By Carl H. Peterson
Copyright 2001

IRREGULAR VERB
FORMS LIST

Important
High-Frequency Verbs

ORDER OF FORMS

Infinitive
Present Tense
Past Tense
Past Participle

VERB
TO BE

PRINCIPAL FORMS

to be
am/are/is
was/were
been

PRESENT

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

PAST

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

PAST PARTICIPLE

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

IRREGULAR
THIRD PERSON VERBS

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

to do
I do dishes
She does laundry
We did work
You have done

to go
I go far
He goes farther
He went home
We have gone

OTHER IRREGULAR
VERBS

D TO T VERBS
Simple present form
ends in /d/

Past forms
end in /t/

I bend metal
He bent it
We have bent

I build houses
He built trucks
We have built

Lends a hand
They lent it
They have lent

Sends me some
He sent it
He has sent

Spends two minutes
He spent them
He has spent

LONG E TO
SHORT E VERBS

Simple present form
has /ee/ sound

Past forms have
short /e/ sound

Wounds bleed
He bled
We have bled

Animals feed
The geese fed
They have fed

I feel good
He felt bad
We felt alright

He keeps giving
He kept it
They have kept

He leads me
He led her
He was led

I leap over
He leapt
He has leapt

I leave now
He left
He has left

I mean it
He meant it
They have meant

I meet them
I met them
We have met

He reads daily
She once read
We have read

He sleeps well
She slept badly
We have slept

He sweeps it
You swept floors
They have swept

We weep more
They all wept
They have wept

I-A-U VERBS

Simple present form
has short
/i/ sound

Past form has
short /a/ sound

Past participle form
has short /u/ sound

He begins now
We began it
We have begun

I drink it
He drank it
We have drunk

He rings bells
She rang it
They have rung

We sing songs
He sang tenor
They have sung

Ships sink daily
Thousands sank
All have sunk

Fish swim
Sharks swam here
They have swum

except for:

