IRREGULAR VERBS – 1

An irregular verb does not form its past and past participle form by adding – ed or – d to the present form.  Irregular verbs have special past forms.

PRESENT                   PAST                   PAST PARTICIPLE

Eat                               ate                            (have) eaten

Remember these rules when forming the past tense of irregular verbs:

1.     The past form is used alone without a helping verb.

2.     The past participle must be used with a helping verb.

The most common helping verbs used with the past participle are forms of be or have.

These are the principle parts of some common irregular verbs:

PRESENT              PAST                  PAST PARTICIPLE

Begin                    began                    (have) begun

Bring                     brought                 (have) brought

Go                        went                      (have) gone

Teach                    taught                    (have) taught

Know                    knew                     (have) known

Drink                     drank                     (have) drunk

EXERCISES:

1.     For years, cowboys have (done, driven) cattle along the plains.

2.     Have you ever (run, ran) in a marathon?

3.     That fish has (stole, stolen) my bait again.

4.     All of the juice has been (drank, drunk).

5.     Has he (did, done) what he promised?