CLASSIFICATION OF IRREGULAR VERBS – By Alexa Marín Urrego
First group: these are the verbs that present the same structure in all tenses, for example:
|
Present form
|
Past form
|
Past participle form
|
Meaning
|
|
Beat
|
Beat
|
Beaten/Bean
|
Golpear, batir
|
|
Bet
|
Bet
|
Bet
|
Apostar
|
|
Bid
|
Bid
|
Bid
|
Licitar, hacer 1 oferta en 1 subasta
|
|
Bid
|
Bid/Bade
|
Bidden/Bid
|
Ordenar, convidar, expresar (un saludo…) |
|
Burst
|
Burst
|
Burst
|
Reventar (por presión), estallar
|
|
Cast
|
Cast
|
Cast
|
Lanzar, echar.
|
|
Cost
|
Cost
|
Cost
|
Costar
|
|
Cut
|
Cut
|
Cut
|
Cortar
|
|
Forecast
|
Forecast
|
Forecast
|
Predecir
|
|
Hit
|
Hit
|
Hit
|
Pegar, afectar, alcanzar
|
|
Hurt
|
Hurt
|
Hurt
|
Herir
|
|
Knit
|
Knit*
|
Knit*
|
Tejer, unir
|
|
Let
|
Let
|
Let
|
Permitir, dejar, alquilar
|
|
Quit
|
Quit
|
Quit
|
Desistir de
|
|
Read
|
Read
|
Read
|
Leer
|
|
Rid
|
Rid/Ridded*
|
Rid
|
Librar(se)
|
|
Set
|
Set
|
Set
|
Poner, fijar
|
|
Shed
|
Shed
|
Shed
|
Verter, difundir, derramar, mudar (de piel) |
|
Shut
|
Shut
|
Shut
|
Cerrar, encerrar
|
|
Slit
|
Slit/Slitted
|
Slit/Slitted
|
Rajar, partir
|
|
Spit
|
Spit/Spat
|
Spit/Spat
|
Escupir
|
|
Split
|
Split
|
Split
|
Hender, cuartear, partir
|
|
Spread
|
Spread
|
Spread
|
Extender, desplegar, esparcir, difundir |
|
Sweat
|
Sweat*
|
Sweat*
|
Sudar, explotar (obreros)
|
|
Thrust
|
Thrust
|
Thrust
|
Empujar, penetrar
|
|
Wet
|
Wet*
|
Wet*
|
Mojar, humedecer
|
- The verbs marked * are also conjugated regularly
Second group: the past form and the past participle form of these verbs are the same. For example:
|
Present form
|
Past form
|
Past participle form
|
Meaning
|
|
Abide
|
Abode
|
Abode
|
Cumplir con
|
|
Behold
|
Beheld
|
Beheld
|
Mirar
|
|
Bend
|
Bent
|
Bent*
|
Doblar
|
|
Bereave
|
Bereft*
|
Bereft*
|
Privar de, afligir
|
|
Beseech
|
Besought
|
Besought
|
Suplicar
|
|
Bind
|
Bound
|
Bound
|
Amarrar
|
|
Bleed
|
Bled
|
Bled
|
Sangrar
|
|
Breed
|
Bred
|
Bred
|
Criar
|
|
Bring
|
Brought
|
Brought
|
Traer, conducir
|
|
Build
|
Built*
|
Built*
|
Construir
|
|
Burn
|
Burnt*
|
Burnt*
|
Quemar
|
|
Buy
|
Bought
|
Bought
|
Comprar
|
|
Catch
|
Caught
|
Caught
|
Atrapar
|
|
Cling
|
Clung
|
Clung
|
Agarrarse, aficionarse
|
|
Creep
|
Crept
|
Crept
|
Arrastrarse
|
|
Deal
|
Dealt*
|
Dealt*
|
Negociar
|
|
Dig
|
Dug*
|
Dug*
|
Cavar
|
|
Dream
|
Dreamt
|
Dreamt
|
Soñar
|
|
Dwell
|
Dwelt*
|
Dwelt*
|
Morar, habitar
|
|
Feed
|
Fed
|
Fed
|
Alimentar
|
|
Feel
|
Felt
|
Felt
|
Sentir
|
|
Fight
|
Fought
|
Fought
|
Pelear
|
|
Find
|
Found
|
Found
|
Encontrar
|
|
Flee
|
Fled
|
Fled
|
Huir
|
|
Fling
|
Flung
|
Flung
|
Arrojar
|
|
Gild
|
Gilt*
|
Gilt*
|
Dorar
|
|
Gird
|
Girt*
|
Girt*
|
Ceñir, atar, apretarse
|
|
Grind
|
Ground
|
Ground
|
Moler
|
|
Have
|
Had
|
Had
|
