Grammar: Word classes: Verbs: Verb formation

Irregular verbs

What are irregular verbs?

In English, some verbs have a regular form and others have an irregular form:  

Irregular verbs are similar to regular verbs because their 's' form and the present participle can be predicted from the base form: 

play             - plays         - playing         [regular verb]
base form      past simple         past participle

begin         - begins         - beginning    [irregular verb]
base form      past simple         past participle

However, irregular verbs differ from regular verbs because their past simple form and past participle cannot always be predicted from the base form:

play         - played         - played             [regular verb]
              past simple           past participle

begin     - began          - begun                 [irregular verb]
              past simple           past participle

One of the most difficult aspects of learning English is having to deal with all the irregular verb forms. There is no easy way around this. Students simply have to be aware that there is a certain amount of variation, and learn the different forms.

Irregular verbs behave in many different ways, with rules that affect their spelling.