15 Irregular Past Tense Verbs You’re Probably Getting Wrong (and How to Fix Them)
Let’s face it: irregular past tense verbs are the rebels of the English language. They don’t follow the rules, they make no logical sense, and they love to trip us up just when we think we’ve got everything figured out.
Unlike regular verbs, where you can simply add “-ed” and call it a day, irregular past tense verbs demand a mental gymnastics routine. Why does “go” become “went”? And what’s the deal with “eat” turning into “ate”? It’s enough to make even the most dedicated learner scratch their head in frustration.
If you’ve been confidently using irregular past tense verbs, there’s a chance you might be getting a few wrong without even realizing it. Here are 15 tricky irregular past tense verbs, examples of common mistakes, and tips to finally conquer them.
15 Advanced Irregular Past Tense Verbs
1. Arise → Arose
Meaning: To come into existence or begin to happen.
Why it’s tricky: It’s not used in everyday speech, so learners may replace it with “arised” or confuse it with “rose.”
Common mistakes:
- A problem arised during the meeting.
- He has arose from his chair quickly.
Correct usage:
- A problem arose during the meeting.
- He has arisen from his chair quickly.
2. Strive → Strove
Meaning: To make a great effort to achieve something.
Why it’s tricky: This verb isn’t as common as “try,” and “strived” feels like a natural guess.
Common mistakes:
- She strived to achieve her goals last year.
- He has strove for excellence throughout his career.
Correct usage:
- She strove to achieve her goals last year.
- He has striven for excellence throughout his career.
3. Swear → Swore
Meaning: To promise strongly or to use offensive language.
Why it’s tricky: Learners sometimes confuse it with “sworn,” or assume “sweared” follows regular verb patterns.
Common mistakes:
- He sweared he didn’t take the money.
- I have swore to tell the truth.
Correct usage:
- He swore he didn’t take the money.
- I have sworn to tell the truth.
4. Weave → Wove
Meaning: To make fabric or baskets by crossing threads or strips over and under each other.
Why it’s tricky: Learners might confuse the regular verb “weaved” (to dodge) with this irregular one.
Common mistakes:
- She weaved a beautiful tapestry.
- He has wove a story full of mystery.
Correct usage:
- She wove a beautiful tapestry.
- He has woven a story full of mystery.
5. Seek → Sought
Meaning: To look for or try to find something.
Why it’s tricky: The irregular past tense “sought” is very different from the base verb “seek.”
Common mistakes:
- He seeked advice from his mentor.
- She has seeked help in the wrong places.
Correct usage:
- He sought advice from his mentor.
- She has sought help in the wrong places.
6. Bind → Bound
Meaning: To tie something tightly or fasten something securely.
Why it’s tricky: Learners might default to “binded” since the verb is less commonly used.
Common mistakes:
- They binded the contract last month.
- She has binded the books together tightly.
Correct usage:
- They bound the contract last month.
- She has bound the books together tightly.
7. Cling → Clung
Meaning: To hold on tightly or stick closely to something.
Why it’s tricky: The past tense “clung” is unexpected and doesn’t follow regular rules.
Common mistakes:
- The child clinged to her mother.
- He has clinged to that old belief for years.
Correct usage:
- The child clung to her mother.
- He has clung to that old belief for years.
8. Grind → Ground
Meaning: To crush something into small particles, often with a machine.
Why it’s tricky: Learners confuse it with the past tense of “to ground” (as in to punish).
Common mistakes:
- He grinded the coffee beans this morning.
- She has grinded the spices finely.
Correct usage:
- He ground the coffee beans this morning.
- She has ground the spices finely.
9. Shrink → Shrank
Meaning: To become smaller in size.
Why it’s tricky: Learners often confuse “shrank” (past tense) with “shrunk” (past participle).
Common mistakes:
- My sweater shrinked in the wash.
- She has shrank after losing weight.
Correct usage:
- My sweater shrank in the wash.
- She has shrunk after losing weight.
10. Fling → Flung
Meaning: To throw something with force.
Why it’s tricky: “Flinged” sounds logical but is incorrect.
Common mistakes:
- She flinged the book onto the table.
- He has flinged the ball out of the park.
Correct usage:
- She flung the book onto the table.
- He has flung the ball out of the park.
11. Slay → Slew
Meaning: To kill in a violent way, often in a dramatic or mythical context.
Why it’s tricky: It’s rarely used outside of literature or fantasy contexts.
Common mistakes:
- The hero slayed the dragon.
- She has slewed her enemies in battle.
Correct usage:
- The hero slew the dragon.
- She has slain her enemies in battle.
12. Tread → Trod
Meaning: To step or walk on something.
Why it’s tricky: Learners often guess “treaded” instead of “trod.”
Common mistakes:
- She treaded lightly on the frozen pond.
- He has treaded carefully through the forest.
Correct usage:
- She trod lightly on the frozen pond.
- He has trodden carefully through the forest.
13. Forsake → Forsook
Meaning: To abandon or leave something or someone.
Why it’s tricky: It’s a formal verb that’s rarely encountered in daily use.
Common mistakes:
- He forsaked his family for money.
- She has forsaked her dreams.
Correct usage:
- He forsook his family for money.
- She has forsaken her dreams.
14. Stride → Strode
Meaning: To walk confidently or with long steps.
Why it’s tricky: Learners often assume “strided” follows the regular pattern.
Common mistakes:
- He strided confidently into the room.
- She has strode across the finish line.
Correct usage:
- He strode confidently into the room.
- She has stridden across the finish line.
15. Wring → Wrung
Meaning: To twist something to remove liquid or to squeeze something tightly.
Why it’s tricky: Learners sometimes guess “wringed” or confuse it with “rung” from “ring.”
Common mistakes:
- She wringed out the wet towel.
- He has wringed his hands in frustration.
Correct usage:
- She wrung out the wet towel.
- He has wrung his hands in frustration.
Mastering Advanced Irregular Past Tense Verbs
With irregular past tense verbs, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule, which is why they’re so challenging.
But practice makes perfect, and the more you encounter these verbs in real-life contexts, the easier they’ll become.
Want to perfect your pronunciation and usage of these tricky verbs? With ELSA Speak, you can practice speaking and listening to irregular verbs in real-world scenarios, get instant feedback, and build your confidence. Start mastering these verbs today and watch your English skills soar!
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