I sit alone
He sat quietly
They have sat

PAST IN -AUGHT VERBS

Past forms
spelled -aught

Catchers catch balls
He caught one
She has caught

I teach English
You taught French
We have taught

PAST IN -OUGHT VERBS

Past forms
spelled -ought

I bring gifts
You brought money
They have brought

It fights cancer
Max fought battles
We have fought

I think so
He thought not
We have thought

You buy cars
I bought trucks
We have bought


VARIOUS VOWEL
CHANGES

It becomes clear
It became dark
It has become

He comes from
We came in
It has come

The wind blows
Leaves blew in
It has blown

He draws trees
She drew shells
They have drawn

Planes fly low
One flew over
It has flown

Some grow rich
They grew corn
It has grown

I know you
He knew much
You have known

She throws parties
He threw rocks
They have thrown

Some dogs bite
One bit me
It has bitten

You drive fast
They drove home
We have driven

Thieves hide loot
He hid treasure
They have hidden

Matches light fires
Fred lit candles
I have lit

I make toys
We made gifts
You have made

Cowboys ride well
Bart rode off
He has ridden

The dough rises
It rose slowly
It has risen

John writes letters
I wrote her
We have written

Sticks break bones
He broke it
It has broken

I choose one
He chose three
We have chosen

Water freezes
It froze
It has frozen

She speaks well
They spoke fast
We have spoken

Worry steals time
You stole it
They have stolen

I wake early
You woke up
He has woken

The sail tears
It tore loose
It has torn

People wear clothes
She wore purple
They have worn

He sells cars
He sold many
Few have sold

I tell stories
He told me
We have told

He shakes hands
I shook hers
We have shaken

It takes time
Workers took breaks
Some have taken

You stand here
She stood there
They have stood

I understand little
She understood much
He has understood

Foxes dig holes
They dug trenches
We have dug

It hangs there
They hung around
It has hung

Glue sticks tight
They stuck onto
It has stuck

Players swing bats
Doors swung open
They have swung

Cats eat mice
He already ate
He has eaten

Rain falls in
It fell briefly
It has fallen

I find money
She found him
We have found

He forgets things
She forgot keys
They have forgotten

They get candy
He got mail
Few have gotten

We give answers
They gave blood
She has given

I hear music
He heard trumpets
People have heard

It holds treasure
It held sugar
They have held

He lies resting
They lay quietly
They have lain

She loses sleep
We lost money
Many have lost

He runs fast
Time ran out
It has run

I see poorly
He saw friends
We have seen

He says "No"
They said "OK"
You have said

He shoots birds
They shot twice
I have shot

Athletes win prizes
They won cars
We have won

UNCHANGING PAST VERBS

He puts on
We put in
We have put

She sets aside
They set out
Some have set

He lets go
He let loose
He has let

Knives cut meat
They cut it
They have cut

He hits hard
He hit both
She has hit

She quits often
He quit swinging
He has quit

It costs plenty
It cost less
It has cost

She shuts off
She shut it
She has shut

He hurts people
He hurt himself
He has hurt

It casts shadows
He cast off
He has cast


IRREGULAR VERBS BY TERESA

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

I was there
We were there

I have been

Begin here
Began last night
He has begun

Don't bite him
He bit me
He was bitten

Break it
It broke
It was broken

Bring it now
He brought it
She has brought

It bursts today
It burst yesterday
It has burst

He chooses it
He chose it
It was chosen

Come over here
It came late
It has come

Dive in now
He dove in
He has dived

Drink the milk
He drank it
It was drunk

Drive the car
Drove home
It was driven

It drowns
He drowned
He has drowned

Eat supper
He ate it
It was eaten

Fall down
It fell off
He had fallen

Do not fight
He fought it
They have fought

Fly away
The bird flew
It has flown

Forsake it
He forshook it
He has forsaken

Give it away
He gave it
He has given

It grows
It grew big
It has grown

Hang on
Hang it up
It was hung

Hide it somewhere
He hid it
It was hidden

I know how
He knew it
They have known

Lay it down
He laid it
It was laid

Lead me there
He led her
He was led

Leap over it
He leapt
He has leapt

Leave now
He left
He has left

Lie down
She lay
I have lain

Don't lie
He lied
He has lied

I mean it
He meant it
They have meant

Raise your hand
He raised it
It was raised

Ride home now
He rode it
It was ridden

Ring the bell
He rang it
It was rung

Rise up early
The sun rose
It has risen

Run over there
He ran home
He has run

Set the timer
It was set
It had set

Shake the rattle
He shook it
It was shaken

Shine the light
The light shone
It has shone

Shine the shoes
He shined them
They were shined

Show the present
They showed it
It was shown

Sing the song
He sang it
It was sung

It will sink
It sank
It has sunk

Sit down
He sat down
She has sat

Slay a dragon
Slew the beast
Has been slain

He sleeps well
She slept badly
We have slept

Speak up
He spoke loudly
I have spoken

Spring ahead
She sprang
It has sprung

He steals
She stole
It was stolen

I swear it
He swore
He has sworn

Swim away
We swam here
He has swum

Swing the bat
He swung it
It was swung

Please take it
He took it
It was taken

Throw the ball
He threw it
It was thrown

Wake up
He woke up

Wear your coat
He wore it
It was worn

Weep no more
They all wept
They have wept

Wring it out
He wrung it
It was wrung

Write a note
He wrote it
It was written


SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT

cheer winners
winners are cheered
fans cheer

Does anyone
like mustard?

