What Are Weak Verbs? (with Examples)

A weak verb is one that has a -d or -t ending for its simple past tense and past participle. For example:

Weak Verb	Simple Past Tense	Past Participle	Comment
love	loved	has loved	regular verb
play	played	has played	regular verb
creep	crept	has crept	irregular verb
shoot	shot	has shot	irregular verb
put	put	has put	irregular verb

Note: The terms weak verb and regular verb do not mean the same thing. Weak verb incorporates all regular verbs but also a lot of irregular verbs.

Types of Weak Verbs

There are four types of weak verbs:

Past form adds -d, -ed, or -t without a change of vowel sound. For example:

Weak Verb	Simple Past Tense	Past Participle	Comment
love	loved	has loved	regular verb
hate	hated	has hated	regular verb
move	moved	has moved	regular verb

Past form adds -d, or -t with a change of vowel sound. For example:

Weak Verb	Simple Past Tense	Past Participle	Comment
tell	told	has told	irregular verb
keep	kept	has kept	irregular verb

Past form retains the -d, or -t ending and shortens the vowel sound. For example:

Weak Verb	Simple Past Tense	Past Participle	Comment
meet	met	has met	irregular verb
bleed	bled	has bled	irregular verb

Past form is the same as the base form. For example:

Weak Verb	Simple Past Tense	Past Participle	Comment
put	put	has put	irregular verb
set	set	has set	irregular verb

Interactive Test

"Smashing Grammar" (2019)
Written by the founder of Grammar Monster, "Smashing Grammar" includes a glossary of grammar essentials (from apostrophes to zeugma) and a chapter on easily confused words (from affect/effect to whether/if). Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to real-life, entertaining examples. All entries conclude with a section highlighting why the grammar point is relevant for a writer and top-level bullet points summarizing the entry. [More�]

"Grammar for Grown-ups" (2011)
Vocational rather than academic, "Grammar for Grown-ups" is packed with real-life examples and keeps you engaged with a wealth of great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson. Straight talking and methodical, Craig Shrives draws on his years compiling Grammar Monster and as an army officer to present a comprehensive but light-hearted and easily digestible grammar reference guide. [More�]