The past is not only history! Regular and irregular verb patterns

Learning past tense verbs involves a lot of repetition and memorisation, but learning by pattern makes it easier!

 

REGULAR PAST TENSE VERBS

There are three regular past tense verb patterns: /d/, /t/, or /ɪd, əd/.

1. /d/ is used when the final sound of the present tense form of the verb is voiced
2. /t/ is used when the final consonants of the present tense verb is voiceless
3. /ɪd, əd/ is used when the final sound of the present tense form of the verb is /d/ or /t/.

IRREGULAR VERBS

Irregular past tense verbs are much more difficult and don’t have a clear explanation for their verb patterns. Below are the most common irregular verb forms.

• unchanged: cut, put, quit, burst, hit, shut, bet, hurt, let
• -ought/-aught: taught, brought, caught, bought, fought

• -ang/-ung: rang, sang, hang, swung
• -ew: blew, grew, knew, flew, drew, threw
• -t: slept, felt, left, spent, met, spent, kept, swept
• long /o/: spoke, drove, woke, broke, awoke, wrote.