100 English Irregular Verbs List | Free Flashcard Deck

Base, past and past participle — 100 verbs, tagged by pattern.

100 cardsLast updated 2026-08-15

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Learn 100 high-utility English irregular verbs through forms, meaning and context. Every card gives the base verb, past form, past participle, a natural original example for each form and a usage note where a variant or common contrast matters. The deck covers both American and British English: the more frequent shared form is shown first, regional alternatives are labelled, and rare forms are kept in notes rather than presented as the default. Import the complete deck free, then edit any example to match the English variety you use.

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Showing 100 representative cards from the full 100-card deck.

Front	Back
be	Meaning: to exist or have a state or identity. Past: was / were. Past participle: been. Past example: She was ready before the doors opened. Participle example: They have been careful with every measurement.
become	Meaning: to begin to be or develop into something. Past: became. Past participle: become. Past example: The sky became dark within minutes. Participle example: The neighbourhood has become much quieter.
begin	Meaning: to start. Past: began. Past participle: begun. Past example: The lecture began at nine. Participle example: The rainy season has begun early.
bite	Meaning: to cut or grip with the teeth. Past: bit. Past participle: bitten. Past example: The puppy bit the edge of my shoe. Participle example: Mosquitoes have bitten several hikers.
blow	Meaning: to move air or be moved by air. Past: blew. Past participle: blown. Past example: A cold wind blew across the lake. Participle example: The papers have blown off the desk.
break	Meaning: to separate into pieces or stop functioning. Past: broke. Past participle: broken. Past example: I broke the handle by accident. Participle example: The old pipe has broken again.
bring	Meaning: to carry or cause something to come with you. Past: brought. Past participle: brought. Past example: Mina brought enough food for everyone. Participle example: The new route has brought more visitors.
build	Meaning: to construct or develop something. Past: built. Past participle: built. Past example: They built the bridge in two years. Participle example: The team has built a reliable system.
burn	Meaning: to be on fire or damage something with heat. Past: burned (burnt). Past participle: burned (burnt). Past example: The candle burned for three hours. Participle example: The toast has burnt at the edges. Usage note: Both burned and burnt are standard; burnt is especially common in British English and as an adjective.
buy	Meaning: to obtain something by paying for it. Past: bought. Past participle: bought. Past example: I bought the tickets online. Participle example: We have bought everything on the list.
catch	Meaning: to capture, intercept or become affected by something. Past: caught. Past participle: caught. Past example: She caught the last train home. Participle example: The error has been caught before release.
choose	Meaning: to select from alternatives. Past: chose. Past participle: chosen. Past example: The panel chose the simpler design. Participle example: They have chosen a new chairperson.
come	Meaning: to move toward a place or arrive. Past: came. Past participle: come. Past example: Several neighbours came to help. Participle example: Spring has come earlier than usual.
cost	Meaning: to have a particular price or require a loss. Past: cost. Past participle: cost. Past example: The repair cost less than expected. Participle example: The delays have cost the company several clients.
cut	Meaning: to divide or reduce with a sharp tool or action. Past: cut. Past participle: cut. Past example: He cut the rope with a knife. Participle example: The budget has been cut by ten percent.
deal	Meaning: to distribute something or handle a situation. Past: dealt. Past participle: dealt. Past example: The dealer dealt five cards to each player. Participle example: We have dealt with the urgent requests.
dig	Meaning: to make a hole or uncover something by moving earth. Past: dug. Past participle: dug. Past example: The dog dug beneath the fence. Participle example: Archaeologists have dug at the site for months.
do	Meaning: to perform an action or task. Past: did. Past participle: done. Past example: She did the calculation twice. Participle example: I have done all the required reading.
draw	Meaning: to make a picture, pull something or attract attention. Past: drew. Past participle: drawn. Past example: The architect drew a quick plan. Participle example: The exhibition has drawn large crowds.
dream	Meaning: to experience images during sleep or imagine a hope. Past: dreamed (dreamt). Past participle: dreamed (dreamt). Past example: I dreamt about the old house. Participle example: She has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Usage note: Dreamed and dreamt are both standard; dreamt is more frequent in British English.
drink	Meaning: to take liquid into the mouth and swallow it. Past: drank. Past participle: drunk. Past example: He drank a glass of water. Participle example: They have drunk all the juice.
drive	Meaning: to operate a vehicle or force movement. Past: drove. Past participle: driven. Past example: Nora drove us to the station. Participle example: I have driven this route many times.
eat	Meaning: to consume food. Past: ate. Past participle: eaten. Past example: We ate outside after the meeting. Participle example: The children have eaten already.
