Irregular Verb Forms Used in English

Sentences
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ThoughtCo.

byKenneth Beare 
Updated August 23, 2019

For an English language learner, regular verbs are consistent and easier to learn
than irregular verbs. The main difference between regular and irregular verbs is
in the past participle and past simple. For regular verbs, you just have to add "-
ed" for both the past participle and past simple:

I visited my friends in Milan. (past simple)

She's visited her friends in Milan throughout the years. (present perfect) 

Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are more complicated and often need to be
studied individually because they don't follow a single pattern. The following
example sentences in all tenses will help students learn irregular verb forms in
context.

Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs

Click on one of the irregular verbs listed below for example sentences using the
verbs in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and
modal forms. To help you choose the verb you need, each verb includes three
example sentences to get you started.

be / was / were / been

Tom was in New York yesterday.

I've been at this job for a long time.
She'll be at the party next weekend.

beat / beat / beaten
We beat the home team yesterday.
I've never beaten Tom at chess.
Do you think you could beat him?

become / became / become

Jason has become an excellent doctor.

I'll become your friend if you move here.
The situation became a problem for Bob.

begin / began / begun

They haven't begun the play yet.

I began to work early this morning.
She'll begin to explain in a moment.

bend / bent / bent

He bent the branch until it broke.

The flag poll bends in the wind.
I've bent the nail in the board. 

break / broke / broken

My boy has broken three windows this week!

I broke that window last week.
She usually breaks the egg over the sink. 

buy / bought / bought

Janice bought a new watch last week.

I usually buy my vegetables at a country stand.
He's bought more than 10 cars in his life. 

come / came / come

We came home earlier yesterday.

He comes to class on time every day.
He's come across that song before. 

cut / cut / cut

How many pieces have you cut?
I cut my finger on a glass yesterday.
The boy never cuts his own steak.

draw / drew / drawn

She drew a beautiful picture in class.

Jackie has drawn a few clowns this week.
She'll draw the money from the account tomorrow. 

drink / drank / drunk

I was so thirsty I drank two bottles of water.

Have you drunk any water yet?
I'll drink something when I get there. 

drive / drove / driven

Have you ever driven across the U.S.?

I drove to the basketball game after work.
He's going to drive to the airport this evening. 

eat / ate / eaten

We ate lunch early today.

Have you eaten already?
Where did you eat dinner yesterday?

find / found / found

Have you found him yet?

I found this book on that table over there.
I'll find him, don't worry!

fly / flew / flown

Cheryl flew to Brazil last month.

Have you ever flown around the world?
He's going to fly a commercial airliner someday.

forget / forgot / forgotten (U.S.) — forgot (UK)

Have you forgotten that you had an appointment?
I forgot my pen at home. Can I borrow yours?
You'll have forgotten by the time you get home. 

give / gave / given 

They gave us an early appointment.

He's given up on trying to learn Japanese.
I'll give you a call next week. 

go / went / gone

Have you ever gone on vacation alone?

She's going to ride the bus to work today.
I went to the party last week. 

grow / grew / grown 

She grew up very poor.

The plants have all grown.
Did you grow that plant?

have / had / had

I had some toast for breakfast.

I've had some extra free time this week.
She'll have the package ready when you come. 

hit / hit / hit

He's hit me three times!

Bob hit the ball out of the park last night.
He usually hits his nine iron well.

hold / held / held 

She held on tightly and entered the tunnel.

I've held her hand before.
Hold on for a few more minutes. 

keep / kept / kept
Have you kept your word to Peter?
John kept the door open for his mother.
I'll keep your secret.

know / knew / known

I knew that once ...

I've known my best friend for more than 40 years.
Peter will know the answer. 

learn / learned (learnt UK) / learned (learnt UK)

Have you learnt (learned) anything yet?

He learned his lesson last week.
This has been learned for ages. 

leave / left / left 

We left the book at home.

He's left the house early this morning.
We'll leave as soon as you get home. 

lose / lost / lost

I lost my watch yesterday.

She's never lost her purse.
They'll lose patience if you don't hurry up. 

make / made / made

I made the bed before I left.

I've made some tea. Would you like some?
Will he make the meeting next week?

meet / met / met

Have you met Jack?

We're going to meet at 3 o'clock next week.
He met his wife in Hawaii. 

pay / paid / paid

He paid by credit card.
I'll pay the bill and we can leave.
Janet is paid by the hour. 

put / put / put

She put on a CD and relaxed for the afternoon.

I've put in for a new job.
She'll put him up for the night. 

ride / rode / ridden

Mary rode the bus to work.

I've ridden a bike all my life.
She'll ride with Tim to the party. 

run / ran / run

I ran four miles yesterday.

We've run out of milk, so I'll go to the store.
David usually runs two miles a day.

see / saw / seen

Have you seen Angie yet?

I saw the film last week.
She's going to see her friend next weekend. 

If you'd like to check your knowledge, take this English irregular verbs quiz.