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Groups of Past Forms of Verbs

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Note: an apostrophe ' is placed before the accented vowel.

To know a regular verb, you must learn three parts: the root, the simple past, and the perfect/passive participle. The other forms derive from the root by adding regular suffixes. On this page, the simple past and the perfect/passive participle together are called the past forms.

General patterns

In standard weak verbs both the past forms are the same, formed by adding the suffix -ed to the root. The spelling of the root may change, but its pronunciation stays the same.

In contracted weak verbs both the past forms are the same, formed by adding -t or -d to the root. With roots ending in t or d, this suffix usually disappears completely. There may be a change in the root vowel.

In strong verbs both the past forms usually change their root vowel. The two past forms may have the same vowel or different vowels. The simple past usually has no ending added. The perfect/passive participle usually has the suffix -en (-n after vowels).

Colloquial forms: In colloquial speech it is very common to use the perfect/passive participle as a simple past. Thus people say I done instead of I did and I swum instead of I swam.

Verb groups

Verbs are grouped here on how their forms appear in present day English, not on the basis of how their history. But in many of the groups, all or most of the verbs have developed in the same way.

Paradigm Root Simple past Participle
Standard weak verbs
Past forms have suffix -ed.		 act /'akt/ acted /'aktid/ acted /'aktid/
flow /fl'ō/ flowed /fl'ōd/ flowed /fl'ōd/
play /pl'ē/ played /pl'ēd/ played /pl'ēd/
Standard weak verbs ending in -y /ai/. In spelling, -y + -ed > -ied. cry /kr'ai/ cried /kr'aid/ cried /kr'aid/
dry /dr'ai/ dried /dr'aid/ dried /dr'aid/
ply /pl'ai/ plied /pl'aid/ plied /pl'aid/
reply /ripl'ai/ replied /ripl'aid/ replied /ripl'aid/
shy /š'ai/ shied /š'aid/ shied /š'aid/
spy /sp'ai/ spied /sp'aid/ spied /sp'aid/
try /tr'ai/ tried /tr'aid/ tried /tr'aid/
Standard weak verbs ending in -y /ī/. In spelling, -y + -ed > -ied. Most speakers pronounce -ied as /id/ not /īd/. bury /b'erī/ buried /b'erid/ buried /b'erid/
carry /k'arī/ carried /k'arid/ carried /k'arid/
Some standard weak verbs ending in -ay /ē/. In spelling, -ay + -ed > -aid. Other verbs in -ay are spelt with -ayed, like play (above). lay /l'ē/ laid /l'ēd/ laid /l'ēd/
pay /p'ē/ paid /p'ēd/ paid /p'ēd/
Say looks like lay and pay, but most speakers pronounce said with /e/ not /ē/. say /s'ē/ said /s'ed/ said /s'ed/
The last consonant of the stem is removed and replaced with -d. Have is irregular. have /h'av/ had /h'ad/ had /h'ad/
