Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the usual rules for tense and past participle forms. While most regular verbs in English simply add “-ed” for the past tense and past participle, irregular verbs have unique forms that must be memorized.
Irregular verbs are one of the most challenging aspects of modern English because they do not follow a specific pattern. Without any consistent rule, learners must memorize each verb and its irregular forms individually.
1. What Are Irregular Verbs?
As the name suggests, irregular verbs do not follow standard rules when used in the past tense or past participle. Regular verbs simply add “-ed” or “-d” to their base form.
Example:
Regular verb: dance
Irregular verb: sing
Regular Verb: dance
Base | Simple Past | Past Participle |
dance | danced | danced |
Irregular Verb: sing
Base | Simple Past | Past Participle |
sing | sang | sung |
Examples in use:
We sang and danced all night.
I have sung opera before, but I have never danced to it.
She prefers music sung by professionals.
Note: The present tense form is the same for both regular and irregular verbs. Third-person singular forms take “-s” or “-es” as usual, with some exceptions.
2. List of 360 Common Irregular Verbs
You will encounter many irregular verbs in IELTS and general English. To correctly use verbs in past or perfect tenses, memorizing irregular verbs is essential.
We have compiled a list of 360 common irregular verbs, grouped for easier learning and reference
STT | Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | abide | abode/abided | abode/abided |
2 | arise | arose | arisen |
3 | awake | awoke | awoken |
4 | backslide | backslid | backslidden/backslid |
5 | be | was/were | been |
6 | bear | bore | borne |
7 | beat | beat | beaten/beat |
8 | become | became | become |
9 | befall | befell | befallen |
10 | begin | began | begun |
11 | behold | beheld | beheld |
12 | bend | bent | bent |
13 | beset | beset | beset |
14 | bespeak | bespoke | bespoken |
15 | bet | bet/betted | bet/betted |
16 | bid | bid | bid |
17 | bind | bound | bound |
18 | bite | bit | bitten |
19 | bleed | bled | bled |
20 | blow | blew | blown |
21 | break | broke | broken |
22 | breed | bred | bred |
23 | bring | brought | brought |
24 | broadcast | broadcast | broadcast |
25 | browbeat | browbeat | browbeaten/browbeat |
26 | build | built | built |
27 | burn | burnt/burned | burnt/burned |
28 | burst | burst | burst |
29 | bust | busted/bust | busted/bust |
30 | buy | bought | bought |
31 | cast | cast | cast |
32 | catch | caught | caught |
33 | chide | chid/chided | chid/chidden/chided |
34 | choose | chose | chosen |
35 | cleave | clove/cleft/cleaved | cloven/cleft/cleaved |
36 | cleave | clave | cleaved |
37 | cling | clung | clung |
38 | clothe | clothed/clad | clothed/clad |
39 | come | came | come |
40 | cost | cost | cost |
41 | creep | crept | crept |
42 | crossbreed | crossbred | crossbred |
43 | crow | crew/crewed | crowed |
44 | cut | cut | cut |
45 | daydream | daydreamed daydreamt | daydreamed daydreamt |
46 | deal | dealt | dealt |
47 | dig | dug | dug |
48 | disprove | disproved | disproved/disproven |
49 | dive | dove/dived | dived |
50 | do | did | done |
51 | draw | drew | drawn |
52 | dream | dreamt/dreamed | dreamt/dreamed |
53 | drink | drank | drunk |
54 | drive | drove | driven |
55 | dwell | dwelt | dwelt |
56 | eat | ate | eaten |
57 | fall | fell | fallen |
58 | feed | fed | fed |
59 | feel | felt | felt |
60 | fight | fought | fought |
61 | find | found | found |
62 | fit | fitted/fit | fitted/fit |
63 | flee | fled | fled |
64 | fling | flung | flung |
65 | fly | flew | flown |
66 | forbear | forbore | forborne |
67 | forbid | forbade/forbad | forbidden |
68 | forecast | forecast/forecasted | forecast/forecasted |
69 | forego (also forgo) | forewent | foregone |
70 | foresee | foresaw | foreseen |
71 | foretell | foretold | foretold |
72 | forget | forgot | forgotten |
73 | forgive | forgave | forgiven |
74 | forsake | forsook | forsaken |
75 | freeze | froze | frozen |
76 | frostbite | frostbit | frostbitten |
77 | get | got | got/gotten |
78 | gild | gilt/gilded | gilt/gilded |
79 | gird | girt/girded | girt/girded |
80 | give | gave | given |
81 | go | went | gone |
82 | grind | ground | ground |
83 | grow | grew | grown |
84 | hand-feed | hand-fed | hand-fed |
