Regular verbs list in English play a foundational role in the structure of the English language. These verbs, unlike their irregular counterparts, follow a consistent pattern in their conjugation across different tenses—specifically, they adopt a standard “-ed” ending for both their past tense and past participle forms.
This predictability makes them essential for language learners who are trying to grasp the rules of English grammar. As students familiarize themselves with regular verbs, they gain confidence in constructing grammatically correct sentences and improve their communication skills. Here, we will explore a comprehensive list of regular verbs that can help learners strengthen their vocabulary and enhance their understanding of English verb conjugation.
What Are Regular Verbs?
Regular verbs are verbs that follow a standard pattern in their conjugation across different tenses. Specifically, in English, they form their past tense and past participle by adding a suffix – usually -ed, -d, or -ied to the base form of the verb. This rule makes them predictable and easier to learn compared to irregular verbs, which do not follow standard conjugation patterns and often change vowels or have entirely different forms.
Here’s how regular verbs work:
- Base form: Use (to employ)
- Past tense: Used (employed yesterday)
- Past participle: Used (have employed)
Rules Of Regular Verbs
Regular verbs in English follow simple and predictable rules for forming their past tense and past participle forms. Here are the basic rules:
Adding -ed:
-
- For most verbs, simply add -ed to the base form of the verb.
- Example: Talk → Talked
- For most verbs, simply add -ed to the base form of the verb.
Verbs ending in -e:
-
- If the verb ends with an -e, just add -d.
- Example: Love → Loved
- If the verb ends with an -e, just add -d.
Consonant after a single vowel (CVC pattern):
-
- For verbs that have a single vowel followed by a consonant (and are one syllable or have the stress on the last syllable in multi-syllable words), double the final consonant before adding -ed.
- Example: Stop → Stopped
- Note: This rule applies when the final syllable is stressed (e.g., refer → referred) but not when it’s unstressed (e.g., benefit → benefited).
- For verbs that have a single vowel followed by a consonant (and are one syllable or have the stress on the last syllable in multi-syllable words), double the final consonant before adding -ed.
Verbs ending in -y:
-
- If the verb ends in a -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y to -i and then add -ed.
- Example: Worry → Worried
- If the -y is preceded by a vowel, simply add -ed.
- Example: Play → Played
- If the verb ends in a -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y to -i and then add -ed.
- Spelling considerations:
- Be mindful of American and British spelling differences; for example, American English typically uses -ed (e.g., learned), whereas British English might use -t for some verbs (e.g., learnt).
Regular Verbs List In English
- Accept – Accepted – Accepted
- Achieve – Achieved – Achieved
- Ask – Asked – Asked
- Bake – Baked – Baked
- Call – Called – Called
- Clean – Cleaned – Cleaned
- Dance – Danced – Danced
- Decide – Decided – Decided
- Earn – Earned – Earned
- Explain – Explained – Explained
- Finish – Finished – Finished
- Guess – Guessed – Guessed
- Help – Helped – Helped
- Joke – Joked – Joked
- Jump – Jumped – Jumped
- Kick – Kicked – Kicked
- Laugh – Laughed – Laughed
- Learn – Learned (or Learnt) – Learned (or Learnt)
- Manage – Managed – Managed
- Need – Needed – Needed
- Offer – Offered – Offered
- Plan – Planned – Planned
- Play – Played – Played
- Question – Questioned – Questioned
- Reach – Reached – Reached
- Relax – Relaxed – Relaxed
- Save – Saved – Saved
- Talk – Talked – Talked
- Thank – Thanked – Thanked
- Use – Used – Used
- Visit – Visited – Visited
- Wait – Waited – Waited
- Walk – Walked – Walked
- Want – Wanted – Wanted
- Work – Worked – Worked
- Yell – Yelled – Yelled
- Zap – Zapped – Zapped
- Admire – Admired – Admired
