Irregular Verbs helps you communicate about past events and perfect constructions. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can use common irregular past forms and past participles accurately.
- Recognise and build the form: irregular verb paradigm: base–past–past participle.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Irregular Verbs for past events and perfect constructions. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
Yesterday, she went to the market.
'Went' is the irregular past-simple form of 'go'.
He has lost his keys again.
'Lost' is the past participle of 'lose'.
We saw a great film last night.
'Saw' is the irregular past-simple form of 'see'.
irregular verb paradigm: base–past–past participleKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- 'Went' is the irregular past-simple form of 'go'.
- 'Lost' is the past participle of 'lose'.
- 'Saw' is the irregular past-simple form of 'see'.
- The present perfect requires the past participle 'eaten'.
- 'Knew' is the irregular past-simple form of 'know'.
Common mistakes
Not:Yesterday, she goed to the market.
Use:Yesterday, she went to the market.
'Went' is the irregular past-simple form of 'go'.
Not:He has lose his keys again.
Use:He has lost his keys again.
'Lost' is the past participle of 'lose'.
Not:We seen a great film last night.
Use:We saw a great film last night.
'Saw' is the irregular past-simple form of 'see'.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
Have you ever ____ sushi?
eaten
The present perfect requires the past participle 'eaten'.
They ____ the answer immediately.
knew
'Knew' is the irregular past-simple form of 'know'.
The window was ____ by the ball.
broken
The passive requires the past participle 'broken'.