make /m'ēk/ made /m'ēd/ made /m'ēd/
Past forms add suffix -t.
Common spelling change: -ll + -t > -lt.
All these verbs have alternative forms as standards weak verbs (burned, spelled, etc).		 burn /b'œrn/ burnt /b'œrnt/ burnt /b'œrnt/
dwell /dw'el/ dwelt /dw'elt/ dwelt /dw'elt/
earn /'œrn/ earnt /'œrnt/ earnt /'œrnt/
learn /l'œrn/ learnt /l'œrnt/ learnt /l'œrnt/
smell /sm'el/ smelt /sm'elt/ smelt /sm'elt/
spell /sp'el/ spelt /sp'elt/ spelt /sp'elt/
spill /sp'il/ spilt /sp'ilt/ spilt /sp'ilt/
spoil /sp'oil/ spoilt /sp'oilt/ spoilt /sp'oilt/
Root ends in -d. Past forms change this to -t. bend /b'end/ bent /b'ent/ bent /b'ent/
build /b'ild/ built /b'ilt/ built /b'ilt/
lend /l'end/ lent /l'ent/ lent /l'ent/
rend /r'end/ rent /r'ent/ rent /r'ent/
send /s'end/ sent /s'ent/ sent /s'ent/
spend /sp'end/ spent /sp'ent/ spent /sp'ent/
No change: all three forms identical. This bid means 'offer' (used in auctions and some card games). There is another rather archaic verb bid, bade, biddden, meaning 'command' or 'request' (below). bid /b'id/ bid /b'id/ bid /b'id/
burst /b'œrst/ burst /b'œrst/ burst /b'œrst/
cast /k'ast/ or /k'āst/ cast /k'ast/ or /k'āst/ cast /k'ast/ or /k'āst/
cost /k'ost/ cost /k'ost/ cost /k'ost/
cut /k'Λt/ cut /k'Λt/ cut /k'Λt/
hit /h'it/ hit /h'it/ hit /h'it/
hurt /h'œrt/ hurt /h'œrt/ hurt /h'œrt/
let /l'et/ let /l'et/ let /l'et/
put /p'ut/ put /p'ut/ put /p'ut/
quit /kw'it/ quit /kw'it/ quit /kw'it/
rid /r'id/ rid /r'id/ rid /r'id/
set /s'et/ set /s'et/ set /s'et/
shed /š'ed/ shed /š'ed/ shed /š'ed/
shut /š'Λt/ shut /š'Λt/ shut /š'Λt/
slit /sl'it/ slit /sl'it/ slit /sl'it/
split /spl'it/ split /spl'it/ split /spl'it/
spread /spr'ed/ spread /spr'ed/ spread /spr'ed/
thrust /θr'Λst/ thrust /θr'Λst/ thrust /θr'Λst/
Root vowel /ī/ (ee, ea). Past forms have vowel /e/ (e, ea) and suffix -t.
Note devoicing (/v/ > /f/) in leave > left.
Dream, lean and leap have alternative forms as standards weak verbs (dreamed, leaned, leaped). 		creep /kr'īp/ crept /kr'ept/ crept /kr'ept/
deal /d'īl/ dealt /d'elt/ dealt /d'elt/
dream /dr'īm/ dreamt /dr'emt/ dreamt /dr'emt/
feel /f'īl/ felt /f'elt/ felt /f'elt/
keep /k'īp/ kept /k'ept/ kept /k'ept/
kneel /n'īl/ knelt /n'elt/ knelt /n'elt/
lean /l'īn/ leant /l'ent/ leant /l'ent/
leap /l'īp/ leapt /l'ept/ leapt /l'ept/
leave /l'īv/ left /l'eft/ left /l'eft/
mean /m'īn/ meant /m'ent/ meant /m'ent/
sleep /sl'īp/ slept /sl'ept/ slept /sl'ept/
sweep /sw'īp/ swept /sw'ept/ swept /sw'ept/
weep /w'īp/ wept /w'ept/ wept /w'ept/
Similar to above, but suffix is -d. flee /fl'ī/ fled /fl'ed/ fled /fl'ed/
Root vowel /ī/ (ee, ea). Root ends in -d or -t. Past forms have vowel /e/ (e, ea) and no suffix. bleed /bl'īd/ bled /bl'ed/ bled /bl'ed/
