Introduction to Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are an essential part of English grammar. Unlike regular verbs (which add -ed), irregular verbs change form in unpredictable ways. This worksheet helps you master the most common ones.

Keyphrase: Mastering irregular verbs is crucial for ESL students to speak and write English correctly. This interactive worksheet provides comprehensive practice with 10+ exercises.

Learning Tip

Learn irregular verbs in groups that follow similar patterns — e.g. cut-cut-cut, or come-came-come — it makes memorization easier.

Common Irregular Verbs List

Study these carefully — you’ll need them for the exercises.

BasePast SimplePast ParticipleMeaning
bewas/werebeenexist
havehadhadpossess
dodiddoneperform
gowentgonemove
seesawseenperceive
comecamecomeapproach
taketooktakengrasp
getgotgotten/gotreceive
makemademadecreate
knowknewknownbe aware
BasePast SimplePast ParticipleMeaning
beginbeganbegunstart
breakbrokebrokenshatter
bringbroughtbroughtcarry here
buyboughtboughtpurchase
choosechosechosenselect
drinkdrankdrunkconsume liquid
drivedrovedrivenoperate vehicle
eatateeatenconsume food
fallfellfallendescend
findfoundfounddiscover
BasePast SimplePast ParticipleMeaning
forgiveforgaveforgivenpardon
freezefrozefrozenturn to ice
hidehidhiddenconceal
leadledledguide
rideroderiddensit on vehicle
ringrangrungresound
riseroserisenascend
shakeshookshakenvibrate
stealstolestolentake unlawfully
swearsworeswornvow

Common Mistake

Don’t add -ed to irregular verbs. Say went, not “goed”.

Practice Exercises

Complete each exercise and click Check Answers to see your score.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks (past simple)

  1. Yesterday, I (go) to the park.
  2. She (write) a poem.
  3. We (have) dinner.
  4. He (take) the bus.
  5. They (see) a movie.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct past participle

  1. The book was
  2. Have you ever a bone?
  3. The children have all the cookies.
  4. She has a dress.
  5. The keys were somewhere.

Exercise 3: Complete the table

BasePast SimplePast Participle
begin
drove
fly
taught
wear

Exercise 4: Correct the verb form

Each sentence contains a mistake. Write the correct form of the verb.

  1. She has sang in the choir for five years. →
  2. I taked the bus to school yesterday. →
  3. Have you ever swam in the ocean? →
  4. He writed a letter to his grandmother. →
  5. The phone ringed all morning. →

Exercise 5: Passive voice (past participle)

  1. I broke the vase. → The vase was by me.
  2. Someone stole my bike. → My bike was .
  3. They built this house in 1990. → This house was in 1990.
  4. She wrote a novel. → A novel was by her.
  5. We ate all the cake. → All the cake was by us.

Exercise 6: Multiple choice

  1. Have you your homework?
  2. She me a present.
  3. The birds have south.
  4. I’ve never a horse.
  5. He his keys at home.

Exercise 7: Matching (drag & drop)

Drag each base form on the left onto its past participle on the right.

Base Form
be
see
take
give
break
Past Participle
taken
been
seen
broken
given

Exercise 8: Word order

Put the words in the correct order.

breakfast / I / eat / already / have

last / they / a / night / movie / see

just / she / her / homework / finish

never / we / that / restaurant / try

the / children / their / toys / break / yesterday

Exercise 9: Complete the story

Last weekend was very exciting. First, I up early because I plans with friends. We at the park and the bus to the beach. When we there, the sun brightly. We in the ocean and sandcastles. For lunch, we sandwiches that my mother . In the afternoon, we volleyball and songs. I to put on sunscreen, so I sunburned. When we home, I very tired but happy. It a wonderful day!

Exercise 10: Fill in the missing verb

1. Yesterday, I my keys in the car. (leave)

2. Have you ever a famous person? (meet)

3. She a picture for her mother. (draw)

4. The children have all the cookies. (eat)

5. We a great time at the party. (have)

Final Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

1. Past simple of “begin”?

2. Which sentence is correct?

3. Past participle of “swim”?

4. Which verb is irregular?

5. The window was ___ by the ball.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this worksheet! Keep practising irregular verbs — they become automatic with repetition.

  • Review the verbs you found difficult
  • Use irregular verbs in speaking and writing
  • Make flashcards (base on one side, past forms on the other)
  • Practise with a friend
  • Notice irregular verbs while reading

Final Tip

Keep a personal list of tricky verbs and review them regularly.