- Brush – Brushed – Brushed
- Change – Changed – Changed
- Damage – Damaged – Damaged
- Deliver – Delivered – Delivered
- Enter – Entered – Entered
- Fix – Fixed – Fixed
- Gather – Gathered – Gathered
- Hunt – Hunted – Hunted
- Increase – Increased – Increased
- Juggle – Juggled – Juggled
- Knock – Knocked – Knocked
- Listen – Listened – Listened
- Measure – Measured – Measured
- Notice – Noticed – Noticed
- Observe – Observed – Observed
- Pack – Packed – Packed
- Paint – Painted – Painted
- Qualify – Qualified – Qualified
- Repair – Repaired – Repaired
- Smile – Smiled – Smiled
- Study – Studied – Studied
- Trade – Traded – Traded
- Unite – United – United
- Vacuum – Vacuumed – Vacuumed
- Warn – Warned – Warned
- X-ray – X-rayed – X-rayed
- Yawn – Yawned – Yawned
- Zoom – Zoomed – Zoomed
- Announce – Announced – Announced
- Boil – Boiled – Boiled
- Charge – Charged – Charged
- Describe – Described – Described
- Exchange – Exchanged – Exchanged
- Frame – Framed – Framed
- Guess – Guessed – Guessed
- Heat – Heated – Heated
- Imagine – Imagined – Imagined
- Join – Joined – Joined
- Keep – Kept – Kept
- Level – Leveled (or Levelled) – Leveled (or Levelled)
- Melt – Melted – Melted
- Name – Named – Named
- Operate – Operated – Operated
- Pour – Poured – Poured
- Record – Recorded – Recorded
- Serve – Served – Served
- Travel – Traveled (or Travelled) – Traveled (or Travelled)
- Verify – Verified – Verified
- Whisper – Whispered – Whispered
- Align – Aligned – Aligned
- Balance – Balanced – Balanced
- Create – Created – Created
- Design – Designed – Designed
- Explore – Explored – Explored
- File – Filed – Filed
- Grant – Granted – Granted
- Hire – Hired – Hired
- Install – Installed – Installed
- Judge – Judged – Judged
- Kick – Kicked – Kicked
- Label – Labeled – Labeled
- Match – Matched – Matched
- Navigate – Navigated – Navigated
- Organize – Organized – Organized
- Program – Programmed – Programmed
- Quote – Quoted – Quoted
- Release – Released – Released
- Shine – Shined – Shined
- Test – Tested – Tested
- Update – Updated – Updated
- Validate – Validated – Validated
- Wash – Washed – Washed
- Extend – Extended – Extended
- Form – Formed – Formed
- Guard – Guarded – Guarded
- Identify – Identified – Identified
- Jump – Jumped – Jumped
- Knit – Knitted – Knitted
- Link – Linked – Linked
- Mention – Mentioned – Mentioned
- Nurture – Nurtured – Nurtured
- Offer – Offered – Offered
- Print – Printed – Printed
- Question – Questioned – Questioned
- Restore – Restored – Restored
- Sign – Signed – Signed
- Touch – Touched – Touched
- Utilize – Utilized – Utilized
- Venture – Ventured – Ventured
- Witness – Witnessed – Witnessed
- Xerox – Xeroxed – Xeroxed
- Yield – Yielded – Yielded
- Zest – Zested – Zested
- Adjust – Adjusted – Adjusted
- Build – Built – Built
- Calculate – Calculated – Calculated
- Deposit – Deposited – Deposited
- Educate – Educated – Educated
- Focus – Focused – Focused
Regular verbs Excercise
- Dogs bark at strangers loudly.
- She dances gracefully at parties.
- They paint pictures skillfully.
- He plays guitar beautifully.
- We travel to new places.
- The wind whispers through trees.
- Fish swim in clear water.
- She smiles warmly at everyone.
- Birds fly south in winter.
- He jogs around the park.
- Children laugh at funny jokes.
- She knits scarves for winter.
- They bake delicious cakes often.
- He fixes broken toys carefully.
- We collect stamps as hobby.
- She calls her mom nightly.
- Cats nap in sunny spots.
- He reads books every night.
- They clean their house weekly.
- We plant flowers in spring.
- She writes poems creatively.
- Birds nest in tall trees.
- He surfs on big waves.
- They hike in the mountains.
- We watch movies on weekends.
- She organizes her room neatly.
- Dogs dig holes in gardens.
- He coaches young athletes.
- They camp in the wilderness.
- We fish in the lake.
- She shops for groceries.
- Cars honk in busy traffic.
- He skates on frozen ponds.
- They picnic in the park.
- We cycle around the city.
- She jumps rope for fitness.
- Birds peck at seeds.
