How to learn irregular verbs in English?

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17 March 2025

English-learners

Oleksandra Kulish

Book expert

Learning irregular verbs is an important part of learning English. It's impossible to do without it, because they are actively used in everyday speech. However, many people have some difficulty learning them. The reason is that, unlike weak verbs, strong verbs do not change according to the classical rules.

Each irregular verb has unique forms and you need to learn them. An English dictionary will help you familiarize yourself with a complete list of them, which you should buy not only for this purpose but also to expand your general vocabulary. But how do you find an effective method of memorization? Let's figure it out.

Organize words into logical groups based on similarity

Try to organize irregular verbs that are similar according to certain criteria. This way, you can combine them into logical groups instead of just memorizing the words from the table list by list.

The most striking example would be irregular verbs that differ only in the vowel letter: swim - swam - swum, sing - sang - sung.
Another group may contain words that do not change at all, for example, cut - cut - cut, hit - hit - hit.
There are also verbs that have two forms that match, such as feed - fed - fed, have - had - had.

Observe patterns, find similarities, and turn a classic list in a table into structured material.

Use flashcards and practice verbs regularly

Flashcards are a proven way to learn new vocabulary that works well with long-term memory. The so-called active repetition method is much more productive than cramming verbs in columns.

To implement this idea, all you need is paper and a pen. You are even free to reinforce the writing with kids if it will help you memorize the entire table of irregular verbs more effectively. To create your set of flashcards, write the translation of the verb in your native language on one side and all three forms in English on the other.

Watch videos by native English speakers

Simultaneous visual and auditory perception will help you memorize irregular verbs much faster. Search for bloggers online who make instructional videos on this topic. Pay attention to those content makers who are native English speakers. This will help you get used to the natural sound of words and practice your own pronunciation.

Make sentences and learn verbs in context

It's much easier to learn a verb if you see it in context, not in a monotonous table. Here is a visual demonstration of how this method works:

Try to use your imagination and make up sentences with strong verbs in their basic form. For example: I eat a tuna sandwich every morning.
Now use the past tense form: I ate a tuna sandwich yesterday.
Finally, use the Past Perfect: I had eaten a tuna sandwich before I went to school this morning.

In this way, you will not only memorize the verbs, but you will also be able to practice the grammar and rules of using the English tenses by writing simple sentences. By the way, an English grammar book from a trusted publisher contains many useful exercises to help you learn irregular verbs.

Notice irregular verbs around you

Try to pay attention to irregular verbs more often. It's hard to do if you don't come across English in your everyday life. Here are some examples of how you can add more foreign language to your day:

Watch TV shows and movies with subtitles instead of Ukrainian translation. The most effective method is to use English subtitles.
Start a language diary. Make regular notes about your day - a few sentences will definitely contain strong verbs in different forms.
Listen to more music with English lyrics. If you have poor listening comprehension, open the lyrics and mark irregular verbs.

An additional advantage of such methods is that they also help with vocabulary expansion and grammar training.

Use rhymes and make up poems

Why is it so easy to memorize a rhyming verse of a song or a beautiful stanza of a poem? We may do it even unintentionally, because a certain rhythm and a good rhyme contribute to faster memorization. Of course, it is quite difficult to compose high-quality poems in English on your own. But your goal is not quality, but to improve the efficiency of your memory. If you are completely unable to create your own masterpiece, there are many poems with irregular verbs on the Internet.

Try mobile apps and language games for your phone

The development of technology opens up a whole new world of opportunities for learning English. There are hundreds of apps and games that offer different methods of memorizing vocabulary and translation, and even have separate sections to help you memorize irregular verbs. Most apps offer gamification of the material, which helps to distract from the typical language routine with rules, tables, and tense formulas.

In addition, apps, games, and virtual dictionaries are available to you around the clock and anywhere. You can learn in public transportation, while walking, during a break at work or on vacation.

High-quality educational literature at Dinternal Education

Digital and creative teaching methods will never replace classic textbooks. Unlike the aforementioned methods for learning irregular verbs, studying with textbooks allows you to study any topic in more depth. Systematized learning materials created by trusted publishers will always be number one on the way to mastering English at any level.

Dinternal Education offers a wide range of quality textbooks, study guides, and fiction in English.

In the catalog, you can choose learning materials according to your level and learn irregular verbs within a specially designed system to use any vocabulary in your speech freely.