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Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not follow the regular “-ed” rule in the Past Simple and Past Participle forms. For example: go → went → gone (not goed). Learning the most common irregular verbs is essential for speaking about the past and for perfect tenses. A helpful way to study them is to group verbs by pattern (AAA / ABB / ABC). Some verbs keep the same form in all three columns (put → put → put). Others change only once (buy → bought → bought). Others change twice (begin → began → begun). Irregular verbs do not follow the regular “-ed” pattern in the past simple and past participle forms. They are extremely common in everyday English (go, come, take, make, see, eat…). ### How to study irregular verbs - Learn them in **groups/patterns** (buy–bought–bought, bring–brought–brought). - Practice them in **sentences**, not only as a list. - Notice the **past participle** because it is used in perfect tenses and passive voice. ### Quick tip Make flashcards with: base form → past → past participle + 1 sentence.
💡 Tips
- Learn the top 50 irregular verbs first.
- Practice with short sentences (not only lists).
- Notice patterns (AAA / ABB / ABC) to memorize faster.
Grammar Rules
📝
AAA pattern
Same form: put → put → put, cut → cut → cut, let → let → let.
📝
ABB pattern
Past = Past Participle: buy → bought → bought, build → built → built.
📝
ABC pattern
All forms differ: go → went → gone, begin → began → begun.
Examples
A1
EN"She has gone home."
Use past participle after have/has.
HY"Նա գնացել է տուն։"
have/has-ից հետո օգտագործվում է 3-րդ ձևը։
A1
EN"I ate an apple yesterday."
Past Simple uses the 2nd form.
HY"Ես երեկ խնձոր կերա։"
Past Simple-ում օգտագործվում է 2-րդ ձևը։
A2
EN"They have written a letter."
Written is the past participle of write.
HY"Նրանք նամակ են գրել։"
Written-ը write բայի 3-րդ ձևն է։
Irregular verbs reference
Review the most common irregular verbs, their past forms, and example usage.
BasePastPast participleCategoryExample
bewas/werebeenABCI was tired yesterday.
bearboreborn/borneABCShe was born in July.
beatbeatbeatenAABHe beat the record.
becomebecamebecomeABAShe became a doctor.
beginbeganbegunABCThe class began at 9.
bendbentbentABBHe bent the wire.
betbetbetAAAI bet on the team.
bindboundboundABBThey bound the book.
bitebitbittenAABA dog bit him.
bleedbledbledABBHis finger bled.
blowblewblownABCThe wind blew hard.
breakbrokebrokenABCI broke my phone.
breedbredbredABBThey bred dogs.
bringbroughtbroughtABBShe brought a gift.
broadcastbroadcastbroadcastAAAThe match was broadcast live.
buildbuiltbuiltABBThey built a house.
burnburnt/burnedburnt/burnedABB (variant)The toast burnt quickly.
burstburstburstAAAThe balloon burst.
buyboughtboughtABBI bought a new laptop.
catchcaughtcaughtABBShe caught the ball.
choosechosechosenABCHe chose the blue one.
comecamecomeABAThey came early.
costcostcostAAAIt cost $10.
creepcreptcreptABBThe cat crept quietly.
cutcutcutAAAI cut the paper.
dealdealtdealtABBHe dealt the cards.
digdugdugABBThey dug a hole.
dodiddoneABCI did my homework.
drawdrewdrawnABCShe drew a picture.
dreamdreamt/dreameddreamt/dreamedABB (variant)I dreamt about you.
drinkdrankdrunkABCHe drank coffee.
drivedrovedrivenABCShe drove to work.
eatateeatenABCWe ate pizza.
fallfellfallenABCHe fell down.
feedfedfedABBShe fed the baby.
feelfeltfeltABBI felt sick.
fightfoughtfoughtABBThey fought yesterday.
findfoundfoundABBI found my keys.
fleefledfledABBThey fled the city.
flyflewflownABCWe flew to Paris.
forbidforbadeforbiddenABCSmoking is forbidden here.
forgetforgotforgottenABCI forgot your name.
forgiveforgaveforgivenABCShe forgave him.
freezefrozefrozenABCThe lake froze.
getgotgot/gottenABB (variant)I got a message.
givegavegivenABCHe gave me advice.
gowentgoneABCThey went home.
growgrewgrownABCThe plant grew fast.
hanghunghungABBShe hung the picture.
havehadhadABBI had lunch.
hearheardheardABBI heard a noise.
hidehidhiddenAABHe hid the letter.
hithithitAAAThe ball hit the wall.
holdheldheldABBHold my hand.
hurthurthurtAAAMy back hurt.
keepkeptkeptABBHe kept the promise.
kneelknelt/kneeledknelt/kneeledABB (variant)He knelt to pray.
knowknewknownABCI knew the answer.
laylaidlaidABBShe laid the baby down.
leadledledABBHe led the team.
leanleant/leanedleant/leanedABB (variant)She leant on the wall.
leapleapt/leapedleapt/leapedABB (variant)The cat leapt up.
learnlearnt/learnedlearnt/learnedABB (variant)I learnt a lot.
leaveleftleftABBThey left early.
lendlentlentABBShe lent me money.
