3. Grouping irregulars so there is less to learn / agrupando los irregulares para que haya menos que aprender

Here is a trick to help you navigate the wonderful world of irregular verbs

Grouping irregular verbs

Did you know that irregular verbs have patterns? Fight, bring and think are very, very similar. Fought / brought and thought.

What do they have in common? Yes: -ought

They all end in -ought

Here are some useful groups for you.


¿Sabías que los irregulares también tienen patrones? Fight, bring and think Son muy similares. Fought / brought and thought.

Tienen la terminación -ought

Aquí tienes los grupos.

Irregular verb groups! A great secret – Un gran secreto

LOS VERBOS IRREGULARES COMUNES ESTÁN EN NEGRITA – COMMON IRREGULAR VERBS ARE IN BOLD

No change – sin cambio

Bet castburstquitspread
Wet forecastcutridthrust
Set Broadcast hitshed
Let bidhurtshut
Cost wedputsplit

Verbs ending in “d” and change to “t” in Simple Past and Past Participle

bendbentbent
sendsentsent
buildbuiltbuilt
spendspentspent
lendlentlent

Vowel Change in all Three Forms short i > æ > short u / i > a > u

Sink sanksunk
springSprang sprung
stinkstankstunk
swimswamswum
singsangsung
ringrangrung
shrinkshrank shrunk
beginbeganbegun
drinkdrankdrunk

Same Vowel Change in Simple Past and Past Participle short i > short u 

Hang and strike are the odd ones out here.

winwonwon
clingclungclung
digdugdug
hanghunghung
flingflangflung
slingslangslung
Spin spunspun
swingswungswung
stingstungstung
stickstuckstuck
strikestruckstruck

Same Vowel Change in Past and Present Participle long i > au

windwoundwound
grindgroundground
findfoundfound
bind boundbound

Same Change in Past and Present Participle 

bringbroughtbrought
catchcaughtcaught
Buy boughtbought
seeksoughtsought
teachtaughttaught
thinkthoughtthought
fightfoughtfought

Same Vowel in Past and Present Participle (long o) 

Past Participle ends in n or en 

Weave wovewoven
wearwornworn
swearsworesworn
teartoretorn
stealstolestolen
freezefrozefrozen
choosechosechosen
breakbrokebroken
speakspokespoken
wakewokewoken

Same Vowel Change in Simple Past and Past Participle long e > short e 

feelfeltfelt
keepkeptkept
Leave leftleft
speedspedsped
sweepsweptswept
weepweptwept
leadledled
meanmeantmeant
Deal Dealt Dealt 
Bleed bledbled
BreedBred Bred 
creepcreptcrept
Read readread
Sleep sleptslept
Meet Met met
feedfedfed

Simple past “-ew”  > past participle “-own”

blowblewblown
drawdrewdrawn
flyflewflown
growgrewgrown
knowknewknown
showshowedshown
throwthrewthrown

All past participle ends in “-en” 

drivedrovedriven
eatateeaten
fallfellfallen
bitebitbitten
breakbrokebroken
beatbeatbeaten
choosechosechosen
forgetforgotforgotten
givegavegiven
hidehidhidden
stealstolestolen
rideroderidden
shakeshookshaken
taketooktaken
wakewokewoken
writewrotewritten
speakspokespoken

No pattern – these verbs are essential 

bewas/werebeen
gowentgone
dodiddone

The come group

becomebecamebecome
runranrun
Come camecome

Don’t be afraid – que no tengas miedo

Existen muchos verbos, pero ya los tenemos organizados. Te voy a enseñar como podrías plantearte aprendértelos, y al final tenemos un quiz.