{"id":580829,"date":"2023-09-17T16:43:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T14:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.nl\/?p=580829"},"modified":"2023-09-25T12:32:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T10:32:34","slug":"regular-verbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/verbs\/regular-verbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Regular Verbs | Meaning, Examples & List"},"content":{"rendered":"

A regular verb is a verb<\/a> whose simple past<\/a> and past participle are formed by adding the suffix \u201c-ed\u201d (e.g., \u201cwalk\u201d becomes \u201cwalked\u201d).<\/p>\n

In contrast to regular verbs, irregular verbs are verbs whose simple past and past participles are formed in some way other than by adding \u201c-ed\u201d to the infinitive of the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Regular verb forms<\/caption>\n
Infinitive<\/strong><\/th>\nSimple past<\/strong><\/th>\nPast progressive<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
ask<\/td>\nasked<\/td>\nasked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
look<\/td>\nlooked<\/td>\nlooked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
start<\/td>\nstarted<\/td>\nstarted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
talk<\/td>\ntalked<\/td>\ntalked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
want<\/td>\nwanted<\/td>\nwanted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

What is a regular verb?<\/h2>\n

Regular verbs follow standard conjugation rules. For most regular verbs, both their simple past<\/span> and past participle<\/a><\/span> (i.e., the form used in perfect tenses and passive constructions) are formed by adding \u201c-ed\u201d to the end of the verb.<\/p>\n

Examples: Regular verbs<\/figcaption>Paula started<\/span> to cook.<\/p>\n

I had just started<\/span> to study when my neighbor called.<\/p>\n

Andy walked<\/span> to the shop.<\/p>\n

You have walked<\/span> to the office every day for the past week.<\/figure>\n

While the simple past and past participle of regular verbs are usually formed by adding the suffix \u201c-ed,\u201d this can vary depending on the verb\u2019s ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Original ending<\/strong><\/td>\nSimple past and past participle ending<\/strong><\/td>\nExample<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
-e<\/td>\n-add \u201cd\u201d<\/td>\nmove; moved<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
short verbs, where the last three letters follow a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern<\/td>\n-double the last letter and add \u201c-ed\u201d<\/td>\ngrab; grabbed<\/p>\n

clap; clapped<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

long verbs with a stressed syllable at the end, where the last three letters follow a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern<\/td>\n-double the last letter and add \u201c-ed\u201d<\/td>\nregret; regretted<\/p>\n

debug; debugged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Consonant + y<\/td>\n-ied (replacing the \u201cy\u201d)<\/td>\ncry; cried<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Note<\/figcaption>For verbs that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern where the final letter is \u201cw,\u201d \u201cx,\u201d or \u201cy,\u201d you typically don\u2019t double the final letter (e.g., \u201cfix\u201d becomes \u201cfixed\u201d).<\/p>\n

For verbs that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern where the final syllable is not stressed, you also don\u2019t double the final letter (e.g., \u201copen\u201d becomes \u201copened\u201d).<\/figure>\n

Regular and irregular verbs<\/h2>\n

Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs<\/a> do not follow a specific conjugation pattern, and their simple past and past participles can be formed in various ways.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the past participle of an irregular verb may differ from its simple past form (e.g., \u201csaw\u201d and \u201cseen\u201d).<\/p>\n

Below is a table indicating the simple past and past participle forms of some common irregular verbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Irregular verb forms<\/caption>\n
Infinitive<\/strong><\/th>\nSimple past<\/strong><\/th>\nPast participle<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
be<\/td>\nwas\/were<\/td>\nbeen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
do<\/td>\ndid<\/td>\ndone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
have<\/td>\nhad<\/td>\nhad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Regular verbs list (free download)<\/h2>\n

Below is a table illustrating the simple past and past participle forms of some common regular verbs.<\/p>\n

You can also download our longer list of regular verbs in the format of your choice below.<\/p>\n

Download PDF list<\/a> Download Google Docs list<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Regular verbs list<\/caption>\n
Infinitive<\/strong><\/th>\nSimple past<\/strong><\/th>\nPast participle<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
arrive<\/td>\narrived<\/td>\narrived<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
call<\/td>\ncalled<\/td>\ncalled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dance<\/td>\ndanced<\/td>\ndanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fail<\/td>\nfailed<\/td>\nfailed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
help<\/td>\nhelped<\/td>\nhelped<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
listen<\/td>\nlistened<\/td>\nlistened<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
love<\/td>\nloved<\/td>\nloved<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
play<\/td>\nplayed<\/td>\nplayed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
regret<\/td>\nregretted<\/td>\nregretted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
thank<\/td>\nthanked<\/td>\nthanked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
try<\/td>\ntried<\/td>\ntried<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
update<\/td>\nupdated<\/td>\nupdated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
use<\/td>\nused<\/td>\nused<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
visit<\/td>\nvisited<\/td>\nvisited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wait<\/td>\nwaited<\/td>\nwaited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Worksheet: Regular verbs<\/h2>\n

Practice using regular verbs correctly with the exercises below. In the blank space in each sentence, fill in the correct simple past form based on the verb specified.<\/p>\n

\n