Regular and Irregular Verbs

Generally, it makes more sense to define a verb by what it does rather than by what it is. Here, by identifying 10 types of verbs, we'll briefly consider some of their more common functions as well.

Because all regular verbs in the past tense have the same ending, these verb forms are the easiest to remember.

Once you understand how to form the past tense of regular verbs, you shouldn't find it difficult to use verbs in the present-perfect tense. All you'll need to add is an auxiliary verb--"has" or "have."

Find out what distinguishes an "irregular" verb from a "regular" verb.

In this table you will find the principal parts of the most common irregular verbs in English (from A to G).

In this table you will find the principal parts of the most common irregular verbs in English (from H to S).

In this table you will find the principal parts of the most common irregular verbs in English (from S to W).

As an auxiliary verb, "do" is sometimes called an "empty" verb or a "dummy operator" because it has no meaning of its own. But do have some respect for this dummy. As we'll see, "do" stays busy. Here are ten things you can do with the verb "do."

Complete this editing exercise after you have reviewed our Introduction to Irregular Verbs.

After you have reviewed our pages on regular and irregular verbs, give these five proofreading exercises a try.

In this two-part exercise, you will (1) select the correct form of the regular verb in parentheses, and (2) combine the sentences in the exercise into a cohesive paragraph.

In this two-part exercise in using the past forms of regular and irregular verbs, you will (1) select the correct form of the verb in parentheses, and (2) combine the sentences in the exercise into a cohesive paragraph.

This exercise will give you practice in using the appropriate past-tense forms of regular and irregular verbs.

This two-part exercise will give you practice is using the past forms of regular verbs and irregular verbs.

Verbals--which include participles, gerunds, and infinitives--are the forms of a verb that function as other parts of speech. This exercise will give you practice in recognizing verbals.

In one respect, the present participle is a simple, straightforward construction. Whether "laughing" or "crying," "rising" or "falling," it's formed by adding "-ing" to the base form of a verb. No exceptions. But after that, it gets a bit more complicated.

Find out what distinguishes a present participle ("singing," for instance) from the present progressive tense ("is singing").

A.W. Bellaw, a 19th-century American poet and humorist, plays with irregular verbs in this light-hearted marriage proposal.