GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS

Using Irregular Verbs

To form the simple past and participle forms of regular verbs, add “-ed” to the end of the verb. Irregular
verbs form their past and participle forms in a variety of ways; some of the common irregular verbs
follow. Remember that the participle form of a verb may combine with have/has to form the present
perfect, with had to form the past perfect, and with forms of to be to form the passive voice. The
participle form of the verb is also sometimes used as an adjective.

Simple Form Past Form Participle Form

arise arose arisen
be was/were been
bear bore borne
beat beat beaten
become became become
begin began begun
bite bit bitten
blow blew blown
break broke broken
bring brought brought
build built built
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
creep crept crept
cut cut cut
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
freeze froze frozen
get got gotten
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
have had had
hear heard heard
Dr. Murray and Anna C. Rockowitz Writing Center, Hunter College, City University of New York
 hide hid hidden
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
lose lost lost
make made made
meet met met
pay paid paid
quit quit quit
read read read
ride rode ridden
rise rose risen
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
shake shook shaken
shine shone shone
shrink shrank shrunk
sing sang sang
sit sat sat
slay slew slain
sleep slept slept
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
spring sprang sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
understand understood understood
wear wore worn
win won won
write wrote written

Dr. Murray and Anna C. Rockowitz Writing Center, Hunter College, City University of New York