Regular and Irregular Verbs (Definition, Rules, Examples and Exercises)

Regular and Irregular Verbs: Verbs change their forms to express time (tense), person, and number. These different forms are called verb forms.

Some verbs follow a fixed pattern while changing their forms, whereas others change irregularly.

Based on this, English verbs are divided into:

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

Understanding these forms is essential for using English correctly.

What are Verb Forms?

Every main verb has different forms that are used in different tenses.

These forms are commonly called V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5.

Another Example

Tip: V1, V2, and V3 are especially important for learning English tenses.

What is a Regular Verb?

Read the following examples.

Notice that these verbs follow a regular pattern by adding -d, -ed, or -ied.

Definition

A Regular Verb is a verb that forms its past tense (V2) and past participle (V3) by adding -d, -ed, or -ied to the base form.

Rules for Forming Regular Verbs

Rule 1: Add -ed

Most verbs form the past tense by adding -ed.

Rule 2: Add -d

If the verb already ends with e, add only -d.

Rule 3: Change y to i and add -ed

If a verb ends in a consonant + y, change y to i before adding -ed.

Rule 4: Double the Final Consonant

If a one-syllable verb ends in consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC), double the final consonant before adding -ed.

What is an Irregular Verb?

Now look at these verbs.

These verbs do not follow a fixed pattern.

Definition

An Irregular Verb is a verb that does not form its past tense and past participle by simply adding -d or -ed.

These forms must be learned individually.

Types of Irregular Verbs

For easier learning, irregular verbs can be grouped into four patterns.

Group 1: All Three Forms Are the Same

Group 2: V2 and V3 Are the Same

Group 3: V1 and V3 Are the Same

Group 4: All Three Forms Are Different

Commonly Used Irregular Verbs

Regular vs Irregular Verbs

Where Are Verb Forms Used?

V1

• Present Simple
• Infinitive

Example:

• I play cricket.
• I want to play.

V2

• Simple Past

Example:

• I played yesterday.
• She wrote a letter.

V3

• Perfect Tenses
• Passive Voice

Examples:

• I have written a letter.
• The work was completed.

V4

• Continuous Tenses
• Gerunds
• Participles

Examples:

• He is reading.
• Reading is a good habit.

V5

• Present Simple with third-person singular subjects

Examples:

• He writes.
• She goes.

Common Mistakes

✘ He goed home.

✔ He went home.

✘ I have ate breakfast.

✔ I have eaten breakfast.

✘ She has wrote a letter.

✔ She has written a letter.

✘ They have buy a new car.

✔ They have bought a new car.

✘ He stoped the car.

✔ He stopped the car.

Tips to Remember Irregular Verbs

• Learn verbs in groups rather than individually.
• Practice five to ten verbs every day.
• Make short sentences using each form.
• Revise frequently through speaking and writing.

Quick Summary

Practice Exercise 1

Write the V2 and V3 forms of the following verbs.

1. walk
2. write
3. cut
4. break
5. study
6. buy
7. stop
8. eat
9. live
10. come

Practice Exercise 2

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. She has ________ the homework.
   • (a) do
   • (b) did
   • (c) done
   • (d) doing
2. He ________ to school yesterday.
   • (a) go
   • (b) goes
   • (c) went
   • (d) gone
3. Which of the following is a regular verb?
   • (a) break
   • (b) eat
   • (c) clean
   • (d) come
4. The past participle of write is:
   • (a) wrote
   • (b) writing
   • (c) written
   • (d) writes
5. Which group does put–put–put belong to?
   • (a) Group 1
   • (b) Group 2
   • (c) Group 3
   • (d) Group 4

Answers Exercise 1

1. walked – walked
2. wrote – written
3. cut – cut
4. broke – broken
5. studied – studied
6. bought – bought
7. stopped – stopped
8. ate – eaten
9. lived – lived
10. came – come

Answers Exercise 2

1. (c) done
2. (c) went
3. (c) clean
4. (c) written
5. (a) Group 1