breed /br'īd/ bred /br'ed/ bred /br'ed/
feed /f'īd/ fed /f'ed/ fed /f'ed/
meet /m'īt/ met /m'et/ met /m'et/
read /r'īd/ read /r'ed/ read /r'ed/
speed /sp'īd/ sped /sp'ed/ sped /sp'ed/
Similar to above, but past forms have gone through the usual sound change /e/ + /r/ > /œr/. hear /h'īr/ heard /h'œrd/ heard /h'œrd/
Root vowel i /ai/. Simple past has vowel o /ō/ and no suffix. Participle has vowel i /i/ and suffix -en. arise /r'aiz/ arose /r'ōz/ arisen /r'izən/
drive /dr'aiv/ drove /dr'ōv/ driven /dr'ivən/
ride /r'aid/ rode /r'ōd/ ridden /r'idən/
rise /r'aiz/ rose /r'ōz/ risen /r'izən/
smite /sm'ait/ smote /sm'ōt/ smitten /sm'itən/
stride /str'aid/ strode /str'ōd/ stridden /str'idən/
strive /str'aiv/ strove /str'ōv/ striven /str'ivən/
write /r'ait/ wrote /r'ōt/ written /r'itən/
Similar to above, but simple past has u /Λ/. Participle may be identical to simple past. Stricken is generally used more as an adjective. strike /str'aik/ struck /str'Λk/ stricken /str'ikən/,
struck /str'Λk/
Similar to above, but both past forms have o-like vowel and no suffix. fight /f'ait/ fought /f'oat/ fought /f'oat/
shine /š'ain/ shone /š'on/ shone /š'on/
Root vowel i /ai/. Simple past has vowel i /i/ and no suffix. Participle has vowel i /i/ and may have suffix -en or no suffix. bite /b'ait/ bit /b'it/ bitten /b'itən/
hide /h'aid/ hid /h'id/ hidden /h'idən/
light /l'ait/ lit /l'it/ lit /l'it/
slide /sl'aid/ slid /sl'id/ slid /sl'id/
Root vowel i /i/. Simple past has vowel a /ē/ and no suffix. Participle has vowel i /i/ and suffix -en. This bid is rather archaic and means 'command' or 'request'. There is another verb bid, bid, bid meaning 'offer' (above). bid /b'id/ bade /b'ēd/ bidden /b'idən/
forbid /fərb'id/ forbade /fərb'ēd/ forbidden /fərb'idən/
forgive /fərg'iv/ forgave /fərg'ēv/ forgiven /fərg'ivən/
give /g'iv/ gave /g'ēv/ given /g'ivən/
Root vowel spelt ea or ee (various pronunciations). Simple past changes vowel to o (various pronunciations). Participle is simple past with addition of suffix -en, or -n after vowels (I consider /or/ to be a single vowel phoneme). Born is used for giving birth, and borne in other senses. bear /b'ēr/ bore /b'or/ born /b'orn/,
borne /b'orn/
break /br'ēk/ broke /br'ōk/ broken /br'ōkən/
freeze /fr'īz/ froze /fr'ōz/ frozen /fr'ōzən/
steal /st'īl/ stole /st'ōl/ stolen /st'ōlən/
speak /sp'īk/ spoke /sp'ōk/ spoken /sp'ōkən/
swear /sw'ēr/ swore /sw'or/ sworn /sw'orn/
tear /t'ēr/ tore /t'or/ torn /t'orn/
tread /tr'ed/ trod /tr'od/ trodden /tr'odən/
wear /w'ēr/ wore /w'or/ worn /w'orn/
weave /w'īv/ wove /w'ōv/ woven /w'ōvən/
Root vowel is a /ē/. Past simple changes vowel to o /ō/. Participle is simple past plus suffix -en. awake /əw'ēk/ awoke /əw'ōk/ awoken /əw'ōkən/