letletletAAALet me help you.
lielaylainABCHe lay on the bed.
lightlit/lightedlit/lightedABB (variant)She lit a candle.
loselostlostABBI lost my wallet.
makemademadeABBHe made a cake.
meanmeantmeantABBWhat did you mean?
meetmetmetABBWe met last year.
paypaidpaidABBI paid by card.
putputputAAAPut it here.
readreadreadAAA (pronunciation change)I read the news.
rideroderiddenABCShe rode a bike.
ringrangrungABCThe phone rang.
riseroserisenABCPrices rose quickly.
runranrunABAHe ran fast.
saysaidsaidABBShe said hello.
seesawseenABCI saw him.
seeksoughtsoughtABBThey sought help.
sellsoldsoldABBHe sold his car.
sendsentsentABBI sent an email.
setsetsetAAAShe set the table.
sewsewedsewn/sewedAB(A/B)She sewed a dress.
shakeshookshakenABCHe shook my hand.
shineshone/shinedshone/shinedABB (variant)The sun shone.
shootshotshotABBHe shot the ball.
showshowedshown/showedAB(A/B)She has shown the photo.
shutshutshutAAAShut the door.
singsangsungABCThey sang loudly.
sinksanksunkABCThe ship sank.
sitsatsatABBHe sat down.
sleepsleptsleptABBI slept well.
slideslidslidABBHe slid on ice.
smellsmelt/smelledsmelt/smelledABB (variant)The soup smelt great.
speakspokespokenABCShe spoke English.
spendspentspentABBI spent $20.
spillspilt/spilledspilt/spilledABB (variant)He spilt the water.
spitspat/spitspat/spitABB/AAA (variant)He spat on the ground.
splitsplitsplitAAAThey split the bill.
spoilspoilt/spoiledspoilt/spoiledABB (variant)The food spoilt.
spreadspreadspreadAAAHe spread the butter.
standstoodstoodABBShe stood up.
stealstolestolenABCSomeone stole my bike.
stickstuckstuckABBIt stuck to my shoe.
stingstungstungABBA bee stung me.
stinkstank/stunkstunkABC (variant)The trash stank.
strikestruckstruck/strickenABB (variant)Lightning struck a tree.
swearsworeswornABCHe swore an oath.
sweepsweptsweptABBShe swept the floor.
swimswamswumABCHe swam fast.
swingswungswungABBThe door swung open.
taketooktakenABCI took a photo.
teachtaughttaughtABBShe taught math.
teartoretornABCI tore the paper.
telltoldtoldABBHe told me the truth.
thinkthoughtthoughtABBI thought about it.
throwthrewthrownABCHe threw the ball.
understandunderstoodunderstoodABBI understood the lesson.
wakewokewokenABCI woke up early.
wearworewornABCShe wore a dress.
weavewovewovenABCThey wove cloth.
weepweptweptABBShe wept softly.
winwonwonABBWe won the game.
windwoundwoundABBHe wound the clock.
writewrotewrittenABCShe wrote a message.
abideabode/abidedabode/abidedABB (variant)They abided by the rules.
arisearosearisenABCA problem arose.
awakeawoke/awakenedawoken/awakenedABC (variant)He awoke suddenly.
bidbidbidAAAShe bid farewell.
clingclungclungABBThe child clung to his mother.
clotheclad/clothedclad/clothedABB (variant)He was clad in black.
dwelldwelt/dwelleddwelt/dwelledABB (variant)They dwelt in the valley.
forecastforecastforecastAAARain was forecast.
foretellforetoldforetoldABBThe story foretold events.
grindgroundgroundABBHe ground the coffee.
inputinputinputAAAI input the data.
knitknit/knittedknit/knittedAAA (variant)She knit a scarf.
misunderstandmisunderstoodmisunderstoodABBI misunderstood you.
overcomeovercameovercomeABAThey overcame fear.
overdooverdidoverdoneABCDon’t overdo it.
overtakeovertookovertakenABCThe car overtook us.
proveprovedproven/provedAB(A/B)It has proven useful.
quitquitquitAAAHe quit the job.
rewindrewoundrewoundABBShe rewound the tape.
shedshedshedAAAThe tree shed leaves.
shrinkshrank/shrunkshrunk/shrunkenABC (variant)My sweater shrank.
slayslewslainABCThe dragon was slain.
sowsowedsown/sowedAB(A/B)They sowed seeds.
springsprang/sprungsprungABC (variant)He sprang up.
thrivethrove/thrivedthriven/thrivedABC (variant)The business thrived.
undoundidundoneABCI undid the knot.
upholdupheldupheldABBThey upheld the decision.
withdrawwithdrewwithdrawnABCHe withdrew money.
withstandwithstoodwithstoodABBThe wall withstood the wind.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Wrong:
I goed to school yesterday.
✅ Correct:
I went to school yesterday.
💡 Note:
“Go” is irregular: go → went → gone.
❌ Wrong:
I have went home.
✅ Correct:
I have gone home.
💡 Note:
Use the past participle after “have/has”.
🧠 Practice Quiz1 / 10
Choose the correct option.
Past Simple: Yesterday I ____ to school. (go)
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