Regular Verbs vs. Irregular Verbs — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 8, 2023
Regular verbs form past tense by adding "-ed"; irregular verbs don't follow this rule. E.g., Regular: play-played; Irregular: go-went.
Difference Between Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The English language hosts significantly more regular verbs than their irregular counterparts, offering speakers a wide array of verbs that adhere to a common, simple conjugation rule. Yet, irregular verbs often include some of the most commonly used verbs, making their mastery equally imperative.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
Regular verbs follow a predictable, "regular" pattern in their conjugation. Simply, they adhere to a standard formation of past and past participle forms by adding "-ed" or "-d". Irregular verbs, contrastingly, do not follow a uniform pattern, morphing into unique forms.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
For learners, mastering regular verbs typically involves less effort and time due to their predictable nature. Learning irregular verbs, meanwhile, involves investing time in memorization and practice to ensure accurate usage in various tenses.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
A crucial point of distinction between regular verbs and irregular verbs is consistency. Regular verbs consistently adopt the "-ed" ending across all their forms, providing language learners with a straightforward rule. Conversely, irregular verbs demand memorization due to their inconsistency in form alteration.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
An ease of understanding and use is often associated with regular verbs because once the base verb is known, the simple addition of “-ed” forms the past and past participle forms. Irregular verbs introduce a layer of complexity as they require individual, case-by-case learning due to their lack of a unified rule.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Conjugation Rule
Follow a consistent pattern.
Do not follow a consistent pattern.
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Past Tense Formation
Add “-ed” or "-d" to the base form.
Change in various, unpredictable ways.
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Oct 08, 2023
Past Participle Formation
Add “-ed” or "-d" to the base form.
Often differ from their past forms.
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Oct 08, 2023
Ease of Learning
Generally easier due to uniformity.
Can be challenging due to variability.
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Oct 08, 2023
Usage Frequency
Plentiful but may be used less often.
Common verbs tend to be irregular.
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Oct 08, 2023
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Definitions
Regular Verbs
Future intentions with regular verbs use "will + base form".
I will call you later.
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Oct 04, 2023
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs adopt unique forms in the past tense.
He went to the store.
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Oct 04, 2023
Regular Verbs
Negative statements with regular verbs add "don't/doesn’t + base form".
She doesn’t like spinach.
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Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs maintain their base form in the present.
We see the bird.
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Oct 04, 2023
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs maintain the base form in present tense.
They walk to school daily.
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Irregular Verbs
Past participles of irregular verbs are often distinct.
She has eaten breakfast.
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Oct 04, 2023
Regular Verbs
The past participle of regular verbs also employs “-ed.”
She has worked here for years.
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Oct 04, 2023
Irregular Verbs
Negative structures with irregular verbs add "don't/doesn’t + base form".
He doesn’t know the answer.
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Oct 04, 2023
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs consistently add “-ed” for past forms.
He played soccer yesterday.
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Oct 04, 2023
Irregular Verbs
Future formations with irregular verbs use "will + base form".
They will have a meeting.
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Oct 04, 2023
FAQs
Is the past participle of regular verbs always formed by adding “-ed”?
Yes, regular verbs add “-ed” for the past participle.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
What is the simplest rule for conjugating regular verbs in the past?
Add "-ed" to the base form.
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Oct 08, 2023
Are irregular verbs typically common or rare in daily English?
Many common verbs in English are irregular.
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Oct 08, 2023
Can a verb be both regular and irregular?
No, verbs are either regular or irregular, not both.
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Oct 08, 2023
How can I learn irregular verb forms effectively?
Through memorization and practice in context.
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Oct 08, 2023
Do regular verbs always follow the “-ed” rule for past forms?
Yes, regular verbs always use “-ed” for past forms.
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Oct 08, 2023
Can irregular verbs have the same form in present, past, and past participle?
Yes, some irregular verbs, like "put," have the same form in all tenses.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
Are regular verbs more prevalent in the English language?
Yes, regular verbs are more numerous but irregular verbs are often more commonly used.
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Oct 08, 2023
How are future tenses formed with regular verbs?
Use "will" + the base form of the verb.
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Oct 08, 2023
Do regular verbs have consistent spelling when “-ed” is added?
Mostly, but watch for spelling rules (e.g., “try” becomes “tried”).
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Oct 08, 2023
How do irregular verbs form the past tense?
They change in various, unique ways.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
Are all verbs either regular or irregular?
Yes, all verbs are categorized as either regular or irregular.
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Oct 08, 2023
Is it possible for a new verb to be irregular?
It’s rare; new verbs tend to adopt regular conjugation.
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Oct 08, 2023
Can irregular verbs become regular over time?
Yes, language evolution can sometimes regularize irregular verbs.
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Oct 08, 2023
Is there a pattern to follow to determine if a verb is irregular?
No, irregular verb forms must typically be memorized as there’s no single pattern.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 08, 2023
Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
