Appendix:English irregular verbs categories

Appendix:English irregular verbs categories

This table lists irregular verbs in the English language, arranged according to commonly recognized groups of irregularity, which have proved to be useful for English L2 students.

The verbs are arranged as lemma (blue linked) - preterite (simple past) - past participle. Comments are in the second column where further information is useful or necessary.

See also Appendix:English irregular verbs

This table includes selected archaic forms (marked *). This table does not include be, or modal or other defective verbs, which can be found in other Category or Appendix tables.

Group - 1 No variation

Example cut cut cut

verb forms	notes
beat beat beat	Alternative Groups 6 or 7 -- beat beat beaten
beset beset beset
bet bet bet	Alternative regular -- bet betted betted
bid (in cards, auctions, etc.) bid bid outbid outbid outbid overbid overbid overbid underbid underbid underbid
burst burst burst	Alternative regular -- burst bursted bursted. Archaic *brast *bursten
cast cast cast broadcast broadcast broadcast forecast forecast forecast miscast miscast miscast overcast overcast overcast podcast podcast podcast recast recast recast simulcast simulcast simulcast undercast undercast undercast webcast webcast webcast
cost cost cost
cut cut cut crosscut crosscut crosscut intercut intercut intercut undercut undercut undercut
fit fit fit	Alternative regular -- fit fitted fitted
hit hit hit mishit mishit mishit
hurt hurt hurt
knit knit knit	Alternative regular -- knit knitted knitted
let (allow) let let forlet forlet forlet sublet sublet sublet underlet underlet underlet
put put put input input input
quit quit quit
read read read lipread lipread lipread misread misread misread reread reread reread proofread proofread proofread	While spelling is pattern Group 1, the past and participle are pronounced red
rid rid rid	Alternative -- rid ridden. Also alternative regular -- ridded ridded
set set set beset beset beset inset inset inset misset misset misset overset overset overset preset preset preset reset reset reset upset upset upset *withset withset withset
shed shed shed	Alternative regular -- shedded shedded
shit shit shit	Alternative -- shat shat. Also alternative regular -- shitted shitted.
shut shut shut
slit slit slit	Alternative -- slit slitten
split split split
spread spread spread *bespread bespread bespread
sweat sweat sweat	Alternative regular -- sweated sweated
thrust thrust thrust outthrust outthrust outthrust	Alternative regular -- thrusted thrusted
wed wed wed	Alternative regular -- wedded wedded
wet wet wet	Alternative regular -- wetted wetted
worth worth worth	Alternative -- worth *worthen

Group - 2A Past and Participle the same by adding "t" to lemma

Example learn learnt learnt

Also "d" to "t"

Example spend spent spent

verb forms	notes
bend bent bent overbend overbent overbent unbend unbent unbent	Alternative regular -- bended bended
build built built overbuild overbuilt overbuilt rebuild rebuilt rebuilt
burn burnt burnt	Alternative regular -- burned burned
deal dealt dealt misdeal misdealt misdealt
dream dreamt dreamt	Alternative regular -- dreamed dreamed
gird girt girt undergird undergirt undergirt	Alternative regular -- girded girded
ken kent kent misken miskent miskent	Alternative regular all terms -- ~kenned ~kenned
leap leapt leapt	Alternative regular -- leaped leaped
learn learnt learnt mislearn mislearnt mislearnt	Alternative regular -- learned learned -- mislearned mislearned
lend lent lent *forlend forlent forlent
mean meant meant
rend rent rent
send sent sent missend missent missent resend resent resent
spend spent spent *forspend forspent forspent misspend misspent misspent outspend outspent outspent
spoil spoilt spoilt	Alternative regular -- spoiled spoiled
wend went went	Alternative regular -- wended wended

