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 |
— |