Anyone is
allowed in.

desserts are
favorite foods

one favorite
is cherries
is better
is peaches

no one
is here
is singing
plays checkers

no one
except me
except you
except us
except them

neither you
nor I can

neither of
us is ready

every startup
brings worry
causes trouble
takes money

everyone loves
a puppy
a kitten
a hamster

each candle
burns brightly
makes smoke
goes out

one learns
by doing
by trying
by analyzing

someone has
scared her
has screamed
has gone

somebody is
leaving town
is staying
is laughing

either one
is OK
will do
is alright

has everyone
gone swimming
come in
played "Mario"?

neither computer
is new
was clean
was working

one zoo
has lions
has eagles
is crowded

nobody here
is ready
is punctual
is efficient

no one
takes dictation
takes orders
listens carefully

anyone learns
anyone hears
anyone writes
anone speaks

either one
sings tenor
sings baritone
sings bass

each musician
reads music
plays classical
plays jazz

none of
these works

since none
has quit

here are
five apples
two chickens
thirteen needles

here is
a book

where has
Sally gone
John been
Carlos played

how is
curry cooked
cheese melted
water boiled

there goes
my wallet
the kite
our beachball

where do
snakes live
beavers sleep
mosquitoes bite

there were
many players
few fans
extra tickets

here lies
Jefferson Davis
Napoleon's fleet
The Titanic

here come
both twins
several relatives
three reporters

END OF SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT

VARIOUS VERB FORMS

John sings
we sing
tenors sing

motor hums

cat hisses
cats hiss
hissing cats

leaves fall
visitors leave

skater wins
sold paintings
was sold

value improved
they improved

both sleep
were sleeping

all like
were liked

sprinters run
running water

columns stand
standing army

jury sits
sitting jury

to swim
swimming lesson

train arrives
late arrival

help comes
waiter came

horses stampede
stampeding herd

cattle roam
free roaming

gum lasts
flavor lasted

inspection shows
showing movies

taxi waits
waited hours

thieves take
silver was taken

crowd demands
a demanding lesson

it is delayed
it delays relief

basket is passed
a passing fancy

he still lives
the living room

ice melts
heart melted

he has stolen
steals again

we have made
he makes handles

he has spoken
it speaks volumes

we play tunes
we played chess

pets drink
a drunken frenzy

mowers guzzle
they guzzled down

parents disagree
a disagreement

you do well
well done!

he has contributed
big contributions

rulers control
a controlled release

he has attended
I take attendance

I have asked
He asks questions

He had worked
He works hard

She sang alto
She sings daily

hope lives
a living memory

tourists visit
visiting hours

the book sold
selling price

experts know
knowing smile

she showed me
showing off

we rode
riding lesson

I love
loving glance

we sat
between us

I see
see me

she takes
with her

he glances
at him

they look
about them

about him
for them

he can
they must

his bat
their gloves

her skirt
their shoes

its own
their own

to himself
for themselves

who's there
whose books

who arrived
about whom

he pays
they buy

she watches
they play

his own
their own

she is
her aunt

she sent
for her

they were
after them

I am
beyond me

we travelers
with us

she saw
blamed her

they called
for them

he spoke
they listened

who said
for whom

he lacks
they squander

they say
answer them

between you
and me

you and
I left

I gambled
watch me

to Sam
and her

she and
Sam entered

they came
with them

to whom
who is

it's she
shadow her

They're nice
their bike

it's there
their condo

too tired
me too

to go
two cats

they too
those two

had to
too clever

eat here
hear me

from here
Hear that?

let go
leave some

leave now
leave cargo

leave open
leave gifts

let drop
let alone

leave home
leave alone

teach singing
taught dancing

learn to speak
learned Chinese

life teaches
people learn

taught me
I learned

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.
its difficulty

You're asleep.
your bed

You're dreaming.
your dreams

You're eating.
your breakfast

the world's largest
none 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 still higher

the happiest day
tomorrow's happier

the easiest choice
none easier

the tallest girl
none taller

the brightest lamp
a brighter one

the loudest horn
none is louder

the biggest squash
one is bigger

the longest toe
four smaller

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

feels good
performs well

a good book
reads well

feels certain
certainly won't

certain day
can certainly

serious injury
speak seriously

serious tone
seriously harm

feels bad
plays badly

looks bad
does badly

smells rotten
behaved rottenly

soft fur
speak softly

terrible pianist
plays terribly

tastes sour
smiles sourly

easy questions
won easily

busy worker
worked busily

have come
came quickly

besides winning
beside me

besides going
stand beside

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