fall	Meaning: to move downward unintentionally or decrease. Past: fell. Past participle: fallen. Past example: A branch fell during the storm. Participle example: Prices have fallen since January.
feed	Meaning: to give food to a person or animal. Past: fed. Past participle: fed. Past example: He fed the cat before leaving. Participle example: The volunteers have fed hundreds of families.
feel	Meaning: to experience an emotion or physical sensation. Past: felt. Past participle: felt. Past example: I felt better after resting. Participle example: She has felt uncertain about the plan.
fight	Meaning: to struggle against someone or something. Past: fought. Past participle: fought. Past example: The two sides fought for control of the port. Participle example: Doctors have fought the outbreak for weeks.
find	Meaning: to discover, locate or judge something. Past: found. Past participle: found. Past example: We found the missing key under the sofa. Participle example: Researchers have found a consistent pattern.
fly	Meaning: to move through the air or travel by aircraft. Past: flew. Past participle: flown. Past example: The geese flew south in October. Participle example: She has flown across the Atlantic twice.
forget	Meaning: to fail to remember. Past: forgot. Past participle: forgotten. Past example: I forgot his name for a moment. Participle example: They have forgotten the original reason for the rule.
forgive	Meaning: to stop blaming someone for a wrong. Past: forgave. Past participle: forgiven. Past example: She forgave me after I apologised. Participle example: He has forgiven the mistake but not forgotten it.
freeze	Meaning: to become solid from cold or stop moving. Past: froze. Past participle: frozen. Past example: The lake froze overnight. Participle example: Several pipes have frozen in the cold.
get	Meaning: to obtain, receive or become. Past: got. Past participle: gotten (US) / got (UK). Past example: I got your message this morning. Participle example: She has gotten much faster at typing. Usage note: Gotten is the usual American English participle for obtain or become; British English generally uses got.
give	Meaning: to transfer something to another person. Past: gave. Past participle: given. Past example: They gave us clear directions. Participle example: The grant has given the project more time.
go	Meaning: to move or travel away from a place. Past: went. Past participle: gone. Past example: We went home before midnight. Participle example: Maya has gone to the library. Usage note: Has gone means the person is still away; has been can mean the person visited and returned.
grow	Meaning: to increase in size or develop. Past: grew. Past participle: grown. Past example: The company grew rapidly last year. Participle example: The seedlings have grown several centimetres.
hang (suspend)	Meaning: to attach something so that it is supported from above. Past: hung. Past participle: hung. Past example: We hung the picture above the desk. Participle example: The coat has hung there all winter. Usage note: Use hanged, not hung, for the execution of a person by hanging.
have	Meaning: to possess, experience or be required to do something. Past: had. Past participle: had. Past example: I had enough time to finish. Participle example: They have had several useful discussions.
hear	Meaning: to perceive sound or receive information. Past: heard. Past participle: heard. Past example: We heard footsteps upstairs. Participle example: I have heard that explanation before.
hide	Meaning: to put or remain out of sight. Past: hid. Past participle: hidden. Past example: The child hid behind the curtain. Participle example: Someone has hidden the spare key.
hit	Meaning: to strike something with force. Past: hit. Past participle: hit. Past example: The ball hit the window. Participle example: The storm has hit coastal towns hardest.
hold	Meaning: to carry, contain or keep something in position. Past: held. Past participle: held. Past example: She held the door open for us. Participle example: The reservoir has held enough water so far.
hurt	Meaning: to cause pain or experience pain. Past: hurt. Past participle: hurt. Past example: I hurt my wrist while lifting the box. Participle example: The criticism has hurt team morale.
keep	Meaning: to retain, continue or store something. Past: kept. Past participle: kept. Past example: He kept a copy of every receipt. Participle example: We have kept the room available for you.
know	Meaning: to have information, understanding or familiarity. Past: knew. Past participle: known. Past example: I knew the answer immediately. Participle example: They have known each other since school.
lay (put down)	Meaning: to put something down in a flat position. Past: laid. Past participle: laid. Past example: She laid the map on the table. Participle example: The workers have laid new cables underground. Usage note: Lay takes an object. Do not confuse it with lie, meaning recline, whose past form is lay.
lead	Meaning: to guide, direct or be in front. Past: led. Past participle: led. Past example: Arun led the group through the forest. Participle example: She has led three international projects.
learn	Meaning: to gain knowledge or skill. Past: learned (learnt). Past participle: learned (learnt). Past example: We learnt the basic steps yesterday. Participle example: He has learned to read the data carefully. Usage note: Learned and learnt are both standard; learnt is especially common in British English.
leave	Meaning: to go away from or allow something to remain. Past: left. Past participle: left. Past example: The train left on time. Participle example: I have left the documents on your desk.
