What is an irregular verb?

A verb that does not add -ed for its past and participle. go becomes went, not goed. English has roughly 200 of them, and they are among the most frequent verbs in the language, so without them you cannot form most past-tense sentences.

How many do I need to learn?

This table has 166. Of those, 57 sit at A1 and already cover most everyday speech. Work through A1 then A2 using the level filter rather than reading the table top to bottom.

In what order should I learn them?

By the four column shapes, easiest first: all-three-the-same (cut – cut – cut) needs one form; then past-equals-participle (buy – bought – bought); the participle-returns-to-base group is tiny; leave all-three-different for last.

Why do some verbs list two forms, like learnt and learned?

That is British versus American usage. British English leans to learnt, burnt, dreamt, smelt; American English to learned, burned, dreamed, smelled. Both are correct — just stay consistent.

What is the difference between lie and lay?

lie (recline) goes lie – lay – lain and takes no object. lay (put down) goes lay – laid – laid and always takes one. The past of lie is spelled like the base of lay, which is why this pair trips people up. Separately, lie meaning to tell an untruth is regular: lied.

Reference

Irregular verbs

166 verbs grouped by column shape and vowel pattern — learn the groups, not 166 separate words.

Verbs166

Shapes4

Patterns16

166 verbs matched

All three the same — A – A – A

22 verbs

Base	Past	Participle	Meaning
betB1	Pastbet	Participlebet	cá cược
broadcastB1	Pastbroadcast	Participlebroadcast	phát sóng
burstB2	Pastburst	Participleburst	nổ, bục ra
costA2	Pastcost	Participlecost	có giá là
cutA2	Pastcut	Participlecut	cắt
hitA1	Pasthit	Participlehit	đánh, đập
hurtA1	Pasthurt	Participlehurt	đau, làm đau
letA1	Pastlet	Participlelet	cho phép, để cho
offsetB2	Pastoffset	Participleoffset	bù trừ
outbidC1	Pastoutbid	Participleoutbid	trả giá cao hơn để thắng
proofreadB2	Pastproofread	Participleproofread	soát lỗi bản thảoviết y nguyên nhưng phân từ đọc /red/
putA1	Pastput	Participleput	đặt, để
quitB1	Pastquit / quitted	Participlequit / quitted	bỏ, thôi việc
readA1	Pastread	Participleread	đọcviết y nguyên cả ba dạng, nhưng quá khứ và phân từ đọc /red/
setA1	Pastset	Participleset	đặt, thiết lập
shutA2	Pastshut	Participleshut	đóng lại
splitB1	Pastsplit	Participlesplit	chia tách
spreadB1	Pastspread	Participlespread	lan ra, trải raviết y nguyên nhưng quá khứ đọc /spred/
thrustC1	Pastthrust	Participlethrust	đẩy mạnh vào
typecastC1	Pasttypecast	Participletypecast	đóng khung vai diễn
undercutC1	Pastundercut	Participleundercut	bán rẻ hơn để cạnh tranh
upsetB1	Pastupset	Participleupset	làm buồn, làm đảo lộn

