Irregular Verbs Ali Pravda

1. Explain the term Irregular Verbs Making sure that the words ‘verb’ and ‘tense’ (and even ‘conjugation’ and ‘principal parts’) are prior knowledge. i.e. Verbs that fall outside the standard patterns of conjugation. (Conjugation: stating the derived forms of a verb from its four principal parts, affected by person, number, gender, tense, aspect, mood, voice, etc.) Often are the most commonly used verbs in any language. To Be, Present, Active, Indicative SingularPlural First PersonI amWe are Second PersonYou are Third PersonHe/She isThey are

English, Not the Only One English has an abundance of irregularities. Which is why many say that English is the most difficult to learn… but the truth is that most (if not all) languages have irregular verbs, and the difficulty of learning English as a second language is more dependant on if their first language does not consist of the same pronunciations as English does.

2. Give Examples: Infinitive (Present) Simple PastPast Participle Present Participle 3 rd Person Singular To AwakeAwokeAwokenAwakingAwakes To BeWas/WereBeenBeingIs To DoDidDoneDoingDoes To SaySaid SayingSays To SeeSawSeenSeeingSees To SitSat SittingSits To SleepSlept SleepingSleeps To ThinkThought ThinkingThinks To WriteWrote WritingWrites

InfinitiveSimple PastPast ParticiplePresent Participle To LayLaid Laying To LieLayLainLying

3. Worksheets / Activities Playing a game that requires interaction back and forth, (e.g. playing catch, thrower says present tense, catcher says past tense). Fill in the blank, (e.g. use the proper tense in the sentence; fill in the conjugation chart). Ask to identify irregular verbs or numerous tenses in a piece of writing. Find your partner (e.g. find the other student that has the same verb, but in a different tense). Children often need to see the visual of how irregular verbs are formed, rather than only observing them in speech.

4. Use Irregular Verbs in Real Life Gently correcting inaccurate forms. (e.g. Student: “She buyed me candy”; Teacher: “Oh, she bought you candy? Oh you’re so lucky”) Students should read often, and have assistance when identifying irregular verbs. (e.g. reading along in class, or with a parent/teacher/peer)