Group - 2B Past and Participle the same by adding "t" to modified lemma

Examples keep kept kept

leave left left

verb forms	notes
bereave bereft bereft	Alternative regular -- bereaved bereaved
bless blest blest	Alternative regular -- blessed blessed
cleave (cling to) clove/cleft cleft	Alternative regular -- cleaved cleaved
creep crept crept	Alternative regular -- creeped creeped
dwell dwelt dwelt	Alternative regular -- dwelled dwelled
feel felt felt
get got got	Alternative Group 6 -- get got gotten
keep kept kept miskeep miskept miskept
kneel knelt knelt	Alternative regular -- kneeled kneeled
leave left left forleave forleft forleft
light lit lit alight alit alit	Alternative regular -- lighted lighted -- alighted alighted
lose lost lost
meet met met
shit shat shat	Alternative -- shit shit
shite shit/shat shit/shat
shoot shot shot/shotten overshoot overshot overshot reshoot reshot reshot undershoot undershot undershot
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept oversleep overslept overslept
smell smelt smelt	Alternative regular -- smelled smelled
spell spelt spelt misspell misspelt misspelt	Alternative regular for all terms -- ~spelled ~spelled
spill spilt spilt overspill overspilt overspilt	Alternative regular for all terms -- ~spilled ~spilled
sweep swept swept
weep wept wept

Group - 3 Past and Participle the same by adding "d" to modified lemma

Examples hear heard heard

find found found

verb forms	notes
bind bound bound unbind unbound unbound underbind underbound underbound	Archaic bound *bounden
bleed bled bled
breed bred bred inbreed inbred inbred interbreed interbred interbred overbreed overbred overbred
clothe clad clad unclothe unclad unclad	Alternative regular for all terms -- ~clothed ~clothed
feed fed fed misfeed misfed misfed overfeed overfed overfed underfeed underfed underfed
find found found
flee fled fled
grind ground ground	Alternative for past -- grinded ground
have had had
hear heard heard mishear misheard misheard overhear overheard overheard
hide hid hid	Alternative Group 6 -- hid hidden
hold held held behold beheld beheld uphold upheld upheld withhold withheld withheld	Alternative all terms -- ~held *~holden
lay laid laid forelay forelaid forelaid forlay forlaid forlaid inlay inlaid inlaid mislay mislaid mislaid overlay overlaid overlaid relay relaid relaid underlay underlaid underlaid waylay waylaid waylaid	Regular rule is -- "consonant-y" to "consonant -ied", "vowel-y" to "vowel -yed". Eg. try tried tried -- otherwise -- play played played. Cf. relay vs re-lay
lead led led mislead misled misled
make made made remake remade remade	Note -- "de" maintains correct pronunciation.
pay paid paid overpay overpaid overpaid prepay prepaid prepaid repay repaid repaid underpay underpaid underpaid	Regular rule is -- "consonant-y" to "consonant -ied", "vowel-y" to "vowel -yed". Eg. try tried tried -- otherwise -- play played played
plead pled pled	Alternative regular -- pleaded pleaded
say said said *forsay forsaid forsaid *gainsay gainsaid gainsaid missay missaid missaid *naysay naysaid naysaid *withsay withsaid withsaid	Pronunciation. "sed" "sed" . Regular rule is -- "consonant-y" to "consonant -ied", "vowel-y" to "vowel -yed". Eg. try tried tried -- otherwise -- play played played
sell sold sold outsell outsold outsold oversell oversold oversold resell resold resold
shoe shod shod/*shodden	Alternative regular -- shoed shoed
slide slid slid overslide overslid overslid	Alternative Group 7 -- ~slide ~slid ~slidden
speed sped sped	Alternative regular -- speeded speeded
stand stood stood misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood understand understood understood withstand withstood withstood
tell told told foretell foretold foretold retell retold retold outtell outtold outtold
tread trod trod retread retrod retrod	Alternative Group 7 -- trod trodden -- retrod retrodden
wind wound wound rewind rewound rewound unwind unwound unwound

Group - 4 Past and Participle the same. "-ght" final consonant cluster

Example teach taught taught

verb forms	notes
beseech besought besought	Alternative regular -- beseeched beseeched
bring brought brought
buy bought bought overbuy overbought overbought underbuy underbought underbought
catch caught caught
fight fought fought
seek sought sought
teach taught taught
think thought thought outthink outthought outthought rethink rethought rethought
work *wrought *wrought overwork overworked overwrought	Alternative usually regular -- worked worked -- overworked overworked

