Most Common Irregular Verbs – Part 1
This page has three sets of exercises with the most common irregular verbs.
Remember that regular verbs take the -ed suffix for the past simple tense.
However, irregular verbs forms do not take the -ed suffix.
Irregular verbs are formed with a vowel change or with a non -ed suffix form.
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Exercise 1
Instructions: Look at the verbs in the list below. Identify them as regular or irregular. Then use each one in the sentences that follow. The answers are given after the exercise.
- allow
- calculate
- catch
- feel
- forgive
- earn
- injure
- spend
- obtain
- wear
Now place the past simple tense of the verbs into each gap.
allow / calculate / catch / feel / forgive / earn / injure / spend / obtain / wear
(1) They __________ a great deal of money refurbishing that old house.
(2) The accountant __________ the profit and loss for his client.
(3) The mother and her child __________ themselves badly in a car accident.
(4) They __________ the support of the management of the company, which made their business plan successful.
(5) She __________ him after he apologized, although she probably shouldn’t have.
(6) I __________ a good salary when I worked in London, but it was very expensive to live there.
(7) He __________ a new suit and tie to his son’s wedding.
(8) The player __________ the basketball and went on to score the point that won the game.
(9) Her parents __________ her to travel around the world alone, even though she was only 17 years old.
(10) I __________ just awful yesterday because I was suffering from a bad cold.
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Answers to Exercise 1
- (1) spent (irregular)
- (2) calculated (regular)
- (3) injured (regular)
- (4) obtained (regular)
- (5) forgave (irregular)
- (6) earned (regular)
- (7) wore (irregular)
- (8) caught (irregular)
- (9) allowed (regular)
- (10) felt (irregular)
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Part 2
Instructions: Have a look at the list of verbs below. Decide whether each verb in the list is regular or irregular. Then use each one in the sentences that follow.
- avoid
- become
- drink
- fight
- freeze
- introduce
- lighten
- mean
- swim
- tumble
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Exercise 2
Place the verbs into the sentences that follow. Use the past simple form.
avoid / become / drink / fight / freeze / introduce / lighten / mean / swim / tumble
(1) The professor __________ annoyed and angry after he learned that some of the students had cheated on the exam.
(2) My uncle __________ me to the man that I later married.
(3) He __________ all the wine, so there was none left when the guests arrived at the party.
(4) She __________ her hair last week. She is much more blonde now.
(5) I can’t believe that he __________ to do something as mean and spiteful as that! Surely, his actions must have been unintentional.
(6) The two business partners __________ over every single decision, until they finally decided to dissolve their company.
(7) He __________ the entire length of the pool ten times yesterday.
(8) The child __________ down the stairs, but was not hurt in the accident.
(9) I __________ the person I didn’t want to talk to by hiding behind the newspaper I was reading at the time.
(10) The water in the lake __________ due to the low temperatures last night.
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Answers to Exercise 2
- (1) became (irregular)
- (2) introduced (regular)
- (3) drank (irregular)
- (4) lightened (regular)
- (5) meant (irregular)
- (6) fought (irregular)
- (7) swam (irregular)
- (8) tumbled (regular)
- (9) avoided (regular)
- (10) froze (irregular)
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Part 3
Instructions: Look at the verbs that follow and indicate whether they are regular or irregular. Then change the verbs to the past tense and put them in the sentences below. The answers are given after the exercise.
- bend
- borrow
- communicate
- damage
- knock
- pay
- permit
- stand
- teach
- wake
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Exercise 3
Put the past simple form of the verbs into the gaps below.
bend / borrow / communicate / damage / knock / pay / permit / stand / teach / wake
(1) She __________ on the door to her friend’s house before going inside.
(2) I __________ up so late today. In fact, I didn’t get out of bed until 10:30 am.
(3) They __________ with me via email since the telephone was out of order.
(4) My mother __________ her favourite plate when she dropped it onto the kitchen floor.
(5) He __________ a book from me, but he hasn’t returned it to me yet.
(6) He __________ $400 for that old broken-down car, and then he really regretted it.
(7) My parents __________ me always to tell the truth, so it is impossible for me to tell a lie.
(8) He __________ the piece of wire by twisting it with his hands.
(9) They __________ the disabled person to enter the building at the designated entrance.
(10) I __________ at the bus stop for 35 minutes waiting for a bus to come.
Most Common Irregular Verbs – Answers to Exercise 3
- (1) knocked (regular)
- (2) woke (irregular)
- (3) communicated (regular)
- (4) damaged (regular)
- (5) borrowed (regular)
- (6) paid (irregular)
- (7) taught (irregular)
- (8) bent (irregular)
- (9) permitted (regular)
- (10) stood (irregular)
Irregular Verbs – More Exercises
Try these links if you are still having problems with irregular verbs
Go to the list of grammar exercises