85 | handwrite | handwrote | handwritten |
86 | hang | hung | hung |
87 | have | had | had |
88 | hear | heard | heard |
89 | heave | hove/heaved | hove/heaved |
90 | hew | hewed | hewn/hewed |
91 | hide | hid | hidden |
92 | hit | hit | hit |
93 | hurt | hurt | hurt |
94 | inbreed | inbred | inbred |
95 | inlay | inlaid | inlaid |
96 | input | input | input |
97 | inset | inset | inset |
98 | interbreed | interbred | interbred |
99 | interweave | interwove interweaved | interwoven interweaved |
100 | interwind | interwound | interwound |
101 | jerry-build | jerry-built | jerry-built |
102 | keep | kept | kept |
103 | kneel | knelt/kneeled | knelt/kneeled |
104 | knit | knit/knitted | knit/knitted |
105 | know | knew | known |
106 | lay | laid | laid |
107 | lead | led | led |
108 | lean | leaned/leant | leaned/leant |
109 | leap | leapt /leaped | leapt /leaped |
110 | learn | learnt/learned | learnt/learned |
111 | leave | left | left |
112 | lend | lent | lent |
113 | let | let | let |
114 | lie | lay | lain |
115 | light | lit/lighted | lit/lighted |
116 | lip-read | lip-read | lip-read |
117 | lose | lost | lost |
118 | make | made | made |
119 | mean | meant | meant |
120 | meet | met | met |
121 | miscast | miscast | miscast |
122 | misdeal | misdealt | misdealt |
123 | misdo | misdid | misdone |
124 | mishear | misheard | misheard |
125 | mislay | mislaid | mislaid |
126 | mislead | misled | misled |
127 | mislearn | mislearned mislearnt | mislearned mislearnt |
128 | misread | misread | misread |
129 | misset | misset | misset |
130 | misspeak | misspoke | misspoken |
131 | misspell | misspelt | misspelt |
132 | misspend | misspent | misspent |
133 | mistake | mistook | mistaken |
134 | misteach | mistaught | mistaught |
135 | misunderstand | misunderstood | misunderstood |
136 | miswrite | miswrote | miswritten |
137 | mow | mowed | mown/mowed |
138 | offset | offset | offset |
139 | outbid | outbid | outbid |
140 | outbreed | outbred | outbred |
141 | outdo | outdid | outdone |
142 | outdraw | outdrew | outdrawn |
143 | outdrink | outdrank | outdrunk |
144 | outdrive | outdrove | outdriven |
145 | outfight | outfought | outfought |
146 | outfly | outflew | outflown |
147 | outgrow | outgrew | outgrown |
148 | outleap | outleaped/outleapt | outleaped/outleapt |
149 | outlie | outlied | outlied |
150 | output | output | output |
151 | outride | outrode | outridden |
152 | outrun | outran | outrun |
153 | outsell | outsold | outsold |
154 | outshine | outshined/outshone | outshined/outshone |
155 | outshoot | outshot | outshot |
156 | outsing | outsang | outsung |
157 | outsit | outsat | outsat |
158 | outsleep | outslept | outslept |
159 | outsmell | outsmelled/outsmelt | outsmelled/outsmelt |
160 | outspeak | outspoke | outspoken |
161 | outspeed | outsped | outsped |
162 | outspend | outspent | outspent |
163 | outswear | outswore | outsworn |
164 | outswim | outswam | outswum |
165 | outthink | outthought | outthought |
166 | outthrow | outthrew | outthrown |
167 | outwrite | outwrote | outwritten |
168 | overbid | overbid | overbid |
169 | overbreed | overbred | overbred |
170 | overbuild | overbuilt | overbuilt |
171 | overbuy | overbought | overbought |
172 | overcome | overcame | overcome |
173 | overdo | overdid | overdone |
174 | overdraw | overdrew | overdrawn |
175 | overdrink | overdrank | overdrunk |
176 | overeat | overate | overeaten |
177 | overfeed | overfed | overfed |
178 | overfly | overflew | overflown |
179 | overhang | overhung | overhung |
180 | overhear | overheard | overheard |
181 | overlay | overlaid | overlaid |
182 | overpay | overpaid | overpaid |
183 | override | overrode | overridden |
184 | overrun | overran | overrun |
185 | oversee | oversaw | overseen |
186 | oversell | oversold | oversold |
187 | oversew | oversewed | oversewn/oversewed |
188 | overshoot | overshot | overshot |
189 | oversleep | overslept | overslept |
190 | overspeak | overspoke | overspoken |
191 | overspend | overspent | overspent |
192 | overspill | overspilled/overspilt | overspilled/overspilt |
193 | overtake | overtook | overtaken |
194 | overthink | overthought | overthought |
195 | overthrow | overthrew | overthrown |
196 | overwind | overwound | overwound |
197 | overwrite | overwrote | overwritten |
198 | partake | partook | partaken |
