200 Irregular Verbs in English (V1–V2–V3): Complete List with Examples and Learning Tips

Key takeaways:

• Irregular verbs don’t follow the -ed rule, so each verb has to be learned with its past tense and past participle forms (V1–V2–V3).
• This guide includes 200+ of the most common irregular verbs in English, based on Merriam-Webster and Longman dictionaries, making it a reliable reference for learners.
• Patterns exist: many irregular verbs follow similar vowel changes or form groups (for example, sing – sang – sung or build – built – built), which makes memorization easier.
• Irregular verbs are essential for real communication, as they are used in past tenses, perfect tenses, and the passive voice.
• Regular practice is key: using examples, grouping verbs, flashcards, and repetition helps you remember forms and use them naturally when you learn English online.

Irregular verbs don’t follow standard -ed rules and must be memorized individually. This guide includes 200+ common irregular verbs, such as 'go', 'come', 'see', and 'take', with each verb presented in three forms: base form, past tense, and past participle. These are the most common irregular verbs in English, and understanding how they differ from regular verbs is essential for forming past tense and past participles.

The table below has more than 200 verbs and their irregular forms in English. This is one of the topics you should take time to study, especially if you’re just starting to learn the language. This list of v1 v2 v3 forms of 200 words was created according to Merriam-Webster and Longman Learner’s Dictionary of American English.

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What is an Irregular Verb?

Now, you’re familiar with 200 verb forms. But what is an irregular verb in general? An irregular verb is a verb that does not form its simple past tense or past participle by adding '-ed' or '-d' to the base form. In contrast, regular verbs follow a simple pattern: they form the simple past tense and past participle by adding “-d,” “-ed,” or “-ied” to the word. Here are some common examples:

• escape → escaped;
• enjoy → enjoyed;
• try → tried.

Irregular verbs contrast with regular verbs, which form the simple past tense and past participle by adding '-ed' or '-d.' Unlike these examples, 200 verb forms v1 v2 v3 don’t follow this rule. Some irregular verbs retain their forms from historical language changes, making them unique in modern English. Irregular verbs in English evolved from Proto-Indo-European, which relied on internal vowel changes to word roots, and the retention of old grammatical paradigms contributed to their irregularity. Analogy has also played a role in the evolution of some irregular verb forms in English. Suppletion explains some of the more irregular changes in English verbs, such as 'go' becoming 'went.' Sound changes have influenced the forms of irregular verbs in English, particularly in the subjunctive mood. Examples of irregular verbs that exhibit vowel change include begin/began/begun and drink/drank/drunk. Certain irregular verbs, such as buy/bought/bought, exhibit a spelling change. Other common irregular verbs include be/was-were/been, go/went/gone, eat/ate/eaten, and sing/sang/sung. Common irregular verbs also include buy, make, find, say, and think, all of which follow unique patterns in their past forms. The meaning of irregular verbs in the context of language evolution is significant, as their forms convey nuanced meaning and reflect the historical development of English.

They change their forms in passive voice and past and perfect tenses. That is why you can’t just memorize one rule and follow it. Instead, you have to learn each word and its forms from the 200 irregular verbs list separately. Although it might look challenging at first glance, some tips can help you do it more easily.

Understanding Irregular Verb Conjugation

Getting a handle on irregular verb conjugation? Yeah, that's basically your golden ticket to English fluency! While regular verbs are pretty chill — just slap on an "-ed" or "-d" and you're done with past tense and past participle — irregular verbs are the rebels of the grammar world. They've got their own unique forms that you'll need to learn one by one (we know, we know, it sounds like a lot). But here's the thing: having a solid list of irregular verbs at your fingertips? That's absolutely game-changing for your language learning journey, and honestly, future you will thank you for putting in the work now.

How to Read the List of Irregular Verbs in English?

When looking at the 200 verbs v1 v2 v3 forms list for the first time, it might seem challenging. But we’re going to help you with a quick guide. As you can see, the table consists of three columns. In the first one, you can see the base form of the verb. It is used to express action or describe the state of something in present simple tenses; typically, it doesn’t change its form.

The verbs in the list are typically presented in three forms: base form, past tense, and past participle. Each of these forms serves a specific function in English grammar, such as expressing tense, mood, or grammatical relationships. Each form also points to a particular moment in time or aspect of completion in English grammar.

The second and third columns of the 200 verb list contain irregular past tense verbs. In the second one, you can see v2 forms that are typically used in past tenses. Here are some common examples using the words from the irregular verb 200 forms list.

1. I went to the stadium yesterday.
2. He always drove carefully.
3. She knew a lot from the list of English irregular verbs.

The 200 forms of verb in the 3rd column show words you have to use for sentences with perfect tenses and passive voice. Take a look at these examples to understand them better.

1. The novel has been written by a celebrated author.
2. The window was broken by a stray ball during the game.
3. They have seen the latest exhibit at the art gallery.

How to Learn Irregular Verbs?

Learning 200 verbs in English all at once can be quite a challenge. However, you can significantly simplify this task with a few simple tips. Here are some common approaches to help you memorize this list of verbs in English quickly. Mastering irregular verbs can be a rewarding experience for learners, as it leads to greater confidence and proficiency in English.

Learn by groups

Many of the most common irregular verbs in English can be grouped by similar patterns, such as vowel changes (e.g., sing – sang – sung) or suffix-based changes (e.g., build – built – built). Recognizing these patterns helps make learning the 200 irregular verbs more manageable.

As you can see, most of the 200 verb form examples are unique. However, even there, you may notice some similar patterns. That is why grouping them can simplify the learning process. Here are some examples:

All three forms are similar.

• cut – cut – cut;
• put – put – put;
• quit – quit – quit;
• hit – hit – hit;
• set – set – set;
• spread – spread – spread;
• shut – shut – shut.

The second and third forms are similar.

• bind – bound – bound;
• find – found – found;
• build – built – built;
• sell – sold – sold;
• send – sent – sent;
• teach – taught – taught;
• think – thought – thought.

The first and the third forms are similar.

• come – came – come;
• become – became – become;
• run – ran – run;
• come – came – come;
• run – ran – run;
• overcome – overcame – overcome;
• become – became – become.
• Alternation of i – a – u.
• stink – stank – stunk;
• spring – sprang – sprung.

Did you know?

The most frequently used verbs in English — such as be, have, do, go, and get — are all irregular. That’s why irregular verbs feel hard at first, but also why learning them gives you fast results.

Learn by flashcards

A great way to learn English 200 three forms of a verb is to use flashcards. To personalize your study, create your own set of flashcards with verbs you find most challenging or relevant. For example, you can write the base form on one side and 2nd + 3rd on the other side of the flashcard. You can bring such cards anywhere and learn verb words at any time.

Practice regularly

As we always say, practice makes perfect. Taking a test or quiz can help reinforce your knowledge of irregular verbs and track your progress, especially if you’re trying to learn English online at your own pace. That is why the secret to remembering the verb forms of 200 words is very simple. All you have to do is practice using different approaches, including flashcards, exercises, and daily repetition. And if you need some help with this tricky topic, download the Promova app or sign up on the website to get your plan and learn effectively. Mastering irregular verbs is a rewarding achievement that marks real progress in your language learning journey.