Tener: auxiliary haber
|
|
Hang
|
Hung*
|
Hung*
|
Colgar
|
|
Hear
|
Heard
|
Heard
|
Oir, escuchar
|
|
Heave
|
Hove*
|
Hove*
|
Alzar con esfuerzo, arrojar
|
|
Hold
|
Held
|
Held
|
Retener
|
|
Keep
|
Kept
|
Kept
|
Cuidar
|
|
Kneel
|
Knelt*
|
Knelt*
|
Arrodillarse
|
|
Lay
|
Laid
|
Laid
|
Poner
|
|
Lead
|
Led
|
Led
|
Conducir
|
|
Lean
|
Leant*
|
Leant*
|
Inclinarse, ladearse
|
|
Leap
|
Leapt*
|
Leapt*
|
Saltar
|
|
Learn
|
Learnt
|
Learnt
|
Aprender
|
|
Leave
|
Left
|
Left
|
Dejar
|
|
Lend
|
Lent
|
Lent
|
Prestar
|
|
Light
|
Lit*
|
Lit*
|
Encender
|
|
Lose
|
Lost
|
Lost
|
Perder
|
|
Make
|
Made
|
Made
|
Hacer
|
|
Mean
|
Meant
|
Meant
|
Querer, querer decir, intentar.
|
|
Meet
|
Met
|
Met
|
Encontrar
|
|
Mislay
|
Mislaid
|
Mislaid
|
Colocar mal, extraviar, traspapelar
|
|
Mislead
|
Misled
|
Misled
|
Descaminar, despistar, engañar
|
|
Overhear
|
Overheard
|
Overheard
|
Alcanzar a oír, oír de más
|
|
Pay
|
Paid
|
Paid
|
Pagar
|
|
Pen
|
Pent*
|
Pent*
|
Escribir
|
|
Rend
|
Rent
|
Rent
|
Arrancar, rasgar
|
|
Say
|
Said
|
Said
|
Decir
|
|
Seek
|
Sought
|
Sought
|
Buscar
|
|
Sell
|
Sold
|
Sold
|
Vvender
|
|
Send
|
Sent
|
Sent
|
Enviar
|
|
Shine
|
Shone*
|
Shone*
|
Brillar
|
|
Shoe
|
Shod
|
Shod
|
Herrar, calzar
|
|
Shoot
|
Shot
|
Shot
|
Tirar, lanzar, disparar.
|
|
Sit
|
Sat
|
Sat
|
Sentar
|
|
Sleep
|
Slept
|
Slept
|
Dormir
|
|
Sling
|
Slung
|
Slung
|
Arrojar (con Honda)
|
|
Slink
|
Slunk
|
Slunk
|
Escabullirse
|
|
Smell
|
Smelt
|
Smelt
|
Oler
|
|
Speed
|
Sped
|
Sped
|
Acelerar
|
|
Spell
|
Spelt
|
Spelt
|
Deletrear
|
|
Spend
|
Spent
|
Spent
|
Gastar
|
|
Spill
|
Spilt
|
Spilt
|
Derramar
|
|
Spoil
|
Spoilt
|
Spoilt
|
Dañar
|
|
Stand
|
Stood
|
Stood
|
Ponerse de pie
|
|
Stave
|
Stove*
|
Stove*
|
~ in: desfondar, ~off: prevenir
|
|
Stay (quedaré)
|
Staid
|
Staid
|
Quedarse, permanecer
|
|
Stick
|
Stuck
|
Stuck
|
Pegar
|
|
Sting
|
Stung
|
Stung
|
Picar
|
|
String
|
Strung
|
Strung
|
Encordar, ensartar
|
|
Sweep
|
Swept
|
Swept
|
Barrer
|
|
Teach
|
Taught
|
Taught
|
Enseñar
|
|
Tell
|
Told
|
Told
|
Decir
|
|
Think
|
Thought
|
Thought
|
Pensar
|
|
Weep
|
Wept
|
Wept
|
Llorar
|
|
Win
|
Won
|
Won
|
Ganar
|
|
Wind
|
Wound
|
Wound
|
Enrollar, dar cuerda
|
|
Work
|
Wrought(Ant) *
|
Wrought(Ant) *
|
Trabajar
|
|
Wrap
|
Wrapt*
|
Wrapt*
|
Envolver
|
|
Wring
|
Wrung
|
Wrung
|
Retorcer
|
- The verbs marked * are also conjugated regularly
- (Ant): Old terms
Third group: These verbs have a different structure in all tenses, for example:
|
Present form
|
Past form
|
Past participle form
|
Meaning
|
|
Am, be
|
Was
|
Been
|
Ser, estar
|
|
Arise
|
Arose
|
Arisen
|
Surgir
|
|
Awake
|
Awoke/Awaked *
|
Awaked/Awoke(n)* |
Despertar
|
|
Bear
|
Bore
|
Borne
|
Llevar
|
|
Bear
|
Bore
|
Born
|
Producir
|
|
Become
|
Became
|
Become
|