199 | pay | paid | paid |
200 | plead | pleaded/pled | pleaded/pled |
201 | prebuild | prebuilt | prebuilt |
202 | predo | predid | predone |
203 | premake | premade | premade |
204 | prepay | prepaid | prepaid |
205 | presell | presold | presold |
206 | preset | preset | preset |
207 | preshrink | preshrank | preshrunk |
208 | proofread | proofread | proofread |
209 | prove | proved | proven/proved |
210 | put | put | put |
211 | quick-freeze | quick-froze | quick-frozen |
212 | quit | quit/quitted | quit/quitted |
213 | read | read | read |
214 | reawake | reawoke | reawaken |
215 | rebid | rebid | rebid |
216 | rebind | rebound | rebound |
217 | rebroadcast | rebroadcast rebroadcasted | rebroadcast rebroadcasted |
218 | rebuild | rebuilt | rebuilt |
219 | recast | recast | recast |
220 | recut | recut | recut |
221 | redeal | redealt | redealt |
222 | redo | redid | redone |
223 | redraw | redrew | redrawn |
224 | refit | refitted/refit | refitted/refit |
225 | regrind | reground | reground |
226 | regrow | regrew | regrown |
227 | rehang | rehung | rehung |
228 | rehear | reheard | reheard |
229 | reknit | reknitted/reknit | reknitted/reknit |
230 | relay | relaid | relaid |
231 | relay | relayed | relayed |
232 | relearn | relearned/relearnt | relearned/relearnt |
233 | relight | relit/relighted | relit/relighted |
234 | remake | remade | remade |
235 | rend | rent | rent |
236 | repay | repaid | repaid |
237 | reread | reread | reread |
238 | rerun | reran | rerun |
239 | resell | resold | resold |
240 | resend | resent | resent |
241 | reset | reset | reset |
242 | resew | resewed | resewn/resewed |
243 | retake | retook | retaken |
244 | reteach | retaught | retaught |
245 | retear | retore | retorn |
246 | retell | retold | retold |
247 | rethink | rethought | rethought |
248 | retread | retread | retread |
249 | retrofit | retrofitted/retrofit | retrofitted/retrofit |
250 | rewake | rewoke/rewaked | rewaken/rewaked |
251 | rewear | rewore | reworn |
252 | reweave | rewove/reweaved | rewoven/reweaved |
253 | rewed | rewed/rewedded | rewed/rewedded |
254 | rewet | rewet/rewetted | rewet/rewetted |
255 | rewin | rewon | rewon |
256 | rewind | rewound | rewound |
257 | rewrite | rewrote | rewritten |
258 | rid | rid | rid |
259 | ride | rode | ridden |
260 | ring | rang | rung |
261 | rise | rose | risen |
262 | roughcast | roughcast | roughcast |
263 | run | ran | run |
264 | sand-cast | sand-cast | sand-cast |
265 | saw | sawed | sawn |
266 | say | said | said |
267 | see | saw | seen |
268 | seek | sought | sought |
269 | sell | sold | sold |
270 | send | sent | sent |
271 | set | set | set |
272 | sew | sewed | sewn/sewed |
273 | shake | shook | shaken |
274 | shave | shaved | shaved/shaven |
275 | shear | sheared | shorn |
276 | shed | shed | shed |
277 | shine | shone | shone |
278 | shit | shit/shat/shitted | shit/shat/shitted |
279 | shoot | shot | shot |
280 | show | showed | shown/showed |
281 | shrink | shrank | shrunk |
282 | shut | shut | shut |
283 | sight-read | sight-read | sight-read |
284 | sing | sang | sung |
285 | sink | sank | sunk |
286 | sit | sat | sat |
287 | slay | slew | slain |
288 | sleep | slept | slept |
289 | slide | slid | slid |
290 | sling | slung | slung |
291 | slink | slunk | slunk |
292 | slit | slit | slit |
293 | smell | smelt | smelt |
294 | smite | smote | smitten |
295 | sneak | sneaked/snuck | sneaked/snuck |
296 | speak | spoke | spoken |
298 | speed | sped/speeded | sped/speeded |
299 | spell | spelt/spelled | spelt/spelled |
300 | spend | spent | spent |
301 | spill | spilt/spilled | spilt/spilled |
302 | spin | spun/span | spun |
303 | spoil | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled |
304 | spread | spread | spread |
305 | stand | stood | stood |
305 | steal | stole | stolen |
306 | stick | stuck | stuck |
307 | sting | stung | stung |
308 | stink | stunk/stank | stunk |
309 | stride | strode | stridden |
310 | strike | struck | struck |
311 | string | strung | strung |
312 | sunburn | sunburned/sunburnt | sunburned/sunburnt |
313 | swear | swore | sworn |
314 | sweat | sweat/sweated | sweat/sweated |
315 | sweep | swept | swept |
316 | swell | swelled | swollen/swelled |
317 | swim | swam | swum |
318 | swing | swung | swung |
319 | take | took | taken |
320 | teach | taught | taught |
