Irregular Verbs in Past Tense
Basics on the topic Irregular Verbs in Past Tense
Learn how to use frequently used irregular verbs in past tense with this video.
Transcript Irregular Verbs in Past Tense
"Koko! You will not believe what happened to me out there today!" Let's help Pip tell Koko all about what happened by using irregular verbs in past tense. You may have already learned that a verb is a word that shows action, or what the subject is doing. You may also remember that when changing regular verbs from present tense to past tense, you add a -d or -ed to the end of the word! An irregular verb is an action word that does not follow the -d or -ed pattern for past tense. Instead, it does something else! Let's look at some specific patterns that can help you. First, some irregular verbs end with a 't'. For example, spend in the past tense is spent, and sleep in the past tense is slept. Next, some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle of the word. For example, ride in the past tense is rode, and stick in the past tense is stuck. Finally, some irregular verbs keep their spelling for the past tense, such as hit and shut. Let's listen to Pip's retelling of todays events, and see if you can find the irregular verbs! "I took my lunch and left the treehouse." Can you spot the irregular verb here? Took is the irregular verb, the middle vowel from take changed from 'a' to 'oo'. "I got to the river with the big tree." Can you spot the irregular verb here? Got is the irregular verb, a 't' was added to the end of 'go'. "A dingo jumped out, and I said 'I'm sorry, I'm eating!'" What is the irregular verb here? Said is the irregular verb, an 'i' was added to the middle vowel of say. "But it kept coming at me, so I ran all the way home!" This time, there are two irregular verbs in the past tense, can you spot them? The first one is kept, a 't' was added to keep. The second one is ran, the 'a' changed to a 'u' in run. "Thankfully, I made it back safe!" "Oh no, I think that's the dingo!" While Koko answers, let's review. Today we learned about irregular verbs in the past tense. Irregular verbs do not follow the usual patterns for past tense by adding a -d or -ed Irregular verbs follow some different patterns. Some irregular verbs end with a 't', some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle of the word, and some irregular verbs keep their spelling for the past tense. "Well? Was it the dingo?!" "Yes Pip. But it wasn't chasing you. The dingo is returning your fanny pack that you left behind!"
Irregular Verbs in Past Tense exercise
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Show Pip and Koko which past tense verbs are irregular.
HintsRegular past tense verbs will use the letters -ed or -d at the end of the verb to show it is past tense.
Example: Cook and cooked. Look and looked.Some irregular verbs will have a t at the end in past tense.
Some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle or at the beginning.
Example: Ride and rodeThere are three irregular past tense verbs you should select.
SolutionThe verbs below are irregular past tense verbs because they do NOT end with the letters -ed
- Said
- Took
- Left
- Jumped
- Walked
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Sort the irregular and regular verbs.
HintsRegular past tense verbs will use the letters -ed or -d at the end of the verb to show it is past tense.
Example: Cook and cooked. Look and looked.Some irregular verbs will have a t at the end in past tense.
Some irregular verbs will be the same in past tense as present tense.
Example: I always shut the door when I leave a room, and I shut the door when I left this morning.Some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle or at the beginning.
Example: take and tookThere are three irregular verbs and two regular verbs.
Solution- Danced and talked are regular past tense verbs because they end in -ed.
- Read, spent, and rode are all irregular past tense verbs.
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Connect present and past tense verbs.
HintsSome irregular verbs will have a t at the end in past tense.
Some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle or at the beginning.
Example: Ride and rodeSome irregular verbs will be the same in past tense as present tense.
Example: I always shut the door when I leave a room, and I shut the door when I left this morning.Regular past tense verbs will use the letters -ed or -d at the end of the verb to show it is past tense.
There is one regular past tense verb in the choices.Solution- The past tense form of drink is drank.
- The past tense form of eat is ate.
- The past tense form of hit is hit.
- The past tense form of sweep is swept.
- The past tense form of enjoy is enjoyed.
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Complete the story.
HintsSome irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle or at the beginning.
Example: Ride and rodeOne irregular verb changes a consonant in the past tense, not a vowel.
There are five regular verbs in this story and three irregular verbs.
SolutionThe verbs in the correct form are in bold below:
Pip arrived at the beach and noticed he forgot his sunscreen. Pip looked up and shrugged. The sun was hot and high in the sky which made him feel tired. Pip laid down and closed his eyes.
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Find the irregular past tense form of the verb below.
HintsRegular past tense verbs will use the letters -ed or -d at the end of the verb to show it is past tense.
Build is an irregular verb, and does not follow this pattern.Some irregular verbs will have a t at the end in past tense.
Example: Spend and spentSolutionBuilt is the past tense form of build.
Example: Last year the little piggy built a house out of bricks. -
Find irregular and regular verbs.
HintsSome irregular verbs will have a t at the end in past tense.
Some irregular verbs have a vowel change in the middle.
Example: Ride and rodeRegular past tense verbs will use the letters -ed or -d at the end of the verb to show it is past tense.
Example: Cook and cooked. Look and looked.Remember to only highlight verbs.
A verb is an action, such as run, speak, or do.There are six irregular verbs and one regular verb.
SolutionThe irregular past tense verbs are:
- Took
- Left
- Got
- Said
- Kept
- Ran
- Jumped