Llegar a ser, convertirse
|
|
Befall
|
Befell
|
Befallen
|
Acontecer (a uno)
|
|
Beget
|
Begot
|
Begotten
|
Generar
|
|
Begin
|
Began
|
Begun
|
Empezar
|
|
Bite
|
Bit
|
Bitten/Bit
|
Morder
|
|
Blow
|
Blew
|
Blown
|
Soplar
|
|
Break
|
Broke
|
Broken
|
Romper, quebrantar
|
|
Chide
|
Chided/Chid*
|
Chided/Chid(den) |
Regañar, increpar
|
|
Choose
|
Chose
|
Chosen
|
Escoger
|
|
Cleave
|
Cleaved/Cleft/Clove
|
Cleaved/Cleft/Cloven |
Hender
|
|
Clothe
|
Clothed/Clad*
|
Clothed/Clad*
|
Vestir, cubrir
|
|
Come
|
Came
|
Come
|
Venir, llegar
|
|
Crow
|
Crowed/Crew(Ant) *
|
Crowed
|
Hacer alarde, cacarear el gallo
|
|
Dare
|
Durst
|
Dared
|
Atreverse
|
|
Do
|
Did
|
Done
|
Hacer
|
|
Draw
|
Drew
|
Drawn
|
Halar, , dibujar, tomar
|
|
Drink
|
Drank
|
Drunk
|
Tomar
|
|
Drive
|
Drove
|
Driven
|
Impulsar
|
|
Eat
|
Ate
|
Eaten
|
Comer
|
|
Fall
|
Fell
|
Fallen
|
Caer
|
|
Fly
|
Flew
|
Flown
|
Volar
|
|
Forbid
|
Forbade
|
Forbidden
|
Prohibir
|
|
Forget
|
Forgot
|
Forgotten/Forgot
|
Olvidar
|
|
Forgive
|
Forgave
|
Forgiven
|
Perdonar
|
|
Forsake
|
Forsook
|
Forsaken
|
Abandonar
|
|
Freeze
|
Froze
|
Frozen
|
Helar
|
|
Get
|
Got
|
Gotten/Got
|
Obtener
|
|
Give
|
Gave
|
Given
|
Dar
|
|
Go
|
Went
|
Gone
|
Ir
|
|
Grave
|
Graved
|
Graven
|
Grabar, tallar
|
|
Grow
|
Grew
|
Grown
|
Crecer
|
|
Hew
|
Hewed
|
Hewn*
|
Cortar, tajar, desbastar
|
|
Hide
|
Hid
|
Hidden/Hid
|
Esconder
|
|
Know
|
Knew
|
Known
|
Conocer, saber
|
|
Lade
|
Laded
|
Laden*
|
Cargar
|
|
Lie
|
Lay
|
Lain
|
Reclinar, echarse
|
|
Melt
|
Melted
|
Molten*
|
Fundir, derretir, desvanecer
|
|
Methinks
|
Methought
|
—
|
Me parece, soy de parecer,creo
|
|
Mistake
|
Mistook
|
Mistaken
|
Equivocar
|
|
Mow
|
Mowed
|
Mown
|
Segar, guadañar
|
|
Overcome
|
Overcame
|
Overcome
|
Superar, vencer
|
|
Overrun
|
Overran
|
Overrun
|
Sobrepasar, derrotat, exceder
|
|
Oversee
|
Oversaw
|
Overseen
|
Supervigilar, fiscalizar
|
|
Overtake
|
Overtook
|
Overtaken
|
Alcanzar, sorprender, sobrecoger
|
|
Overthrow
|
Overthrew
|
Overthrown
|
Derrocar, echar abajo
|
|
Partake
|
Partook
|
Partaken
|
Participar
|
|
Ride
|
Rode
|
Ridden/Rid(Ant)
|
Montar
|
|
Ring
|
Rang/ Rung
|
Rung
|
Sonar
|
|
Rise
|
Rose
|
Risen
|
Surgir, levantarse (el sol…)
|
|
Rive
|
Rived
|
Rived /Riven
|
Rajar, hender
|
|
Run
|
Ran
|
Run
|
Correo
|
|
Saw
|
Sawed
|
Sawn*
|
Aserrar
|
|
See
|
Saw
|
Seen
|
Ver
|
|
Seethe
|
Seethed
|
Sodden*
|
Bullir, hervir
|
|
Shake
|
Shook
|
Shaken
|
Sacudir
|
|
Shape
|
Shaped
|
Shaped/Shapen (Ant)
|
Formar, diseñar
|
|
Shave
|
Shaved
|
Shaven*
|
Afeitar, raspar
|
|
Shear
|
Sheared
|
Shorn
|
Trasquilar, desplumar
|
|
Shew
|
Shewed
|
Shewn*
|
Archaic form of SHOW
|
|
Show
|
Showed
|
Shown*
|
Mostrar
|
|
Shrink
|
Shrank/Shrunk
|
Shrunk/Shrunken
|
Encoger, acobardarse,retirarse.
