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Regular and Irregular Verbs

Regular Verbs Simple Past / Past Participle Spelling Rules


The simple past tense is formed by adding -ed to the end of the verb. However there are several rules depending on the spelling of the verb, these are:

If the base of the verb ends in:

  • -e only add -d (raid - raided)
  • a consonant plus -y the y is turned into -ied (study - studied / try - tried)
  • -c add -ked (panic - panicked)
  • a single vowel plus a consonant and is stressed on its final syllable the consonant is usually doubled and -ed added (plan - planned)
  • -p, g or -m the consonant is usually doubled and -ed added (ram - rammed / tap - tapped / gag - gagged)
  • -l the consonant is usually doubled (travel - travelled)


Regular Verbs

Base Form

To walk

Present Simple

I walk every day.

Present Progressive/Continuous

I am walking. (now)

Present Perfect Simple

I have walked twice so far today.

Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous

I have been walking for 2 hours.

Past Simple

I walked yesterday.

Past Progressive/Continuous

I was walking yesterday when I saw a bear.

Past Perfect Simple

I had walked for five miles by the time I got home.

Past Perfect Progressive/Continuous

I had been walking for 2 hours when I saw the bear.

Future Simple

I will go for a walk tomorrow.

Future Progressive/Continuous

I am walking tomorrow.

Future Perfect Simple

I will have already gone for a walk by the time I meet my friends.

Future Perfect Progressive

I will have been walking for 2 hours by the time I meet my friends.


Irregular Verbs


The only rule is that there are no rules for the spelling of irregular verbs, they have to be learnt. Sorry!

For example:

 

To run

Present Simple

I run every day.

Present Progressive/Continuous

I am running. (now)

Present Perfect Simple

I have run twice so far today.

Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous

I have been running for 2 hours.

Past Simple

I ran yesterday.

Past Progressive/Continuous

I was running yesterday when I saw a bear.

Past Perfect Simple

I had run for five miles by the time I got home.

Past Perfect Progressive/Continuous

I had been running for 2 hours when I saw the bear.

Future Simple

I will go for a run tomorrow.

Future Progressive/Continuous

I am running tomorrow.

Future Perfect Simple

I will have already gone for a run by the time I meet my friends.

Future Perfect Progressive

I will have been running for 2 hours by the time I meet my friends.


There is a list of irregular verbs here.