The past simple tense is a basic way to talk about finished actions. Irregular verbs don’t just add -ed; instead, they change in different ways.
That can be confusing. In this article, you’ll learn how to fix that confusion. I’ll give you simple tips, clear exercises, and a handy list of words to help you.
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Understanding Irregular Verbs
I want to help you see what makes irregular verbs different. When a verb is regular, you simply add -ed at the end. You can say “play” in the present tense, then “played” in the past.
But irregular verbs break that pattern.
For example:
- Go → Went
- Eat → Ate
Some change a little. Others change a lot. A few stay the same. Why does it matter?
Learning the correct forms will make you sound clear and sure of yourself. If you don’t, people might get lost in what you say.
So, I’m here to help you avoid that problem.
Exercise 1: Fill-In-The-Blanks
I want you to fill in the blanks using each verb’s correct past simple form. Use your own words if you feel stuck. Some verbs will be irregular, and some will be regular.
Be sure to check if the verb needs -ed or if it changes in a special way.
Tip: If you’re unsure, look back at the common irregular forms we discussed earlier.
Write the past form of the verb in parentheses:
- I ____ (go) to the store this morning.
- You ____ (come) to my house yesterday.
- He ____ (see) a great show last night.
- We ____ (eat) pizza for lunch.
- They ____ (speak) on the phone an hour ago.
- I ____ (run) three miles last weekend.
- You ____ (buy) new shoes two days ago.
- She ____ (write) an email this morning.
- We ____ (make) sandwiches for dinner.
- They ____ (drink) tea at breakfast.
- I ____ (have) a funny dream last night.
- You ____ (bring) your books to class on Tuesday.
- He ____ (take) the bus home yesterday.
- We ____ (begin) the project last week.
- They ____ (drive) to another city yesterday.
- I ____ (think) about you this afternoon.
- You ____ (find) your keys in the kitchen.
- She ____ (teach) math to her little brother.
- We ____ (swim) at the pool on Sunday.
- They ____ (read) that book last month.
- I ____ (sleep) in late on Saturday.
- You ____ (forget) your wallet in the car.
- He ____ (get) a new job last year.
- We ____ (send) a letter to our friend abroad.
- They ____ (win) first prize in a contest.
- I ____ (feel) happy about the results.
- You ____ (say) something important earlier.
- She ____ (fall) down the stairs but is okay.
- We ____ (keep) our promise to show up on time.
- They ____ (lose) their way and asked for help.
Exercise 2: Sentence Rewrite Practice
I want you to rewrite these sentences from the present tense to the past simple. You can do this in a notebook or on your computer.
Try saying each sentence out loud to hear the changes. Turn each one into the past simple:
- I play soccer every afternoon.
- You like to read comics.
- He eats cereal for breakfast.
- We go to the movies on weekends.
- They buy fresh vegetables at the market.
- I see my friends after school.
- You take a taxi to work.
- She writes emails every day.
- We speak English at home.
- They run in the park each morning.
- I come to the library on Mondays.
- You send text messages to your family.
- He thinks about the future a lot.
- We make our beds in the morning.
- They drive to the next town for groceries.
- I leave my phone in my bag.
- You break your pencil by mistake.
- She begins her homework at 5 PM.
- We drink tea at night.
- They see the doctor once a month.
- I keep a journal on my desk.
- You read a book before bed.
- He has a meeting at noon.
- We choose a movie together.
- They go to concerts on Fridays.
- I feel tired after running.
- You write letters to your cousin.
- She buys fresh fruit every morning.
- We stand in line for tickets.
- They eat lunch at noon.
Practice makes progress. If you spot an error, fix it and keep going. That’s how you build confidence with past tense verbs.
Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Past Form
Pick the correct past form of the verb in parentheses.
- I ___ (go/went) to the park last night.
- You ___ (eat/ate) my snack this morning.
- I ___ (see / saw) that movie last week.
- You ___ (find/found) my lost pen yesterday.
- I ___ (take/took) a short nap earlier.
- You ___ (run / ran) around the track last Friday.
- I ___ (drive/drove) you home two days ago.
- You ___ (meet/met) my cousin last summer.
- I ___ (feel/felt) sick last night.
- You ___ (fall/fell) off your bike on Monday.
- I ___ (pay / paid) for our lunch.
- You ___ (speak/spoke) to my teacher last month.
- I ___ (lend/lent) you some money.
- You ___ (leave/left) your bag in the car.
- I ___ (drink/drank) water before class.
- You ___ (sing/sang) at the event.
- I ___ (feel/felt) better after resting.
- You ___ (catch / caught) the ball at practice.
- I ___ (write/wrote) a short note for you.
- You ___ (think / thought) of a new idea.
- I ___ (read/read) that book last year.
- You ___ (give/gave) me good advice.
- I ___ (swim / swam) in the lake last weekend.
- You ___ (stand / stood) in line for an hour.
- I ___ (tell/told) you my secret.
- You ___ (shake / shook) the bottle too hard.
- I ___ (come/came) home late last night.
- You ___ (have/had) a great idea.
- I ___ (sleep / slept) early on Tuesday.
- You ___ (keep/kept) your promise.
Common Irregular Verbs and Their Forms
I want you to see these verbs at a glance. You can use this chart when you need the past simple form in a hurry. Keep it in your notes or print it out. That way, you have a quick guide whenever you practice.
Use this reference whenever you do exercises or speak in English. Review them often, and you’ll build strong habits.
Present | Past Simple |
---|---|
be | was/were |
become | became |
begin | began |
blow | blew |
break | broke |
bring | brought |
buy | bought |
catch | caught |
choose | chose |
come | came |
do | did |
draw | drew |
drink | drank |
drive | drove |
eat | ate |
fall | fell |
feel | felt |
find | found |
fly | flew |
forget | forgot |
get | got |
give | gave |
go | went |
have | had |
hear | heard |
keep | kept |
know | knew |
leave | left |
make | made |
meet | met |
Helpful Tips to Master Irregular Verbs
I want you to feel sure when you memorize irregular forms. They can look random at first. However, there are ways to learn them faster.
1. Create Flashcards
- Write the present form on one side.
- Write the past form on the other side.
- Show them to yourself, and say each form out loud.
2. Use Online Tools
- Many websites have free quizzes and games.
- Apps can send you daily reminders to practice.
- Videos can show you words in use.
3. Group Similar Verbs Together
- Some verbs share patterns or spelling changes.
- Learning them as a set can save time.
4. Set Daily Goals
- Focus on five verbs a day.
- Repeat them until they feel natural.
Conclusion
I hope you feel more at ease with past simple irregular verbs now. Together, we covered the difference between regular and irregular forms, filled in blanks, rewrote sentences, and checked out a quick verb list.
Practice is the key to making these words feel natural. Try flashcards or online quizzes, read and speak every day.
Remember: small steps can lead to big changes.
If you make a habit of reviewing, you’ll soon see steady growth in your writing and speaking. I believe in your progress. Keep going, and soon, you’ll use irregular verbs like a pro.
You’ve got this!