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R U I V: Ules For Sing Rregular Erbs
R U I V: Ules For Sing Rregular Erbs
VERBS
Understand the problem.
All verbs, whether regular or irregular, have five forms [often called principal parts].
These forms are the infinitive, simple present, simple past, past participle, and
present participle.
The difference between a regular and an irregular verb is the formation of the simple
past and past participle. Regular verbs are dependably consistent—the simple past
ends in ed as does the past participle.
In contrast, the simple past and past participle of irregular verbs can end in a variety
of ways, with absolutely no consistent pattern.
1
to put put(s) put put putting
Writers make two frequent errors with irregular verbs. They either add an
incorrect ed to the end of an irregular verb or accidentally interchange the simple
past and past participle.
What are the problems with this sentence? First, feeled should be felt. Next, putted
needs to be put. The correct past tense of drive is drove. And we must change swum
to swam.
To avoid making mistakes with irregular verbs, learn the very long chart below.
awoke or awaked or
to awake awake(s) awaking
awaked awoken
borne or
to bear bear(s) bore bearing
born
2
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
to bid [to
bid(s) bid bid bidding
offer]
to bid [to
bid(s) bade bidden bidding
command]
3
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
dived or
to dive dive(s) dived diving
dove
dreamed or dreamed or
to dream dream(s) dreaming
dreamt dreamt
forbade or
to forbid forbid(s) forbidden forbidding
forbad
4
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
forgotten or
to forget forget(s) forgot forgetting
forgot
got or
to get get(s) got getting
gotten
to hang [to
hang(s) hung hung hanging
suspend]
5
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
leaped or leaped or
to leap leap(s) leaping
leapt leapt
proved or
to prove prove(s) proved proving
proven
6
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
to shine [to
shine(s) shone shone shining
glow]
shown or
to show show(s) showed showing
showed
sank or
to sink sink(s) sunk sinking
sunk
sneaked or sneaked or
to sneak sneak(s) sneaking
snuck snuck
7
SIMPLE S I M P LE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE
PRESENT PAST P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
sprang or
to spring spring(s) sprung springing
sprung
stank or
to stink stink(s) stunk stinking
stunk
8
SIMPLE PAST PRESENT
INFINITIVE S I M P LE P A S T
PRESENT P A R T I C I P LE P A R T I C I P LE
woke or waked or
to wake wake(s) waking
waked woken
wove or woven or
to weave weave(s) weaving
weaved wove
Know the difference between the simple past tense and the
past participle.
In addition to learning the chart above, you must also understand the difference
between the simple past tense and the past participle.
Because dinner time was near, my dog Oreo bit the spine
of Moby-Dick and pulled the novel off my lap.
Since Denise had ignored bills for so long, she wrote out checks
for an hour straight.
Despite the noise, jolts, and jerks, Alex slept so soundly on the
city bus that he missed his stop.
9
P AST P A RTICIPLE
Many multipart verbs, however, require the past participle after one or
more auxiliary verbs.
Once Woody has written his essay for Mr. Stover, he plans to
reward himself with a packet of Twinkies.
For regular verbs, knowing the distinction between the simple past and past
participle is unnecessary because both are identical.
Diane giggled as her beagle Reliable pushed his cold wet nose
into her stomach, searching for cookie crumbs.
When you choose an irregular verb for a sentence, however, the simple past and
past participle are often different, so you must know the distinction.
10
Essie might have driven faster if she hadn't forgotten her glasses
and saw more than big colored blurs through the windshield.
The calculus exams given by Dr. Ribley are so difficult that his
students believe their brains will burst.
Remember that you can always consult a dictionary when you have a question
about the correct form of an irregular verb.