321 | tear | tore | torn |
322 | telecast | telecast | telecast |
323 | tell | told | told |
324 | think | thought | thought |
325 | throw | threw | thrown |
326 | thrust | thrust | thrust |
327 | tread | trod | trodden/trod |
328 | typewrite | typewrote | typewritten |
329 | unbend | unbent | unbent |
330 | unbind | unbound | unbound |
331 | unclothe | unclothed/unclad | unclothed/unclad |
332 | undercut | undercut | undercut |
333 | underfeed | underfed | underfed |
334 | undergo | underwent | undergone |
335 | underlie | underlay | underlain |
336 | understand | understood | understood |
337 | undertake | undertook | undertaken |
338 | underwrite | underwrote | underwritten |
339 | undo | undid | undone |
340 | unfreeze | unfroze | unfrozen |
341 | unhang | unhung | unhung |
342 | unhide | unhid | unhidden |
343 | unlearn | unlearned/unlearnt | unlearned/unlearnt |
344 | unspin | unspun | unspun |
345 | unwind | unwound | unwound |
346 | uphold | upheld | upheld |
347 | upset | upset | upset |
348 | wake | woke/waked | woken/waked |
349 | wear | wore | worn |
350 | wed | wed/wedded | wed/wedded |
351 | weep | wept | wept |
352 | wet | wet/wetted | wet/wetted |
353 | win | won | won |
354 | wind | wound | wound |
355 | withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn |
356 | withhold | withheld | withheld |
357 | withstand | withstood | withstood |
358 | work | worked | worked |
359 | wring | wrung | wrung |
360 | write | wrote | written |
3. Irregular Verbs with Identical Forms
Most verbs change form depending on the tense. However, some irregular verbs remain the same in all three forms (base, past, and past participle). These are considered irregular because they do not follow the usual rules.
Examples of identical-form irregular verbs:
bet
bid
broadcast
burst
cast
cost
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
read (pronunciation changes)
reset
set
shed
shut
split
spread
thrust
upset
wet
4. How to Learn Irregular Verbs Effectively
Over 70 percent of the verbs used in English are irregular. The only way to learn them is through memorization, but these techniques can help you learn faster and more effectively.
Learn irregular verbs by groups
Instead of memorizing them randomly, group verbs by pattern.
Group with all forms the same: bet, cut, hit, let, put
Group with same base and past participle: come, run
Group with same past and past participle: build, spend, send
Practice regularly
Use irregular verbs in daily communication and writing to transition from short-term to long-term memory. Frequent use builds natural recall and improves your grammar automatically.
Use flashcards
Flashcards are a great tool for memorizing verbs. Write the base form on one side and the past and past participle on the other. Include pronunciation and example sentences. Practice 5–10 verbs daily for long-term mastery.
Learn through songs
Many songs are designed to help learners remember irregular verbs. Music and rhythm help the brain absorb and retain words more effectively. This fun method boosts learning while keeping motivation high.
5. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Change verbs into the past simple
I (read) _____ three books last week
They (speak) _______ French to the waitress
He (understand) _______ during the class
He (forget) ______ to buy some milk
I (give) ______ my mother a CD
He (tell) _____ me he lived in Toronto
The film (begin) ______ late
We (fly) ______ to Da Nang
They (drive) _____ to Beijing
He (teach) ______ English at the university
Answers:
read
spoke
understood
forgot
gave
told
began
flew
drove
taught
Exercise 2: Change verbs into the past participle
We have already (have) ____ lunch
She had (do) _____ her homework
He has never (drive) ______ a motorbike
They had (eat) ______ all the chocolate
I have (feel) ______ better
I had (lend) _____ my umbrella
It had (become) ______ cold
Have you (choose) ______ your university?
Why has he (leave) _____ already?
She has (know) ______ this problem
Answers:
had
done
driven
eaten
felt
lent
become
chosen
left
known
This is the complete list of 360 common irregular verbs used in English and IELTS. Remember, consistent practice and smart strategies are the key to success. Apply what you’ve learned in tests, exercises, and everyday conversations.
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