lend	Meaning: to give something temporarily. Past: lent. Past participle: lent. Past example: My neighbour lent me a ladder. Participle example: The bank has lent the business enough to expand.
let	Meaning: to allow or permit. Past: let. Past participle: let. Past example: They let us enter early. Participle example: The teacher has let the class choose a topic.
lie (recline)	Meaning: to rest in a horizontal position. Past: lay. Past participle: lain. Past example: He lay on the grass and watched the clouds. Participle example: The book has lain unopened for months. Usage note: Lie meaning recline is intransitive. Lie meaning tell an untruth is regular: lied, lied.
lose	Meaning: to misplace, fail to keep or be defeated. Past: lost. Past participle: lost. Past example: I lost my umbrella on the bus. Participle example: The team has lost only one match.
make	Meaning: to create, produce or cause. Past: made. Past participle: made. Past example: She made a detailed model. Participle example: The evidence has made the conclusion clearer.
mean	Meaning: to signify or intend. Past: meant. Past participle: meant. Past example: The symbol meant danger. Participle example: I have never meant to offend anyone.
meet	Meaning: to encounter or gather with someone. Past: met. Past participle: met. Past example: We met the new director yesterday. Participle example: The committee has met every deadline.
pay	Meaning: to give money owed or give attention. Past: paid. Past participle: paid. Past example: He paid the bill before leaving. Participle example: The company has paid all its suppliers.
put	Meaning: to place something in a position. Past: put. Past participle: put. Past example: I put the keys beside the lamp. Participle example: They have put the decision in writing.
quit	Meaning: to stop an activity, job or habit. Past: quit. Past participle: quit. Past example: She quit her job to study full time. Participle example: He has quit smoking. Usage note: Quit is the standard past and participle in current English; quitted is rare outside specialised uses.
read	Meaning: to understand written words. Past: read (/red/). Past participle: read (/red/). Past example: I read the report last night. Participle example: She has read every article in the series. Usage note: The spelling stays read, but the past and participle are pronounced /red/.
ride	Meaning: to travel on or control a bicycle, horse or vehicle. Past: rode. Past participle: ridden. Past example: We rode our bikes along the river. Participle example: He has ridden that horse before.
ring	Meaning: to make a bell sound or call by telephone. Past: rang. Past participle: rung. Past example: The phone rang during dinner. Participle example: The bell has rung three times.
rise	Meaning: to move upward or increase without a direct object. Past: rose. Past participle: risen. Past example: The river rose after the storm. Participle example: Average temperatures have risen steadily. Usage note: Rise is intransitive; raise is the transitive verb: raise, raised, raised.
run	Meaning: to move quickly on foot or operate. Past: ran. Past participle: run. Past example: She ran five kilometres before breakfast. Participle example: The engine has run smoothly all day.
say	Meaning: to speak or express something in words. Past: said. Past participle: said. Past example: He said that the office was closed. Participle example: They have said very little about the delay.
see	Meaning: to perceive with the eyes or understand. Past: saw. Past participle: seen. Past example: I saw a fox near the path. Participle example: We have seen the same pattern in other cities.
sell	Meaning: to exchange something for money. Past: sold. Past participle: sold. Past example: The shop sold every ticket. Participle example: They have sold their old apartment.
send	Meaning: to cause something to go or be delivered. Past: sent. Past participle: sent. Past example: I sent the file this morning. Participle example: The school has sent parents an update.
set	Meaning: to put in a position, establish or adjust. Past: set. Past participle: set. Past example: She set the alarm for six. Participle example: The committee has set a clear deadline.
shake	Meaning: to move quickly back and forth. Past: shook. Past participle: shaken. Past example: The explosion shook the windows. Participle example: The news has shaken public confidence.
shine	Meaning: to give light. Past: shone. Past participle: shone. Past example: The moon shone through the clouds. Participle example: The sun has shone all morning. Usage note: Shone is usual for giving light; shined is common when someone polishes an object or directs a light.
shoot	Meaning: to fire a weapon, take a photograph or move quickly. Past: shot. Past participle: shot. Past example: The photographer shot the scene at dawn. Participle example: The film has been shot in three countries.
show	Meaning: to display, demonstrate or make visible. Past: showed. Past participle: shown. Past example: The graph showed a sharp decline. Participle example: Several studies have shown the same effect. Usage note: Shown is the usual participle; showed also occurs as a participle but is less common.
shut	Meaning: to close something. Past: shut. Past participle: shut. Past example: He shut the window before the rain started. Participle example: The factory has shut for repairs.
sing	Meaning: to produce musical sounds with the voice. Past: sang. Past participle: sung. Past example: The choir sang without accompaniment. Participle example: She has sung this role many times.