wake /w'ēk/ woke /w'ōk/ woken /w'ōkən/
Root vowel a /ē/. Simple past changes vowel to oo /u/. Participle is root plus suffix -en. forsake /fərs'ēk/ forsook /fərs'uk/ forsaken /fərs'ēkən/
shake /š'ēk/ shook /š'uk/ shaken /š'ēkən/
take /t'ēk/ took /t'uk/ taken /t'ēkən/
Root vowel /ai/. Past forms change this to /au/. No suffixes. bind /b'aind/ bound /b'aund/ bound /b'aund/
find /f'aind/ found /f'aund/ found /f'aund/
grind /gr'aind/ ground /gr'aund/ ground /gr'aund/
wind /w'aind/ wound /w'aund/ wound /w'aund/
Root vowel i /i/, simple past a /a/, participle u /Λ/. No suffixes. (But older forms drunken /dr'Λŋkən/, sunken /s'Λŋkən/ and shrunken /šr'Λŋkən/ are still used today as adjectives.) begin /big'in/ began /big'an/ begun /big'Λn/
drink /dr'iŋk/ drank /dr'aŋk/ drunk /dr'Λŋk/
ring /r'iŋ/ rang /r'aŋ/ rung /r'Λŋ/
shrink /šr'iŋk/ shrank /šr'aŋk/ shrunk /šr'Λŋk/
sink /s'iŋk/ sank /s'aŋk/ sunk /s'Λŋk/
spin /sp'in/ span /sp'an/ spun /sp'Λn/
spring /spr'iŋ/ sprang /spr'aŋ/ sprung /spr'Λŋ/
stink /st'iŋk/ stank /st'aŋk/ stunk /st'Λŋk/
swim /sw'im/ swam /sw'am/ swum /sw'Λm/
Root vowel i /i/, past forms a /a/. No suffixes. Some Americans use sit and spit for the past forms. sit /s'it/ sat /s'at/ sat /s'at/
spit /sp'it/ spat /sp'at/ spat /sp'at/
Root vowel i /i/, past forms /Λ/ u (rarely o). No suffixes. cling /kl'iŋ/ clung /kl'Λŋ/ clung /kl'Λŋ/
dig /d'ig/ dug /d'Λg/ dug /d'Λg/
fling /fl'iŋ/ flung /fl'Λŋ/ flung /fl'Λŋ/
stick /st'ik/ stuck /st'Λk/ stuck /st'Λk/
sting /st'iŋ/ stung /st'Λŋ/ stung /st'Λŋ/
swing /sw'iŋ/ swung /sw'Λŋ/ swung /sw'Λŋ/
win /w'in/ won /w'Λn/ won /w'Λn/
wring /r'iŋ/ wrung /r'Λŋ/ wrung /r'Λŋ/
Other verbs which exchange a (/a/, /ē/) and /Λ/ (u, o). Hang is a standard weak verb (past forms hanged) only when it is a form of death. become /bik'Λm/ became /bik'ēm/ become /bik'Λm/
come /k'Λm/ came /k'ēm/ come /k'Λm/
hang /h'aŋ/ hung /h'Λŋ/ hung /h'Λŋ/
run /r'Λn/ ran /r'an/ run /r'Λn/
The past forms remove the root vowel and everything after it, and put /oat/ spelt -ought or -aught there instead. (Historically these are contracted weak verbs deriving from Germanic roots ending in -g, -k, -ng, -nk.) beseech /bis'īč/ besought /bis'oat/ besought /bis'oat/
bring /br'iŋ/ brought /br'oat/ brought /br'oat/
buy /b'ai/ bought /b'oat/ bought /b'oat/
catch /k'ač/ caught /k'oat/ caught /k'oat/
seek /s'īk/ sought /s'oat/ sought /s'oat/
teach /t'īč/ taught /t'oat/ taught /t'oat/
think /θ'iŋk/ thought /θ'oat/ thought /θ'oat/
Root ends in vowel. Simple past changes the vowel to -ew /ū/. Participle is root plus the suffix -n.
Spelling change: -ay + -n > -ain.		 blow /bl'ō/ blew /bl'ū/ blown /bl'ōn/
draw /dr'oa/ drew /dr'ū/ drawn /dr'oan/
grow /gr'ō/ grew /gr'ū/ grown /gr'ōn/
slay /sl'ē/ slew /sl'ū/ slain /sl'ēn/
