Irregular Verbs: The Rebels of Agreement
What are irregular verbs?
Unlike regular verbs, which neatly add “-ed” for the past tense, irregular verbs change their forms in unpredictable ways. They are the rebels of the grammar world!
Why do irregular verbs matter for subject-verb agreement?
Because irregular verbs have unique forms, it’s important to pay special attention to how they change in the past tense and past participle (used with “have,” “has,” or “had”). This is crucial for ensuring your subjects and verbs agree in number.
Common Irregular Verbs (Present – Past – Past Participle):
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To be: is/am/are – was/were – been
- The cat is cute. / The cats were cute. / The cat has been cute for years.
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To have: has/have – had – had
- She has a dog. / They had a dog. / She has had a dog since she was a child.
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To do: does/do – did – done
- He does his homework. / They did their homework. / He has done his homework already.
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To go: goes/go – went – gone
- The bus goes to the city. / The buses went to the city. / The bus has gone to the city.
Let’s Practice!
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Choose the Correct Form:
- I (see/saw/seen) a movie yesterday. (saw)
- She (write/wrote/written) a letter to her friend. (wrote)
- The children (eat/ate/eaten) all the cookies. (ate)
- He (drink/drank/drunk) too much coffee this morning. (drank)
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Correct the Mistakes:
- I have went to the park yesterday. (I went to the park yesterday.)
- She have ate all the pizza. (She has eaten all the pizza.)
- They done their homework early. (They did their homework early.)
Tips for Learning Irregular Verbs:
- Make a list: Write down the irregular verbs you’re learning, along with their past and past participle forms.
- Practice: Use them in sentences, stories, or conversations.
- Play games: There are many online games and quizzes that can help you practice irregular verbs.
Remember: Irregular verbs don’t follow the regular “-ed” pattern, so pay attention to their unique forms! With practice, you’ll master them in no time.