sink	Meaning: to move downward below a surface. Past: sank. Past participle: sunk. Past example: The damaged boat sank quickly. Participle example: Several posts have sunk into the wet ground.
sit	Meaning: to rest with the body supported on the lower part. Past: sat. Past participle: sat. Past example: We sat near the back of the hall. Participle example: He has sat in the same seat for years.
sleep	Meaning: to rest in a state of reduced consciousness. Past: slept. Past participle: slept. Past example: The baby slept for six hours. Participle example: I have slept badly this week.
speak	Meaning: to talk or use a language. Past: spoke. Past participle: spoken. Past example: She spoke calmly to the group. Participle example: We have spoken about this issue before.
spend	Meaning: to use time or money. Past: spent. Past participle: spent. Past example: They spent the afternoon at the museum. Participle example: The council has spent less than expected.
spread	Meaning: to extend, distribute or become widely known. Past: spread. Past participle: spread. Past example: The fire spread across the dry field. Participle example: The rumour has spread throughout the school.
stand	Meaning: to be upright or tolerate something. Past: stood. Past participle: stood. Past example: We stood outside in the rain. Participle example: The old tower has stood for centuries.
steal	Meaning: to take something without permission. Past: stole. Past participle: stolen. Past example: Someone stole my bicycle. Participle example: The painting has been stolen twice.
stick	Meaning: to attach, become fixed or push something pointed. Past: stuck. Past participle: stuck. Past example: The label stuck to the glass. Participle example: The tape has stuck firmly to the box.
strike	Meaning: to hit, affect suddenly or stop work in protest. Past: struck. Past participle: struck. Past example: Lightning struck the tree. Participle example: A severe drought has struck the region. Usage note: Struck is the usual participle; stricken survives mainly in set uses such as grief-stricken or disease-stricken.
swear	Meaning: to make a solemn promise or use offensive language. Past: swore. Past participle: sworn. Past example: She swore that her statement was true. Participle example: The witness has sworn to tell the truth.
sweep	Meaning: to clean with a brush or move rapidly across. Past: swept. Past participle: swept. Past example: He swept the floor after dinner. Participle example: A cold front has swept across the country.
swim	Meaning: to move through water. Past: swam. Past participle: swum. Past example: They swam across the narrow channel. Participle example: I have never swum in the ocean.
swing	Meaning: to move back and forth around a fixed point. Past: swung. Past participle: swung. Past example: The door swung open in the wind. Participle example: Public opinion has swung toward reform.
take	Meaning: to carry, accept or perform an action. Past: took. Past participle: taken. Past example: She took the early train. Participle example: We have taken every reasonable precaution.
teach	Meaning: to help someone learn. Past: taught. Past participle: taught. Past example: Mr Lee taught us mathematics. Participle example: The course has taught me to question assumptions.
tear	Meaning: to pull apart or damage by ripping. Past: tore. Past participle: torn. Past example: I tore the envelope by mistake. Participle example: The fabric has torn along the seam.
tell	Meaning: to communicate information or instruct someone. Past: told. Past participle: told. Past example: She told us the full story. Participle example: I have told him to arrive early.
think	Meaning: to use the mind, believe or consider. Past: thought. Past participle: thought. Past example: We thought the route was shorter. Participle example: I have thought carefully about your proposal.
throw	Meaning: to send something through the air. Past: threw. Past participle: thrown. Past example: He threw the ball over the wall. Participle example: Someone has thrown away the receipt.
understand	Meaning: to know the meaning or significance of something. Past: understood. Past participle: understood. Past example: I understood the main argument. Participle example: They have understood the risks from the beginning.
wake	Meaning: to stop sleeping or cause someone to stop sleeping. Past: woke. Past participle: woken. Past example: I woke before the alarm. Participle example: She has woken several times tonight. Usage note: Woke and woken are most common; waked and waked also occur, especially in some fixed or transitive uses.
wear	Meaning: to have clothing on or become damaged through use. Past: wore. Past participle: worn. Past example: He wore a dark blue suit. Participle example: The steps have worn smooth over time.
win	Meaning: to be successful in a contest or gain something through effort. Past: won. Past participle: won. Past example: Our team won the final match. Participle example: She has won several research awards.
write	Meaning: to produce words or symbols. Past: wrote. Past participle: written. Past example: I wrote the address on the envelope. Participle example: They have written a detailed response.

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Yes. The shared or more frequent form is presented first. Common regional alternatives such as burned/burnt, learned/learnt and gotten/got are labelled on the relevant card, while rare variants are kept in usage notes.

Editorial method and sources

Memly's editors use the primary sources below to check scope and terminology, then independently write and review the cards.

U.S. Department of State: common irregular verbs