Oh yes, English is cool to learn! At first, you got super happy when you realized putting verbs in the past in English was super easy. Just adding “ed” to a verb, and you’re done.

But then, you noticed something tricky. Some verbs didn’t follow this simple rule. Actually, many of them!

Yes, your teacher was right: irregular verbs exist! And the list of these irregular verbs in English is long. And no, there are no special rules or tricks to learn them. It’s all about practice and your memory.

Today, we’re here to help. We’ll show you the 20 most used irregular verbs in English. These are the verbs you’ll hear and use a lot. Remember, we’ll give you two examples for each verb to help you understand how to use them.

Most used irregular verbs in English

1. Be (am/is/are, was/were)

• “When I was a little child, I was afraid of the dark. But now, as I have grown up, I am no longer scared.”
• “She was the best in her class last year, and she is still holding the top position this year.”

2. Have (have/has, had)

• “Yesterday, I had a lot of homework to do, but today, I have even more assignments to complete.”
• “They had a wonderful time at the amusement park last weekend, and now they have plans to go to the zoo.”

3. Do (do/does, did)

• “Last weekend, we did all our chores in the morning so we could enjoy the rest of the day. Usually, we do them in the afternoon.”
• “He did an amazing job on his science project last semester, and now he’s doing even better in mathematics.”

4. Go (go/goes, went)

• “They went to France on their vacation last year and had the time of their lives. This year, they’re planning to go to Spain.”
• “I went for a long run yesterday to clear my mind. Today, I’m planning to go for a bike ride.”

5. See (see/sees, saw)

• “We saw a beautiful sunset at the beach during our holiday. Every evening, we see the stars from our backyard.”
• “She saw an old friend at the café last week, and they’re planning to see each other again soon.”

6. Come (come/comes, came)

• “He came to the party late but still had a great time. Next time, he promises to come earlier.”
• “My cousins came over for dinner last night, and we’re expecting them to come again next weekend.”

7. Think (think/thinks, thought)

• “I thought the solution to the problem was incorrect, but after reviewing it, I think it might just work.”
• “They thought they had lost their way in the forest, but then they thought about the map and found the right path.”

8. Make (make/makes, made)

• “She made a delicious pie for Thanksgiving last year, and she’s planning to make an even bigger one this year.”
• “We made a fort out of blankets when we were kids, and now our children are making their own.”

9. Take (take/takes, took)

• “He took his time finishing the painting, and it turned out beautifully. Now, he takes art classes to improve his skills.”
• “They took a risk starting their own business, but now they’re taking the market by storm.”

10. Know (know/knows, knew)

• “She knew all the answers on the quiz yesterday, which shows how much she knows about history.”
• “I knew I had a chance at winning the competition, and now that I’ve won, I know I can achieve even more.”

11. Get (get/gets, got)

• “Last year, she got a new job, which was a big step up in her career. Now, she’s getting ready for another promotion.”
• “They got caught in the rain yesterday without umbrellas. Today, they always get the weather forecast before leaving home.”

12. Say (say/says, said)

• “He said he would fix the car by the end of the week, and indeed, he did. Now, he says he can tackle any repair job.”
• “We said our goodbyes at the airport, not knowing when we’d see each other again. Today, we say hello through video calls.”

13. Find (find/finds, found)

• “I found a rare coin in the attic last summer. Now, I find time every weekend to search for more treasures.”
• “They found it difficult to learn the piano at first. Now, they find joy in playing music every day.”

14. Give (give/gives, gave)

• “She gave her first public speech last year and was very nervous. Now, she gives talks confidently in front of large audiences.”
• “We gave a stray puppy a home last month. Now, we’re giving him all the love and care he needs.”

15. Tell (tell/tells, told)

• “He told a fascinating story about his travels at the dinner party. Now, he tells stories to inspire young adventurers.”
• “They told us about their engagement in a quiet, intimate gathering. Now, they tell everyone about their wedding plans.”

16. Become (become/becomes, became)

• “She became a certified yoga instructor last spring. Now, she’s becoming known for her unique teaching style.”
• “They became friends during a community project. Now, they’re becoming business partners.”

17. Show (show/shows, showed)

• “The guide showed us a hidden waterfall on the hike. Now, she shows adventurers even more secret spots.”
• “He showed a lot of potential in his first art show. Now, his work shows up in galleries worldwide.”

18. Leave (leave/leaves, left)

• “We left the city for a quieter life in the countryside. Now, we never leave our peaceful haven.”
• “She left her job to pursue her passion for baking. Now, she leaves customers in awe with her creations.”

19. Feel (feel/feels, felt)

• “I felt overwhelmed by the project at first. Now, I feel confident in my abilities to manage big tasks.”
• “They felt joy when their team won the championship. Now, they feel excited for the next season.”

20. Bring (bring/brings, brought)

• “She brought her family’s traditional dish to the international food festival. Now, she brings her culinary skills to a wider audience.”
• “They brought their cameras to capture the beauty of the sunrise. Now, they bring their art to life through photography.”

Practice is key!

These are the most used irregular verbs in English. You’ll find them often in everyday talk, in stories, and in movies. To learn these irregular verbs in English well, practice is important. Elsa Speak can help you with this. It can help you not just say these verbs right, but also use them when you talk to others.

Try making sentences with these verbs, like the examples we gave. Then, use Elsa Speak to get better at talking with them. The more you practice with Elsa Speak, talking and listening, the better you will get. So, keep going! With Elsa Speak’s help in your conversations and practice, you’ll get really good at these most used irregular verbs in English before you know it.