What Are Regular Verbs? (with Examples)
What Are Regular Verbs? (with Examples)
A regular verb is one that conforms to the usual rule for forming its simple past tense and its past participle.In English, the "usual" rule is to add -ed or -d to the base form of the verb to create the past forms.
Regular Verbs Test
Use the buttons to form the past tense and then the participle of the regular verb shown.| Regular Verb | |
|---|---|
| Past Tense | Past Participle |
Spelling Rules for Creating the Past Forms of Regular Verbs
For regular verbs, the simple past tense and past particle are formed like this:Add "ed" to most verbs:
- jump > jumped
- paint > painted
If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final consonant and add "ed":
- chat > chatted
- stop > stopped
If the final consonant is w, x or y, don't double it:
- sew > sewed
- play > played
- fix > fixed
If the last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the last consonant and add "ed":
- incur > incurred
- prefer > preferred
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
- open > opened
- enter > entered
- swallow > swallowed
If the verb ends "e", just add "d":
- thrive > thrived
- guzzle > guzzled
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":
- cry > cried
- fry > fried
Comparing Regular Verbs to Irregular Verbs
Regular verbs contrast with irregular verbs, which form their simple past tenses and past participles in a variety of ways.With a regular verb, the simple past tense and the past participle are the same. For example:
| Base Form | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| paint | painted | has painted |
| yawn | yawned | has yawned |
| dance | danced | has danced |
With irregular verbs, however, the past forms can be same or different. For example:
| Base Form | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| run | ran | has run |
| grow | grew | has grown |
| tell | told | has told |
| bleed | bled | has bled |
Read more about irregular verbs.
Regular Verbs Are Weak Verbs
A regular verb is a type of weak verb.The terms regular verb and weak verb are not synonyms (i.e., they do not mean the same). Similarly, the terms irregular verb and strong verb are not synonyms.
Here is an infographic explaining how verbs are classified:
