Page 595 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Irregular verbs, on the other hand, follow no predictable pattern in their
past and past participle forms. Sometimes a vowel changes: sing in

the present tense becomes sang in the past tense and sung in the

past participle. Sometimes an n or en will be added to form the past

participle: take becomes taken, fall becomes fallen. Some verbs, such

as the verb set, do not change at all. Others change completely: buy

in the present tense becomes bought in the past and past participle
forms.

Some common irregular verbs and their principal parts follow. If you

are unsure about a verb form, check this list or consult a dictionary for

the correct form.

Principal Parts of Common Irregular Verbs

Present Past Past Participle Present Participle

be (am, are, is) was (were) (have) been (are) being

become became (have) become (are) becoming

begin began (have) begun (are) beginning

blow blew (have) blown (are) blowing

break broke (have) broken (are) breaking

bring brought (have) brought (are) bringing

burst burst (have) burst (are) bursting

buy bought (have) bought (are) buying