Both Regular and Irregular Verbs [Verbs That Can Be Regular and Irregular!]

Both Regular and Irregular Verbs [Verbs That Can Be Regular and Irregular!]

Learning English verbs can be challenging, especially when some verbs can be both regular and irregular! This article will help English as an Additional Language (EAL) students understand these special verbs by listing them and providing example sentences for each. Let’s dive in and make your English learning journey smoother!

What Are Regular and Irregular Verbs?

Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern when changing forms. Typically, you add “-ed” or “-d” to the base form to create the past tense and past participle. For example:

• Walk becomes walked.
• Love becomes loved.

Irregular verbs do not follow a standard pattern and have unique past tense and past participle forms. For example:

• Go becomes went (past tense) and gone (past participle).
• Eat becomes ate (past tense) and eaten (past participle).

Verbs That Can Be Both Regular and Irregular

Certain verbs in English can be both regular and irregular, depending on usage or regional preferences. Here are some of these special verbs, along with example sentences to show their different forms.

1. Burn

• Regular (Past Tense): They burned the old papers yesterday.
• Irregular (Past Tense): The candle burnt out after a few hours.
• Regular (Past Participle): The papers have been burned completely.
• Irregular (Past Participle): The toast has burnt to a crisp.

2. Dream

• Regular (Past Tense): She dreamed of becoming a singer.
• Irregular (Past Tense): Last night, I dreamt about flying.
• Regular (Past Participle): He has dreamed of this moment for years.
• Irregular (Past Participle): She had dreamt of that place before.

3. Learn

• Regular (Past Tense): We learned about photosynthesis in biology class.
• Irregular (Past Tense): He learnt to drive in the UK.
• Regular (Past Participle): They have learned a lot this semester.
• Irregular (Past Participle): He had learnt the lesson well.

4. Smell

• Regular (Past Tense): The flowers smelled wonderful.
• Irregular (Past Tense): The kitchen smelt of fresh bread.
• Regular (Past Participle): She has smelled that perfume before.
• Irregular (Past Participle): The room had smelt of roses.

5. Spill

• Regular (Past Tense): She spilled her drink on the table.
• Irregular (Past Tense): The milk spilt on the floor.
• Regular (Past Participle): He has spilled the beans about the surprise.
• Irregular (Past Participle): The juice had spilt everywhere.

6. Spoil

• Regular (Past Tense): The surprise party was spoiled by bad weather.
• Irregular (Past Tense): The food spoilt in the heat.
• Regular (Past Participle): The movie has been spoiled for me.
• Irregular (Past Participle): The milk had spoilt overnight.

Tips for Remembering These Verbs

1. Practice with Examples: Regularly use these verbs in sentences to familiarize yourself with both forms.
2. Listen and Read: Pay attention to how proficient speakers use these verbs. Listening to songs, watching movies, and reading books can help.
3. Regional Differences: Be aware that some forms might be more common in British English (e.g., learnt) than in American English (e.g., learned).

Conclusion

Understanding that some verbs can be both regular and irregular will enhance your English skills and make you a more versatile speaker and writer. Keep practicing, and soon, choosing the correct verb form will become second nature. Happy learning!