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Level: A2-B1

Irregular Verbs — Practice

English has hundreds of irregular verbs that don’t follow the regular -ed pattern. Each verb here gets three short sentences — one for the base form, one for the past, and one for the past participle — shown consecutively so you can see how the verb changes across forms. 38 verbs, 114 click-to-hear examples.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 4 of 17 ⏱ about 15 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on The 5 Verb Forms Next in unit Linking vs Action →

16:43 🎬 Watch: 67 irregular verbs in pictures (A1–A2) See a picture, say the past and past participle yourself, then hear all three forms — grouped by the same patterns used below. 13:06 🎬 Then: 51 more irregular verbs (A2–B1) The second set, same pattern groups — for when the first 67 feel easy.

🖼️ Prefer pictures? Irregular verbs picture dictionary — 67 verbs, all three forms spoken 51 more irregular verbs in pictures (A2–B1)

🎬 On this site: Every grammar video, listed in order

  • Pattern 1: All three forms the same (put → put → put)
  • I want to put my keys here. – Base
  • I put them here yesterday. – Past
  • I have put them here many times. – Past participle
  • She prefers not to cut her hair. – Base
  • She cut it last week. – Past
  • She has cut it short before. – Past participle
  • He loves to hit home runs. – Base
  • He hit one yesterday. – Past
  • He has hit many this season. – Past participle
  • They like to let us in early. – Base
  • They let us in yesterday. – Past
  • They have let us in many times. – Past participle
  • These shoes can cost a lot. – Base
  • They cost fifty dollars yesterday. – Past
  • They have cost more each year. – Past participle
  • I try not to hurt anyone. – Base
  • I hurt my knee last week. – Past
  • I have hurt myself many times. – Past participle
  • She likes to shut the door. – Base
  • She shut it quietly. – Past
  • She has shut it the same way for years. – Past participle
  • I love to read mysteries. – Base
  • I read this one yesterday. – Past
  • I have read it twice before. – Past participle
  • Pattern 2: Past = past participle (build → built → built)
  • They want to build a school. – Base
  • They built a house last year. – Past
  • They have built many homes since. – Past participle
  • I need to find my keys. – Base
  • I found them yesterday. – Past
  • I have found three lost items today. – Past participle
  • She likes to buy new clothes. – Base
  • She bought a dress yesterday. – Past
  • She has bought many for the trip. – Past participle
  • He likes to bring dessert. – Base
  • He brought a cake yesterday. – Past
  • He has brought one to every party. – Past participle
  • We try to catch the early train. – Base
  • We caught it yesterday. – Past
  • We have caught it every Monday. – Past participle
  • I like to think about the future. – Base
  • I thought about it yesterday. – Past
  • I have thought about it all week. – Past participle
  • She loves to teach. – Base
  • She taught Spanish last year. – Past
  • She has taught hundreds of students. – Past participle
  • The team wants to win every game. – Base
  • They won yesterday. – Past
  • They have won every match this season. – Past participle
  • She wants to sell her car. – Base
  • She sold the old one last week. – Past
  • She has sold many cars before. – Past participle
  • I always try to tell the truth. – Base
  • I told him yesterday. – Past
  • I have told everyone since. – Past participle
  • He likes to say hello. – Base
  • He said it this morning. – Past
  • He has said it every day this week. – Past participle
  • I have to leave at noon. – Base
  • I left work early yesterday. – Past
  • I have left my keys at home twice. – Past participle
  • I want to meet new people. – Base
  • I met him at the conference. – Past
  • I have met him many times since. – Past participle
  • She wants to have a vacation. – Base
  • She had a great trip last summer. – Past
  • She has had many adventures. – Past participle
  • Pattern 3: Vowel change, 3 forms differ (sing → sang → sung)
  • She loves to sing. – Base
  • She sang at the concert. – Past
  • She has sung in many shows before. – Past participle
  • I try not to drink too much coffee. – Base
  • I drank three cups yesterday. – Past
  • I have drunk too much today. – Past participle
  • Classes begin every September. – Base
  • My course began on Monday. – Past
  • The second class has begun today. – Past participle
  • Phones ring all day. – Base
  • The bell rang at noon. – Past
  • The phone has rung three times since. – Past participle
  • I love to swim in summer. – Base
  • I swam across the lake yesterday. – Past
  • I have swum there many times. – Past participle
  • Pattern 4: Fully irregular (go → went → gone)
  • She wants to go home early. – Base
  • She went there yesterday. – Past
  • She has gone there many times. – Past participle
  • He likes to eat early. – Base
  • He ate dinner an hour ago. – Past
  • He has eaten all the cookies too. – Past participle
  • She wants to write a novel. – Base
  • She wrote a poem yesterday. – Past
  • She has written three short stories. – Past participle
  • I prefer to take the bus. – Base
  • I took it this morning. – Past
  • I have taken it every day this week. – Past participle
  • Birds fly south every winter. – Base
  • One flew away yesterday. – Past
  • It has flown back every spring. – Past participle
  • He likes to drive at night. – Base
  • He drove me home. – Past
  • He has driven all over the country. – Past participle
  • Glass can break easily. – Base
  • The glass broke this morning. – Past
  • Three more have broken this week. – Past participle
  • She has to do homework. – Base
  • She did it yesterday. – Past
  • She has done it every day this week. – Past participle
  • I want to know the answer. – Base
  • I knew it yesterday. – Past
  • I have known it for years. – Past participle
  • I want to see the movie. – Base
  • She saw it last week. – Past
  • She has seen it three times. – Past participle
  • He likes to give gifts. – Base
  • He gave her flowers yesterday. – Past
  • He has given her many presents. – Past participle