- He builds model airplanes.
- They sail on the ocean.
- We explore historic sites.
- She taps her feet rhythmically.
- Dogs fetch sticks eagerly.
- He gardens on weekends.
- They march in parades.
- We climb tall mountains.
- She decorates her home.
- Birds chirp at dawn.
- He invents useful gadgets.
- They stroll along the beach.
- We admire beautiful sunsets.
- She practices yoga daily.
- Dogs pant in hot weather.
- He sculpts clay figures.
- They row boats on lakes.
- We meditate for peace.
- She doodles in her notebook.
- Birds migrate in autumn.
- He designs web pages.
- They volunteer at shelters.
- We discover new things.
- She treats everyone kindly.
- Dogs sniff interesting scents.
- He lectures at universities.
- They harvest crops in fall.
- We appreciate fine art.
- She learns new languages.
- Birds forage for food.
- He trains for marathons.
- They sketch landscapes beautifully.
- We attend various events.
- She guides tourists expertly.
- Dogs protect their homes.
- He calculates complex equations.
- They compose lovely music.
- We debate important issues.
- She recycles diligently.
- Birds preen their feathers.
- He narrates interesting stories.
- They foster abandoned animals.
- We savor exquisite meals.
- She assembles model kits.
- Dogs obey training commands.
- He reviews books critically.
- They preserve historical artifacts.
- We cherish family moments.
- She sews beautiful dresses.
- Birds hover over flowers.
- He cooks gourmet dishes.
- They tutor students successfully.
- We contribute to charities.
- She arranges lovely bouquets.
- Dogs roll in the grass.
- He juggles multiple tasks.
- They restore old cars.
- We embrace new challenges.
- She solves puzzles quickly.
- Birds soar in the sky.
- He mentors young professionals.
- They inspect quality of products.
- We toast to good health.
Punish | Punished | Punished |
Approve | Approved | Approved |
Phone | Phoned | Phoned |
Gather | Gathered | Gathered |
Bake | Baked | Baked |
Adopt | Adopted | Adopted |
Control | Controlled | Controlled |
Interrupt | Interrupted | Interrupted |
Complain | Complained | Complained |
Question | Questioned | Questioned |
Hope | Hoped | Hoped |
Joke | Joked | Joked |
Add | Added | Added |
Type | Typed | Typed |
Open | Opened | Opened |
Start | Started | Started |
Push | Pushed | Pushed |
Offend | Offended | Offended |
Deliver | Delivered | Delivered |
Copy | Copied | Copied |
Lie | Lied | Lied |
Pull | Pulled | Puled |
Park | Parked | Parked |
Laugh | Laughed | Laughed |
Pray | Prayed | Prayed |
Kick | Kicked | Kicked |
Listen | Listened | Listened |
Announce | Announced | Announced |
Collect | Collected | Collected |
Love | Loved | Loved |
Enjoy | Enjoyed | Enjoyed |
Visit | Visited | Visited |
Establish | Established | Established |
Assist | Assisted | Assisted |
Cheat | Cheated | Cheated |
Clean | Cleaned | Cleaned |
Purchase | Purchased | Purchased |
Like | Liked | Liked |
Race | Raced | Raced |
Borrow | Borrowed | Borrowed |
Compare | Compared | Compared |
Study | Studied | Studied |
Murder | Murdered | Murdered |
Scold | Scolded | Scolded |
Appreciate | Appreciated | Appreciated |
Count | Counted | Counted |
Warn | Warned | Warned |
Marry | Married | Married |
Retire | Retired | Retired |
Need | Needed | Needed |
Attack | Attacked | Attacked |
Cycle | Cycled | Cycled |
Wait | Waited | Waited |
Agree | Agreed | Agreed |
Return | Returned | Returned |
Clap | Clapped | Clapped |
Select | Selected | Selected |
Move | Moved | Moved |
Greet | Greeted | Greeted |
Use | Used | Used |
Achieve | Achieved | Achieved |
Exercise | Exercised | Exercised |
Irritate | Irritated | Irritated |
Employ | Employed | Employed |
Argue | Argued | Argued |
Harass | Harassed | Harassed |
Want | Wanted | Wanted |
Explain | Explained | Explained |
Pick | Picked | Picked |
You can Download a List of irregular verbs in English pdf