Group 5 - Past and Participle the same. Odd men out

verb forms	notes
cling clung clung	Alternative Group 8 -- clang clung
dig dug dug underdig underdug underdug
drag drug drug	Alternative regular -- dragged dragged
drink drank drunken	Alternative Group 8 -- drink drank drunk
fling flung flung
hang hung hung underhang underhung underhung overhang overhung overhung	Alternative regular (normally only used for corporal punishment meaning) -- hanged hanged
shine shone shone outshine outshone outshone overshine overshone overshone	Alternative regular for all terms -- ~shined ~shined
sling slung slung	Alternative Group 8 -- slang slung
slink slunk slunk
sneak snuck snuck	Alternative regular -- sneaked sneaked
spin spun spun	Alternative Group 8 -- spin span spun
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung	Alternative -- stang stung
stink stunk stunk	Alternative Group 8 -- stank stunk
strike struck struck	Alternative Group 5 -- struck stricken
string strung strung	Alternative Group 8 -- strang strung
spring sprung sprung	Alternative Group 8 -- spring sprang sprung
swing swung swung overswing overswung overswung	Alternative Group 8 -- swing swang swung
win won won
wring wrung wrung	Alternative Group 8 -- wring wrang wrung

Group - 6 Past and Participle different. Participle formed from Present(lemma) + "-n" or "-en" or "-ne".

verb forms	notes
abide abode *abidden	Alternative regular -- abided abided
arise arose arisen
beat beat beaten	Alternative Groups 1 -- beat beat beat -- or 7
bide bode bidden	Alternative regular -- bided bided
browbeat browbeat browbeaten	Alternative Groups 7
befall befell befallen
bid (meaning to request or say) bade bidden	Alternatives -- group 1 -- bid bid , and Regular -- bidded bidded
blow blew blown overblow overblew overblown
do did done misdo misdid misdone outdo outdid outdone overdo overdid overdone redo redid redone undo undid undone underdo underdid underdone
draw drew drawn overdraw overdrew overdrawn redraw redrew redrawn underdraw underdrew underdrawn
drive drove driven overdrive overdrove overdriven
eat ate eaten overeat overate overeaten
fall fell fallen befall befell befallen
forbid forbade forbidden	Alternative regular -- forbid forbid. Also -- forbid *forbad forbid
forgive forgave forgiven
forsake forsook forsaken
give gave given misgive misgave misgiven
go went gone undergo underwent undergone forego forewent foregone forgo forwent forgone
grow grew grown outgrow outgrew outgrown overgrow overgrew overgrown regrow regrew regrown undergrow undergrew undergrown
know knew known foreknow foreknew foreknown misknow misknew misknown
lade laded laden	Alternative regular -- laded laded
misshape misshaped misshapen	Alternative regular -- misshaped misshaped
mistake mistook mistaken
mow mowed mown	Alternative regular -- mowed mowed
prove proved proven	Alternative regular -- proved proved
ride rode ridden override overrode overridden
rise rose risen
rive rove riven	Alternative regular -- rived rived
saw sawed sawn	Alternative regular -- sawed sawed
see saw seen foresee foresaw foreseen oversee oversaw overseen
sew sewed sewn oversew oversewed oversewn	Alternative regular all terms -- ~sewed ~sewed
shake shook shaken overshake overshook overshaken
shape shaped shapen misshape misshaped misshapen	Alternative regular all terms -- ~shaped ~shaped
shave shaved shaven	Alternative regular -- shaved shaved
show showed shown	Alternative regular -- showed showed
shrive shrove shriven
slay slew slain	Alternative regular -- slayed slayed
smite smote smitten	Alternative Group 7 -- smite smit smitten
sow sowed sown	Alternative regular -- sowed sowed
strew strew strewn	Alternative regular -- strewed strewed
strike struck stricken	Alternative Group 5 -- struck struck
stride strode stridden/*strid overstride overstrode overstridden	Alternative regular -- strided strided
strive strove striven	Alternative regular -- strived strived
take took taken overtake overtook overtaken partake partook partaken retake retook retaken undertake undertook undertaken
thrive throve thriven	Alternative regular -- thrived thrived
throw threw thrown outthrow outthrew outthrown
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
write wrote/*writ written miswrite miswrote miswritten overwrite overwrote overwritten rewrite rewrote rewritten underwrite underwrote underwritten
writhe *wrothe *writhen	Alternative regular -- writhed writhed

