Irregular Verbs: Present, Past and Past Participle Grammar Focus Irregular Verbs: Present, Past and Past Participle

Irregular Verbs Many of the verbs we use the most in English are irregular. This means that they do not follow the patterns or rules that regular verbs follow. For example, we add –ed to the end of regular verbs to make the past and past participle forms of the verb. Review: Verbs are the action words in a sentence. Many of the verbs we use the most in English are irregular. This means that they do not follow the patterns or rules that regular verbs follow. For example, we add –ed to the end of regular verbs to make the past and past participle forms of the verb. Review: Verbs are the action words in a sentence.

Irregular verbs For example, in regular verbs the past forms always end in –ed, and the past form and past participle are the same: Present Past Past Participle Walk Walked Want Wanted Cook Cooked Like Liked Love Loved For example, in regular verbs the past forms always end in –ed, and the past form and past participle are the same: Present Past Past Participle Walk Walked Want Wanted Cook Cooked Like Liked Love Loved

Irregular Verbs Let’s look at these regular verbs in sentences: I like chocolate ice cream. When I was a kid I liked vanilla ice cream. I have always liked ice cream. My sisters cook very well. Last weekend they cooked dinner for our whole family. They have cooked Thanksgiving dinner for many years. Let’s look at these regular verbs in sentences: I like chocolate ice cream. When I was a kid I liked vanilla ice cream. I have always liked ice cream. My sisters cook very well. Last weekend they cooked dinner for our whole family. They have cooked Thanksgiving dinner for many years.

Irregular Verbs But the irregular verbs do not follow this rule! Present Past Past Participle Is Was Been Have Had Come Came Write Wrote Written Read Say Said But the irregular verbs do not follow this rule! Present Past Past Participle Is Was Been Have Had Come Came Write Wrote Written Read Say Said

Irregular Verbs Let’s look at these irregular verbs in sentences. Sometimes the present, past, and past participle all have different forms: Today the weather is hot. Yesterday the weather was hot. All summer the weather has been hot! I write a letter to my mother every week. When I was a teenager I wrote poems. I have written two books of poetry. Let’s look at these irregular verbs in sentences. Sometimes the present, past, and past participle all have different forms: Today the weather is hot. Yesterday the weather was hot. All summer the weather has been hot! I write a letter to my mother every week. When I was a teenager I wrote poems. I have written two books of poetry.

Irregular Verbs Sometimes the present, past, and past participle all have the same forms. But be careful – even if they are spelled the same they may not be pronounced the same way! I read the newspaper every morning. Yesterday morning I read the newspaper after breakfast. I have read the newspaper every morning for ten years! Sometimes the present, past, and past participle all have the same forms. But be careful – even if they are spelled the same they may not be pronounced the same way! I read the newspaper every morning. Yesterday morning I read the newspaper after breakfast. I have read the newspaper every morning for ten years!

Irregular Verbs Because irregular verbs do not follow the same rules as other verbs, we have to memorize their different forms. Since many of the verbs we use the most are irregular, you probably know many of them already! For a list of irregular verb forms, follow this link: www.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm or do an Internet search for “irregular verbs list”. Now, get more practice by trying the grammar focus activity. Because irregular verbs do not follow the same rules as other verbs, we have to memorize their different forms. Since many of the verbs we use the most are irregular, you probably know many of them already! For a list of irregular verb forms, follow this link: www.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm or do an Internet search for “irregular verbs list”. Now, get more practice by trying the grammar focus activity.