Past Tense Irregular Verbs List

Part One

The following is a list of Irregular Verbs in English:

* HANG - Hang has two different meanings. The first is "to attach (or hang) something in a high position" (e.g. on the wall or on a hook). In this case we use the above verbs Hang-Hung-Hung.

BUT when Hang means "to kill someone by putting a rope around someone's neck and leaving them in a high position without any support", we use different verbs: Hang-Hanged-hanged. This verb is typical of public executions in the past. (e.g. They hanged him in the main square.)

** LIE - Lie has two meanings. When it means "to put your body in a horizontal position" (normally on a bed) it uses the Lie-Lay-Lain verbs.

BUT it is regular Lie-Lied-Lied when it has the other meaning of "not to say the truth".

*** READ - Even though they are written the same, the pronunciation is different in the Past Tense and Past Participle form.

Part Two

The following verbs can be regular or irregular:

The second form (burnt, dreamt etc.) is more common in British English.

Part Three

Verbs that have the same form in Present, Past and Past Participle form:

All of the verbs above are written and pronounced the same in the three forms EXCEPT for Read which is written the same but pronounced differently.

Try our interactive English grammar games about:

Past Tense - Irregular Verbs

Past Participles

And our Grammar notes about:

Past Participles

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Last Updated: 19 July 2010