Past equals participle — A – B – B

72 verbs

Base	Past	Participle	Meaning
bendB1	Pastbent	Participlebent	uốn, gập-d → -t
bindC1	Pastbound	Participlebound	buộc, ràng buộci – ou
bleedB1	Pastbled	Participlebled	chảy máuea → e
breedB2	Pastbred	Participlebred	sinh sản, nhân giốngea → e
bringA1	Pastbrought	Participlebrought	mang đến-ought / -aught
buildA2	Pastbuilt	Participlebuilt	xây-d → -t
burnA2	Pastburnt / burned	Participleburnt / burned	cháy, làm cháyAnh-Anh thiên về burnt, Anh-Mỹ thiên về burned
buyA1	Pastbought	Participlebought	mua-ought / -aught
catchA2	Pastcaught	Participlecaught	bắt, chụp-ought / -aught
clingC1	Pastclung	Participleclung	bám chặti – u
creepB2	Pastcrept	Participlecrept	rón rén đi-eep → -ept
dealB1	Pastdealt	Participledealt	xử lý, giải quyếtea → e
digB1	Pastdug	Participledug	đàoi – u
dreamA2	Pastdreamt / dreamed	Participledreamt / dreamed	mơ, ước mơAnh-Anh thiên về dreamt, Anh-Mỹ thiên về dreamed
feedB1	Pastfed	Participlefed	cho ănea → e
feelA1	Pastfelt	Participlefelt	cảm thấyea → e
fightA2	Pastfought	Participlefought	chiến đấu, đánh nhau-ought / -aught
findA1	Pastfound	Participlefound	tìm thấyi – ou
fleeC1	Pastfled	Participlefled	chạy trốnea → e
flingC2	Pastflung	Participleflung	quăng mạnhi – u
gainsayC2	Pastgainsaid	Participlegainsaid	phủ nhận, nói ngược lại
gatekeepC1	Pastgatekept	Participlegatekept	gác cổng, chặn người ngoài-eep → -ept
grindC1	Pastground	Participleground	nghiền, xayi – ou
hangA2	Pasthung	Participlehung	treoi – unghĩa treo cổ hành hình thì chia theo quy tắc: hanged
haveA1	Pasthad	Participlehad	có
hearA1	Pastheard	Participleheard	nghe thấyviết thêm d nhưng đọc đổi hẳn: /hɪr/ thành /hɜrd/
holdA2	Pastheld	Participleheld	cầm, giữ
keepA2	Pastkept	Participlekept	giữ-eep → -ept
kneelB2	Pastknelt / kneeled	Participleknelt / kneeled	quỳ-eep → -ept
layB1	Pastlaid	Participlelaid	đặt, để xuốnglay cần tân ngữ (lay the book down); lie thì không (lie on the bed)
leadB1	Pastled	Participleled	dẫn dắtea → e
leapB2	Pastleapt / leaped	Participleleapt / leaped	nhảy vọt-eep → -ept
learnA1	Pastlearnt / learned	Participlelearnt / learned	họcAnh-Anh thiên về learnt, Anh-Mỹ thiên về learned
leaveA1	Pastleft	Participleleft	rời đi, để lạiea → e
lendA1	Pastlent	Participlelent	cho mượn-d → -t
lightA2	Pastlit / lighted	Participlelit / lighted	thắp, châm lửa
loseA1	Pastlost	Participlelost	thua, làm mất
makeA1	Pastmade	Participlemade	làm, tạo ra
meanA2	Pastmeant	Participlemeant	có nghĩa làea → e
meetA1	Pastmet	Participlemet	gặpea → e
misleadB2	Pastmisled	Participlemisled	làm hiểu saiea → e
outshineC1	Pastoutshone	Participleoutshone	làm lu mờ, trội hơn
payA1	Pastpaid	Participlepaid	trả tiền
resitB2	Pastresat	Participleresat	thi lại
sayA1	Pastsaid	Participlesaid	nóiviết thêm d nhưng đọc thành /sed/, không phải /seɪd/
seekB2	Pastsought	Participlesought	tìm kiếm-ought / -aught
sellA1	Pastsold	Participlesold	bán
sendA1	Pastsent	Participlesent	gửi-d → -t
shineB1	Pastshone	Participleshone	chiếu sáng
shootB1	Pastshot	Participleshot	bắn
sitA1	Pastsat	Participlesat	ngồi
sleepA1	Pastslept	Participleslept	ngủ-eep → -ept
slideB1	Pastslid	Participleslid	trượt
smellA2	Pastsmelt / smelled	Participlesmelt / smelled	ngửi, có mùiAnh-Anh thiên về smelt, Anh-Mỹ thiên về smelled
spendA1	Pastspent	Participlespent	tiêu, dành-d → -t
spillB1	Pastspilt / spilled	Participlespilt / spilled	làm đổ
spinB1	Pastspun	Participlespun	quay tròni – u
spitB2	Pastspat	Participlespat	nhổ
standA1	Paststood	Participlestood	đứng
stickB1	Paststuck	Participlestuck	dán, mắc lạii – u
stingB2	Paststung	Participlestung	đốt, châmi – u
strikeB2	Paststruck	Participlestruck	đánh, giángi – u
sweepB1	Pastswept	Participleswept	quét-eep → -ept
swingB1	Pastswung	Participleswung	đưa qua đưa lạii – u
teachA1	Pasttaught	Participletaught	dạy-ought / -aught
tellA1	Pasttold	Participletold	kể, bảo
thinkA1	Pastthought	Participlethought	nghĩ-ought / -aught
understandA1	Pastunderstood	Participleunderstood	hiểu
upholdC1	Pastupheld	Participleupheld	giữ nguyên phán quyết
weepC1	Pastwept	Participlewept	khóc thầm rơi lệ-eep → -ept
winA1	Pastwon	Participlewon	thắng
windB2	Pastwound	Participlewound	cuộn, lên dâyi – ouđộng từ này đọc /waɪnd/, khác danh từ wind (gió) đọc /wɪnd/

