Read the rule, examples and common mistakes in the grammar reference beside practice, then try its three exercise formats.

Irregular verbs

Choose the past or past-participle form that fits the sentence, then review the three forms together.

A time expression and the helping verb tell you which form is needed. You will get ten questions with no countdown.

All answers and reasons
The workshop ___ at nine yesterday.
began Yesterday calls for past simple. The past form of begin is began. Read the guide
The window has ___ in the heat.
broken Has needs a past participle. The past participle of break is broken. Read the guide
Nora ___ the documents to the meeting.
brought The past form of bring is brought, not bringed or brang. Read the guide
We have ___ enough chairs for everyone.
bought The past participle of buy is bought. Read the guide
The team has ___ a quieter room.
chosen Has needs a past participle. Choose, chose, chosen are the three forms. Read the guide
I ___ home after the concert.
drove The finished past action uses drove, the past form of drive. Read the guide
Have you ___ anything today?
eaten Have needs the past participle eaten. Ate is the past-simple form. Read the guide
One folder ___ behind the cabinet.
fell The past form of fall is fell. Read the guide
She has ___ this route many times.
flown Has needs the past participle flown. Flew is the past-simple form. Read the guide
I had ___ where I put the key.
forgotten Had needs a past participle. The past participle of forget is forgotten. Read the guide
We ___ to the wrong entrance first.
went The past form of go is went. Read the guide
Your tomato plants have ___ a lot.
grown Have needs the past participle grown. Grew is the past-simple form. Read the guide
I ___ the answer after one clue.
knew The past form of know is knew. Read the guide
The train had already ___ the station.
left Had needs a past participle. Leave uses left for both past and past participle. Read the guide
Have you ever ___ an electric bicycle?
ridden Have needs the past participle ridden. Rode is the past-simple form. Read the guide
The alarm ___ just before noon.
rang The past form of ring is rang. Rung is the past participle. Read the guide
We have ___ the safety check twice.
run Run has the same base and past-participle form. Ran is past simple. Read the guide
I ___ your note on the front desk.
saw The past form of see is saw. Seen follows have, has or had. Read the guide
The group has ___ this piece before.
sung Has needs the past participle sung. Sang is past simple. Read the guide
I ___ with the technician yesterday.
spoke Yesterday calls for past simple. The past form of speak is spoke. Read the guide
Dana has ___ in cold water before.
swum Has needs the past participle swum. Swam is past simple. Read the guide
Someone has ___ my umbrella by mistake.
taken Has needs the past participle taken. Took is past simple. Read the guide
Mr. Reyes ___ this class last year.
taught The past form of teach is taught. Read the guide
Lee has ___ the same coat all week.
worn Has needs the past participle worn. Wore is past simple. Read the guide
Our team ___ the match by one point.
won The past form of win is won. Read the guide
Tariq has ___ a clear reply.
written Has needs the past participle written. Wrote is past simple. Read the guide

Past simple or past participle?

  • Use the past-simple form for a finished past action: We went yesterday.
  • After have, has or had, use the past participle: We have gone already.
  • Some verbs use the same form twice, such as leave, left, left and run, ran, run.
  • Forms such as goed, buyed and teached are distractors here; they are not standard past forms.

Keep practising

try mixed grammar , practise articles , or build whole sentences .

Irregular verb reference

Search the 26 verbs used in this practice. The examples are original sentences.

26 verbs shown

BasePastPast participleExample
beginbeganbegunThe class began at nine.
breakbrokebrokenThe handle has broken again.
bringbroughtbroughtI brought my receipt.
buyboughtboughtWe bought fresh bread.
choosechosechosenThey have chosen a new date.
drivedrovedrivenShe has driven this route before.
eatateeatenHave you eaten lunch?
fallfellfallenSeveral leaves have fallen.
flyflewflownHe flew to Denver yesterday.
forgetforgotforgottenI had forgotten the password.
gowentgoneThe last bus has gone.
growgrewgrownThe plant has grown quickly.
knowknewknownWe have known each other for years.
leaveleftleftMina left work at five.
rideroderiddenI have never ridden a horse.
ringrangrungThe phone rang twice.
runranrunThey have run this test already.
seesawseenI saw your message.
singsangsungThe choir has sung that song before.
speakspokespokenWe have spoken to the manager.
swimswamswumHe has swum across the lake.
taketooktakenSomeone has taken my seat.
teachtaughttaughtMs. Chen taught us last year.
wearworewornI have worn these boots in snow.
winwonwonOur team won the final.
writewrotewrittenAna has written the summary.

Where to go next

More grammar and sentences, then a different skill.

Prepositions
Sentence builder
Fix the mistake
Quantity expressions
Grammar choices
Articles: a, an and the
Useful phrases by purpose

See all 54 activities