|
|
Shrive
|
Shrove
|
Shriven
|
Confesar
|
|
Sing
|
Sang/Sung
|
Sung
|
Cantar
|
|
Sink
|
Sank/Sunk
|
Sunk
|
Hundir
|
|
Slay
|
Slew
|
Slain
|
Asesinar, matar
|
|
Slide
|
Slid
|
Slid/Slidden
|
Resbalar
|
|
Smite
|
Smote/Smit
|
Smitten/Smit
|
Herir, golpear, matar
|
|
Sow
|
Sowed
|
Sown*
|
Sembrar
|
|
Speak
|
Spoke
|
Spoken
|
Hablar
|
|
Spin
|
Spun/Span
|
Spun
|
Hilar, girar
|
|
Spit
|
Spit/Spat
|
Spit/Spat
|
Escupir
|
|
Spring
|
Sprang/Sprung
|
Sprung
|
Brincar, Saltar, rebotar, provenir
|
|
Steal
|
Stole
|
Stolen
|
Robar, moverse furtivamente
|
|
Strew
|
Strewed
|
Strewn*
|
Regar
|
|
Stride
|
Strode
|
Stridden (Ant. Strid)
|
Andar a zancas
|
|
Strike
|
Struck
|
Struck/Stricken
|
Pegar, golpear
|
|
Strive
|
Strove
|
Striven
|
Procurar, esforzarse
|
|
Strow (Ant)
|
Strowed (Ant)
|
Strown (Ant)
|
Archaic form of STREW:esparcir
|
|
Swear
|
Swore/Sware(Ant)
|
Sworn
|
Jurar, Blasfemar
|
|
Swell
|
Swelled
|
Swollen
|
Hincharse, agitarse el mar
|
|
Swim
|
Swam/Swum
|
Swum
|
Nadar, flotar, inundar, ver borroso
|
|
Swing
|
Swung/Swang (Ant) |
Swung
|
Mecer(se)
|
|
Take
|
Took
|
Taken
|
Llevar, tomar
|
|
Tear
|
Tore
|
Torn
|
Desgarrar, rasgar
|
|
Thrive
|
Thrived/Throve(Ant)* |
Thrived/Thriven(Ant)* |
Medrar, prosperar
|
|
Throw
|
Threw
|
Thrown
|
Arrojar, echar
|
|
Tread
|
Trod
|
Trodden/Trod
|
Pisar, pisotear, caminar
|
|
Understand
|
Understood
|
Understood
|
Entender
|
|
Wake
|
Woke/Waked
|
Waked/Woke(n)
|
Despertar
|
|
Wax
|
Waxed
|
Waxed/Waxen(Ant)
|
Encerrar, crecer (la luna…)
|
|
Wear
|
Wore
|
Worn
|
Vestir, mostrar
|
|
Weave
|
Wove
|
Woven
|
Tejer
|
|
Write
|
Wrote
|
Written
|
Escribir
|
- The verbs marked * are also conjugated regularly
- (Ant): Old terms
- Verbs used in American English
DEFECTIVE VERBS:
|
Infinitive form
|
Past form
|
Past Participle form
|
|
May
|
Might
|
—
|
|
Can
|
Could
|
—
|
|
Must
|
—
|
—
|
|
Ought
|
—
|
—
|
|
Shall
|
Should
|
—
|
|
Will
|
Would
|
—
|