For the most part, there is no general rule or pattern that helps you figure out how to conjugate an irregular verb. Irregular verbs are one of the trickiest types of verbs-and words-to use. For example, the past participle of run is … run, and the past participle of take is taken. The past participles of irregular verbs don’t follow the rules either. For example, the simple past tense of the irregular verb run is ran, and the simple past tense of the irregular verb take is took. The past participle is used in the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect verb tenses and follows the words has, have, had, and will have.Īn irregular verb, however, is “a verb in which the past tense is not formed by adding the usual -ed ending.” So, how do we turn irregular verbs into simple past tense or into a past participle? Well … this is where things get complicated. For example, both the simple past tense and past participle of climb is climbed. Regular verbs follow the general rules of verbs when we use them in the simple past tense or turn them into a past participle of the verb. In both cases, we typically add -ed, -d, or, sometimes, a -t to the root form of the verb to make the simple past tense or to create a past participle. Is set a shady verb planning to steal the paintings at the auction? No, the verb set is just one example of a special type of verb known as an irregular verb.īefore we explore irregular verbs, it is important to briefly explain regular verbs. However, the verb set didn’t change at all when it was used in the simple past tense! Something fishy is going on at this auction-and it isn’t just the ridiculous prices.ĭid you notice that the word set was acting strangely in those sentences? As you may know, the word set is a verb, a word that we use to refer to actions or states of being. According to rumors, they have set the starting bid even higher today. Just yesterday, they set the starting bid at $1 million dollars. It is time for an auction! This particular auction sells paintings, and they usually set the starting bids very high.

Present tense irregular english verbs