Participle returns to base — A – B – A

4 verbs

Base	Past	Participle	Meaning
becomeA1	Pastbecame	Participlebecome	trở thành-ake → -ook
comeA1	Pastcame	Participlecome	đến, lại-ake → -ook
overcomeB2	Pastovercame	Participleovercome	vượt qua-ake → -ook
runA1	Pastran	Participlerun	chạyi – a – u

All three different — A – B – C

68 verbs

Base	Past	Participle	Meaning
ariseC1	Pastarose	Participlearisen	nảy sinh, xuất hiệni – o – en
awakeB2	Pastawoke	Participleawoken	thức giấc-ake → -ook
beA1	Pastwas / were	Participlebeen	thì, là, ởdạng duy nhất có hai thể quá khứ: I/he/she/it was, còn you/we/they were
bearB2	Pastbore	Participleborne	chịu đựng, mangear – ore – orn
beatB1	Pastbeat	Participlebeaten	đánh, đánh thắng
begetC2	Pastbegot	Participlebegotten	sinh ra, dẫn tới
beginA1	Pastbegan	Participlebegun	bắt đầui – a – u
biteB1	Pastbit	Participlebitten	cắni – o – en
blowB1	Pastblew	Participleblown	thổi-ew → -own
breakA1	Pastbroke	Participlebroken	làm vỡi – o – en
chooseA2	Pastchose	Participlechosen	chọni – o – en
cleaveC2	Pastcleft	Participlecloven	chẻ tách ra làm haicùng lúc có nghĩa trái ngược là bám chặt vào, khi đó chia theo quy tắc: cleaved
doA1	Pastdid	Participledone	làm
drawB2	Pastdrew	Participledrawn	vẽ-ew → -own
drinkA1	Pastdrank	Participledrunk	uốngi – a – u
driveA1	Pastdrove	Participledriven	lái xei – o – en
eatA1	Pastate	Participleeaten	ăn
fallA1	Pastfell	Participlefallen	rơi, ngã
flyA1	Pastflew	Participleflown	bay-ew → -own
forbearC2	Pastforbore	Participleforborne	nhẫn nhịn không làmear – ore – orn
forbidB2	Pastforbade	Participleforbidden	cấmi – a – idden
foreseeB2	Pastforesaw	Participleforeseen	tiên liệuee – aw – een
forgetA1	Pastforgot	Participleforgotten	quêne – o – otten
forgiveB1	Pastforgave	Participleforgiven	tha thứi – a – iven
freezeA2	Pastfroze	Participlefrozen	đóng băng, cấp đôngi – o – en
getA1	Pastgot	Participlegotten / got	lấy, nhậnAnh-Mỹ dùng gotten, Anh-Anh dùng got cho phân từ
giveA1	Pastgave	Participlegiven	cho, đưai – a – iven
goA1	Pastwent	Participlegone	điwent vốn là quá khứ của một động từ khác đã mất, nên không giống go chút nào
growA2	Pastgrew	Participlegrown	mọc, lớn lên-ew → -own
hideA2	Pasthid	Participlehidden	trốn, che giấui – o – en
knowA1	Pastknew	Participleknown	biết-ew → -own