Group - 7 Past and Participle different. Participle formed from Past + "-n" or "-en" or "-ne".

verb forms	notes
awake awoke awoken
bear bore born or borne forbear forbore forborne *misbear misbore misborne overbear overbore overborne underbear underbore underborne	Alternative regular -- bear beared bared -- with meaning to remove clothing.
beat beat beaten	Alternative Groups 1 -- beat beat beat -- or 6
browbeat browbeat browbeaten	Alternative Groups 6
beget begot begotten misbeget misbegot misbegotten	Alternative Group 9 -- beget *begat begot.]
bite bit bitten
break broke broken
choose chose chosen mischoose mischose mischosen
cleave (split apart) clove cloven	Alternative Group 2B cleave clove/cleft cleft
forget forgot forgotten
freeze froze frozen
get got gotten misget misgot misgotten underget undergot undergotten	Alternative Group 2B -- get got got
hew hew hewn underhew underhewed underhewn	Alternative regular all terms -- ~hewed ~hewed
hide hid hidden	Alternative Group 3 -- hid hid
lie (position, horizontal) lay lain forelie forlay forlain overlie overlay overlain underlie underlay underlain	Note -- "lie" not tell the truth, is regular. lie lied lied.
shear shore shorn	Alternative regular -- sheared sheared
smite smit smitten	Alternative Group -- smite smote smitten
slide slid slidden overslide overslid overslidden	Alternative Group 3 -- ~slide ~slid ~slid
speak spoke/*spake spoken *bespeak bespoke bespoken *forspeak forspoke forspoken misspeak misspoke misspoken
sink sunk sunken	Alternative Group 8 -- sink sank sunk
steal stole stolen
swear swore sworn forswear forswore forsworn outswear outswore outsworn
swell swoll swollen	Alternative regular -- swelled swelled
tear tore torn
wake woke woken
wear wore worn
weave wove woven interweave interwove interwoven	Alternative -- weave weaved woven

Group - 8 Past and Participle different. Past and Participle formed from Present(lemma) by vowel change "a" and "u" respectively

Example swim swam swum

verb forms	notes
begin began begun
cling clang clung	Alternative Group 5 -- cling clung clung
drink drank drunk overdrink overdrank overdrunk	Alternative Group 5 -- drink drank drank/drunken
ring rang rung
run ran run forerun foreran forerun outrun outran outrun overrun overran overrun rerun reran rerun underrun underran underrun
shrink shrank shrunk	Alternative Group 5 -- shrink shrunk shrunken
sing sang sung outsing outsang outsung
sink sank sunk	Alternative Group 7 -- sink sunk sunken
sling slang slung	Alternative Group 5 -- sling slung slung
spin span spun	Alternative Group 5 -- spin spun spun
spring sprang sprung	Alternative Group 5 -- spring sprung sprung
swim swam swum
swing swang swung overswing overswang overswung	Alternative Group 5 -- swing swung swung
wring wrang wrung	Alternative Group 5 -- wring wrung wrung

Group - 9 Lemma, Past and Participle different. Odd men out

verb forms	notes
become became become misbecome misbecame misbecome
beget *begat begot misbeget misbegot misbegotten/misbegot	Alternative Group 7 -- beget begot begotten
come came come overcome overcame overcome
dive dove dived	Alternative regular -- dived dived
fly flew flown overfly overflew overflown
spit spat spit	Alternative Group 1 -- spit spit spit