throw /θr'ō/ threw /θr'ū/ thrown /θr'ōn/
Root ends in vowel. Simple past changes the vowel. Participle may change the vowel and adds the suffix -n. fly /fl'ai/ flew /fl'ū/ flown /fl'ōn/
know /n'ō/ knew /n'ű/ known /n'ōn/
lie /l'ai/ lay /l'ē/ lain /l'ēn/
see /s'ī/ saw /s'oa/ seen /s'īn/
Simple past adds weak suffix -ed but participle adds strong suffix -en, or -n after vowels.
All these verbs have alternative forms as standard weak verbs (participle identical to simple past).		 hew /h'ű/ hewed /h'űd/ hewn /h'űn/
mow /m'ō/ mowed /m'ōd/ mown /m'ōn/
saw /s'oa/ sawed /s'oad/ sawn /s'oan/
sew /s'ō/ sewed /s'ōd/ sewn /s'ōn/
sow /s'ō/ sowed /s'ōd/ sown /s'ōn/
shave /š'ēv/ shaved /š'ēvd/ shaven /š'ēvən/
show /š'ō/ showed /š'ōd/ shown /š'ōn/
strew /str'ū/ strewed /str'ūd/ strewn /str'ūn/
Similar to above, but participle has vowel change like a strong verb. swell /sw'el/ swelled /sw'eld/ swollen /sw'ōlən/
Root vowel e /e/. Past forms have vowel o /o/ or /ō/ and may add a suffix, -d or -en. beget /big'et/ begot /big'ot/,
begat /big'at/		 begotten /big'otən/
forget /fərg'et/ forgot /fərg'ot/ forgotten /fərg'otən/
get /g'et/ got /g'ot/ got /g'ot/,
gotten /g'otən/
sell /s'el/ sold /s'ōld/ sold /s'ōld/
tell /t'el/ told /t'ōld/ told /t'ōld/
These verbs are commonly used as standard weak verbs, but some speakers use older past forms instead. Often the older forms of the participle are more commonly used as adjectives (especially rotten). bereave /bir'īv/ bereaved /bir'īvd/,
bereft /bir'eft/		 bereaved /bir'īvd/,
bereft /bir'eft/
cleave /kl'īv/ cleaved /kl'īvd/,
clove /kl'ōv/,
cleft /kl'eft/		 cleaved /kl'īvd/,
cloven /kl'ōvən/,
cleft /kl'eft/
clothe /kl'ōδ/ clothed /kl'ōδd/,
clad /kl'ad/		 clothed /kl'ōδd/,
clad /kl'ad/
heave /h'īv/ heaved /h'īvd/,
hove /h'ōv/		 heaved /h'īvd/
reave /r'īv/ reaved /r'īvd/,
reft /r'eft/		 reaved /r'īvd/,
reft /r'eft/
prove /pr'ūv/ proved /pr'ūvd/ proved /pr'ūvd/,
proven /pr'ūvən/
rot /r'ot/ rotted /r'otid/ rotted /r'otid/,
rotten /r'otən/
shear /š'īr/ sheared /š'īrd/ sheared /š'īrd/,
shorn /šorn/
Root vowel /ū/ (o, oo). Past forms change the vowel to o (/o/, /ō/) with or without suffixes. choose /č'ūz/ chose /č'ōz/ chosen /č'ōzən/
lose /l'ūz/ lost /l'ost/ lost /l'ost/
shoot /š'ūt/ shot /š'ot/ shot /š'ot/
Unique beat /b'īt/ beat /b'īt/ beaten /b'ītən/
Unique eat /'īt/ ate /'ēt/ eaten /'ītən/
Unique fall /f'oal/ fell /f'el/ fallen /f'oalən/
Unique. (The simple non-past 3S has an irregular spelling goes but a regular pronunciation /g'ōz/. For this reason it is included here among the regular verbs.) go /g'ō/ went /w'ent/ gone /g'on/
Unique hold /h'ōld/ held /h'eld/ held /h'eld/
Unique stand /st'and/ stood /st'ud/ stood /st'ud/


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