lieA2	Pastlay	Participlelain	nằmquá khứ của lie trùng nguyên thể của lay — nguồn nhầm lẫn kinh điển. Nghĩa nói dối thì chia quy tắc: lied
mistakeB1	Pastmistook	Participlemistaken	nhầm, hiểu sai-ake → -ook
mowB2	Pastmowed	Participlemown	cắt cỏ-ed / -n
outdoC1	Pastoutdid	Participleoutdone	làm hơn được
overseeB2	Pastoversaw	Participleoverseen	trông coi tổng thểee – aw – een
overtakeB1	Pastovertook	Participleovertaken	vượt xe, vượt lên-ake → -ook
proveB1	Pastproved	Participleproven / proved	chứng minh-ed / -n
retakeC1	Pastretook	Participleretaken	thi hoặc học lại-ake → -ook
rideA2	Pastrode	Participleridden	cưỡi, đi xe hai bánhi – o – en
ringA2	Pastrang	Participlerung	reo, gọi điệni – a – u
riseB1	Pastrose	Participlerisen	dâng lên, mọc lêni – o – enrise không cần tân ngữ; raise thì cần và chia theo quy tắc
seeA1	Pastsaw	Participleseen	nhìn thấyee – aw – een
sewB1	Pastsewed	Participlesewn	khâu-ed / -n
shakeB1	Pastshook	Participleshaken	lắc, rung-ake → -ook
showA1	Pastshowed	Participleshown	chỉ, cho xem-ed / -nquá khứ theo quy tắc nhưng phân từ thì không: showed / shown
shrinkB2	Pastshrank	Participleshrunk	co lạii – a – u
singA1	Pastsang	Participlesung	háti – a – u
sinkB1	Pastsank	Participlesunk	chìmi – a – u
speakA1	Pastspoke	Participlespoken	nói ngôn ngữi – o – en
springB1	Pastsprang	Participlesprung	bật lêni – a – u
stealA2	Paststole	Participlestolen	lấy trộmi – o – en
stinkC1	Paststank	Participlestunk	nặng mùii – a – u
strideC1	Paststrode	Participlestridden	sải bước dứt khoáti – o – en
swearB2	Pastswore	Participlesworn	thề, văng tụcear – ore – orn
swellB1	Pastswelled	Participleswollen	sưng lên-ed / -n
swimA1	Pastswam	Participleswum	bơii – a – u
takeA1	Pasttook	Participletaken	lấy, cầm, mang-ake → -ook
tearB1	Pasttore	Participletorn	xéear – ore – orn
throwA2	Pastthrew	Participlethrown	ném-ew → -own
treadC2	Pasttrod	Participletrodden	bước lên, đạp lêni – o – en
undertakeB2	Pastundertook	Participleundertaken	đảm nhận-ake → -ook
underwriteC1	Pastunderwrote	Participleunderwritten	bảo lãnh phát hànhi – o – en
wakeA1	Pastwoke	Participlewoken	thức dậy-ake → -ook
wearA1	Pastwore	Participleworn	mặc, đeoear – ore – orn
weaveC1	Pastwove	Participlewoven	dệti – o – en
withdrawB1	Pastwithdrew	Participlewithdrawn	rút ra, rút lui-ew → -own
writeA1	Pastwrote	Participlewritten	viếti – o – en

Frequently asked questions