Mastering Irregular Verbs: The First 20

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Mastering Irregular Verbs: The First 20

What do you already know about irregular verbs in English?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you can recognise and use 20 key irregular English verbs in different tenses.

What Are Irregular Verbs?

Irregular verbs don’t follow the regular -ed ending in the past tense. Instead, they change form in their own ways.

Why Learn Irregular Verbs?

Irregular verbs are common and important for speaking and writing correctly. Knowing them helps you talk about the past.

The Basic Forms

be – was/were – been buy – bought – bought

Verb Forms

Examples

1. Infinitive (hele werkwoord) 2. Past Simple (verleden tijd) 3. Past Participle (voltooide tijd)

Irregular Verbs 1–5

be beat become begin bet

Forms

Verb

be – was/were – been beat – beat – beaten become – became – become begin – began – begun bet – bet – bet

Irregular Verbs 6–10

bite – bit – bitten bleed – bled – bled blow – blew – blown break – broke – broken breed – bred – bred

Verb

Forms

bite bleed blow break breed

Irregular Verbs 11–15

bring – brought – brought broadcast – broadcast(ed) – broadcast(ed) build – built – built burn – burned/burnt – burned/burnt buy – bought – bought

Verb

bring broadcast build burn buy

Forms

Irregular Verbs 16–20

Forms

Verb

catch choose come cost cut

catch – caught – caught choose – chose – chosen come – came – come cost – cost – cost cut – cut – cut

Using Irregular Verbs in Sentences

Example 1: I went to school (go – went – gone). Example 2: She has broken her phone (break – broke – broken).

Tips to Remember Irregular Verbs

Group verbs by similar patterns, create flashcards, and practise regularly in your speaking and writing.

Time to Practise!

Write 3 sentences using any three irregular verbs from today’s list. Try to use all three forms.

Lesson Review

Which irregular verbs from today’s lesson do you remember best? Where can you use them in real life?

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.