Learning English can feel difficult, especially when you think you’ve mastered regular verbs. You add “-ed” to make words like “play” into “played” or “work” into “worked,” and everything seems clear. But then, you face something new: irregular verbs. These verbs don’t follow the same rules, and each one seems to have its own way of changing. For example, the verb “go” doesn’t become “goed”—it changes to “went.” This can make learning them feel confusing and frustrating for beginners.

Irregular verbs don’t have one simple rule you can learn, so you need to spend time memorizing them. But don’t worry! There are some simple tricks that can help make this process easier. Instead of feeling lost, you can use these tricks to learn faster and remember the verbs better. By breaking them into small groups and practicing regularly, you can make your learning experience smoother.

In this article, we’ll give you ten easy tips for learning irregular verbs. These tips will help you remember their forms, use them in sentences, and feel more confident when you speak or write in English. With a little practice, you will see that learning irregular verbs doesn’t have to be so hard.

Tips to memorize irregular verbs

1. Group Common Irregular Verbs Together

Irregular verbs can seem unpredictable, but some of them follow similar patterns. Grouping them can make learning easier. Instead of trying to memorize a long list, you can break them into smaller groups based on similar changes.

For example:

• Verbs that stay the same in all forms: “set, set, set” or “cost, cost, cost.”
• Verbs with the same past and past participle forms: “feel, felt, felt” or “shoot, shot, shot.”
• Verbs ending in “-en” in the past participle: “speak, spoke, spoken” or “wake, woke, woken.”

Grouping verbs like this makes it easier to remember their forms and use them correctly in sentences.

2. Learn the Definition of Irregular Verbs

To start, it’s important to understand what makes a verb irregular. Regular verbs become past tense by adding “-ed” (like “play” becomes “played”). Irregular verbs don’t follow this rule. For example, “eat” changes to “ate” in the past tense, not “eated.”

Understanding this difference will help you recognize irregular verbs and learn their correct forms.

3. Memorize the 10 Most Common Irregular Verbs First

Not all irregular verbs are used equally. Focus on learning the most common ones first, as these are the ones you’ll encounter most often. Here are ten essential irregular verbs you should start with:

• Say, said, said
• Go, went, gone
• Come, came, come
• Know, knew, known
• Get, got, gotten
• Give, gave, given
• Become, became, become
• Find, found, found
• Think, thought, thought
• See, saw, seen

Learning these will help you use everyday English more confidently.

4. Turn Memorizing into a Game

Memorizing irregular verbs can be more fun if you make it a game. You can create flashcards or play online games like quizzes. Write the present form on one side of a card and the past tense on the other, then test yourself.

There are also many online resources, such as the British Council’s verb quiz or the MacMillan Dictionary’s verb wheel, that turn learning into a game. This method makes studying feel less like work and more like play!

5. Practice Using Irregular Verbs in Sentences

One of the best ways to remember new words is to use them in sentences. Each week, choose 5-10 irregular verbs to focus on. Write sentences using these verbs in the present, past, and past participle forms. For example:

• “I see the sun” (present), “I saw the sunset yesterday” (past), “I have seen many sunsets” (past participle).
• “They take a bus to school” (present), “They took the bus yesterday” (past), “They have taken the bus many times” (past participle).
• “She writes a letter” (present), “She wrote a letter last week” (past), “She has written many letters” (past participle).

Creating sentences helps you see how the verbs work in real situations, making it easier to remember their forms.

6. Learn New Verbs with Their Tense Forms

Whenever you learn a new verb, make sure to learn all its forms. Don’t just learn that “take” means to grab something; learn that its past form is “took” and its past participle is “taken.” This approach saves time later because you won’t have to relearn the verb when you encounter it in a different form.

7. Use Songs to Remember Verbs

Songs can be a great way to learn irregular verbs. Music helps the brain remember patterns, making it easier to recall words. Look up songs on YouTube that are designed to teach irregular verbs, like the classic Schoolhouse Rock songs or fun educational rap songs. Singing along helps you remember the verbs and makes studying more enjoyable.

8. Leave Lists Where You Can See Them

Sometimes, the best way to memorize is through repetition. Write down groups of verbs on small pieces of paper, and put them around your home in places where you’ll see them every day- like next to the coffee maker or on the bathroom mirror.

Glance at them whenever you have a moment, and you’ll start to remember them without even realizing it.

9. Read and Listen to English as Much as You Can

Reading books, watching TV shows, and listening to podcasts in English helps you see and hear how irregular verbs are used in context. The more you expose yourself to English, the more these verbs will become second nature.

Pay attention when you see irregular verbs in books or hear them in conversations. This way, you’ll start to notice patterns and remember their correct forms.

10. Ask for Corrections from Native Speakers

Practice makes perfect, but practicing correctly is key! Whenever you have the chance to speak with a native English speaker, ask them to correct you if you make a mistake with irregular verbs. It might be uncomfortable at first, but remember, they’re helping you improve!

Accepting corrections gracefully will help you get better faster and feel more confident in your English.

A Final Tip: Practice with our ELSA App!

Learning irregular verbs takes time, but there are many tools to help you. The ELSA app is a fantastic way to practice irregular verbs and other aspects of English. It offers exercises tailored to your level and helps you work on tricky areas. With practice, you’ll master those irregular verbs and become a more confident English speaker!

By following these tips and using resources like our ELSA app, you’ll find that learning irregular verbs doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on one step at a time, and soon, you’ll be using irregular verbs naturally in your conversations. Happy learning!

More on irregular verbs here