised it

She was raised
to believe

Shine the light
over here

The light shone
very brightly

It has shone
for three days

Shine the shoes
He shined them

They were shined
very skillfully



Show the present

You showed it
to us

It was shown
to me

Sing the song
He sang it

It was sung
at Christmas

Sit down
He sat down

She has sat
on that chair

Slay a dragon
He slew it

He has slain
two others

Speak up
He spoke loudly

He has spoken
to his lawyer

Spring on
that mouse

It sprang away

It has sprung
into the grass

He swears
it is true

He swore
he would wait

He has sworn
his loyalty

Wake up
He woke up

Wring it out

He wrung it
with both hands

It was wrung
bone dry
---------------------

SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT

he cheers
for the winner

winners are cheered

fans cheer
for both teams

Does anyone
like mustard?
Anyone is
allowed in.
desserts are
sweet foods

one favorite
is cherries

another
is peaches

no one
is here

no one
is singing

no one else
plays checkers

no one
goes there

neither you
nor I
can play
this game

neither of us
is ready

every startup
costs money

everyone plays
fun games

each candle
burns brightly

one learns
by doing

someone has
scared her

somebody is
leaving town

either one
is OK

has everyone
gone swimming

neither car
is new

one zoo
has lions

nobody here
is ready

no one
listens carefully

anyone learns
who listens

either one
can do it

each musician
plays his part
none of these
watches works

here are
five apples

here is
a book

where has
Carlos gone?

how is
curry cooked

there goes
our beachball

where do
snakes live

there were
many players

here lies
Jefferson Davis

here come
both twins

END OF SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT
--------------------

VARIOUS VERB FORMS

John sings
we sing
tenors sing



cat hisses
cats hiss
hissing cats

leaves fall
visitors leave

a skater wins
a big win

sold paintings
one was sold

improved style
they improved

both sleep
they were sleeping

sprinters run
running water

columns stand
standing army
standing water

jury sits
sitting jury

to swim
swimming lesson

train arrives
arriving late

help comes
waiter came
horses stampede
stampeding herd

cattle roam
roaming free

gum lasts
flavor lasted

inspection shows
showing movies

taxi waits
waited hours
no waiting

thieves take gold
silver was taken

crowd demands
a demanding lesson

help was delayed
it delays relief

basket is passed
a passing fancy

he still lives
in Denver

the living room
is comfortable

ice melts
butter melted


he has stolen
my purse

the child
steals candy

we have made
chocolate cake

he makes bread

he has spoken
the boss speaks

we play tunes
we played chess

pets drink
a drinking song

they guzzled
the cokes

parents disagree
a disagreement

you do well
well done!

he has contributed
one thousand

we have many
contributions

rulers control
the country

controlled release
of chemicals

he has attended
I take attendance

I have asked
he asks questions

He had worked
for Gates

He works hard
for his money

She sang alto
She sings daily

hope lives
in my heart

a living memory

tourists visit
visiting hours

the book sold
selling price

experts know
knowing smile


SUBJECT PRONOUNS
OBJECT PRONOUNS
& POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES


she showed me
I asked her

we rode
he asked us

she takes it
with her

he works
on him

they look hard
for their keys

Dust settled
all around them

all about him
just for them

he can wait
they must go

his bat cracked
their gloves shrank

her skirt tore
their shoes shone

its own name
their own house

talked to himself
spoke for themselves



he pays
the bill

tell stories
about him

she watches
her shoes

his own dog
their own money

she is
her aunt

she sent
for her

they were
after them

I am home
by five

we travelers
are tired

are you coming
with us?

she saw it
they blamed her

they called
for them

he spoke
they listened
who said
it's raining

for whom
the bell tolls

he lacks money
they squander it

He's old
so they say

If they call
answer them

between you
and me

you and
I left

I gambled
watch me win

to Sam
and her

she and
Sam entered

they came
with them

watch her
make bread



WHO
WHOM
WHOSE
WHO'S

to whom
did it come

who is that

who's there

whose books
are these

who arrived

about whom
was it written?

who brought it

for whom
are they looking?
-----------------------


SOUND ALIKE -
DIFFERENT MEANINGS

They're nice
their bike

it's in there
their condo

too broke
too tired
me too

two girls
want to go

they went too
those two

had to go
too clever

eat here
hear me

from here
Hear that?

besides winning
stood beside me

besides going
stand beside me
----------------


COMMONLY CONFUSED
VERBS

let go
leave some

leave it
leave town

leave open
leave gifts


let drop
let alone

leave home
leave alone

learns to speak
teaches Chinese

life teaches
people learn

he taught me
I learned

I learned English
he taught French
--------------------


CONTRACTIONS/POSSESSIVES

Who's coming?
Whose book?

Who's there?
Whose scarf?

Who's awake?
Whose pajamas?

It's big.
its size

It's wide.
its width


It's easy.
lost its way

You're asleep.
your bed

You're dreaming.

your dreams
are scary

You're eating
your breakfast
---------------

COMPARATIVE
/SUPERLATIVE

the world's largest
none is larger

the year's worst
a worse joke

Denver's best
a better choice

the greenest lawn
mine's greener

the fastest typist
she's faster

the highest mountain
some are higher

the happiest day
tomorrow is happier
the easiest choice
this is easier

the tallest girl
no one is taller

the brightest lamp
a brighter lamp

the loudest horn
mine is louder

the biggest squash
this is bigger

the longest toe
four are smaller

the oldest son
an older girl

the busiest clerk
a busier day

the largest ball
a larger cube

the cleanest room
a cleaner one

the finest cloth
mine is finer

his newest clothes
a newer hat

the driest dirt
drier sand
the shortest time
a shorter stick

the neatest paper
a neater version

shortest speech
shorter answer

the darkest sky
a darker cloud

the sharpest point
a sharper edge

the fattest player
a fatter coach
---------------------


COMMONLY CONFUSED
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
& PREPOSITIONS

real butter
very tasty

real diamonds
very shiny

almost everyone
most people

almost done
most had finished


surely believed
felt sure

surely understood
was not sure


PREDICATE ADJECTIVES
WITH LINKING VERBS

He feels good
He plays well

Sue appears
confident

She drives
confidently

Ralph looks
very serious

He talks
seriously

looks bad
does badly

smells rotten
behaved rottenly

feels soft
speaks softly

sounds awful
awful noise


tastes sour
smiles sourly

seemed easy
won easily

are busy
busily working

looks correct
spoke correctly

become better
perform well

smells wonderful
cooks wonderfully
-------------------

AVOIDING
DOUBLE NEGATIVES

Is no one
coming back?

Isn't anyone
coming back?

will hardly go
won't go at all

Scarcely anyone
cares anymore

Nobody cares
these days


Never saw
such clothes

haven't ever
seen them

never heard
any stories

Don't say
anything

Say nothing

Nobody takes
anything

Take nothing
with you

Not any
of them

None of them
could go

Aren't you ever
coming over?

Are you never
going back?

There aren't
any chocolates




never flies
anywhere

flies nowhere

can't see
anymore
------------------


AVOIDING
"KIND" ERRORS

What kind
of job

What kinds
of jobs

That kind
of car

Those kinds
of cars

This kind
of plant

These kinds
of plants
------------

AVOIDING ERRORS
WITH PREPOSITIONS

stand beside me
none besides you

stay in
go into

between two
among several
-------------


CONJUNCTIONS
& PREPOSITIONS

unless I go
all except me

neither you
nor I know

for neither
you nor me

either you
or I go

for either you
or me

as you said

How like him!

do as instructed

I'm not
like any other

acts as if
he knows me

this photo
looks like her

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