VerbsEnglish level A1
Irregular verbs
The most frequent English verbs change form instead of taking -ed — their V2 and V3 must be memorized.
Rule
Regular verbs make V2/V3 with -ed. Irregular verbs change their form (go - went - gone) or keep one form for all three (put - put - put). V2 builds Past Simple; V3 builds Present Perfect.
Tip
Learn them in threes, out loud - the rhythm helps: go-went-gone, see-saw-seen.
Formula
| All three differ | V1 - V2 - V3 | go - went - gone · see - saw - seeneat - ate - eaten · take - took - takenwrite - wrote - written · speak - spoke - spoken |
|---|---|---|
| V2 = V3 | past forms match | have - had - had · make - made - madesay - said - said · buy - bought - boughtteach - taught - taught · find - found - found |
| All the same | one form for all three | put - put - putcut - cut - cutcost - cost - cost |
| Tricky: V1 = V3 | the middle one changes | come - came - comerun - ran - runbecome - became - become |
Notes
- V2 -> Past Simple: She went home.
- V3 -> Present Perfect: She has gone home.
Practice
The verb see: see - missing word - seen.
I have missing word my homework.