50 Advanced Irregular Verbs – Table

50 advanced irregular verbs in English

These verbs are considered C1-C2 vocabulary.

Table of irregular verbs with their base form, past simple form and past participle:


Base FormPast SimplePast ParticipleNotes
1arisearosearisen
2bearboreborne
3bidbid/badebid/biddenWhen the meaning is “offer a price”, the past forms are both “bid”. When the meaning is “command, invite or greet”, the past simple forms are “bid” and “bade”, and the past participles are “bid” and “bidden” (although “bidden” is quite old-fashioned).
4bindboundbound
5breedbredbred
6burstburstburst
7castcastcast
8clingclungclung
9creepcreptcrept
10divedived/dovedivedIn American English, “dove” (/doʊv) is also a past simple form of “dive”.
11dwelldwelt/dwelleddwelt/dwelled“Dwelt” is mainly used in British English and “dwelled” is mainly used in American English.
12fleefledfled
13flingflungflung
14forbidforbadeforbidden
15forsakeforsookforsaken
16grindgroundground
17kneelkneltknelt
18knitknitted/knitknitted/knit“Knitted” is more common in modern English, but “knit” is also used.
19leanleant/leanedleant/leaned“Leant” (/lent/) is mainly used in British English and “leaned” is mainly used in American English.
20leapleapt/leapedleapt/leaped“Leapt” (/lept/) is mainly used in British English and “leaped” is mainly used in American English.
21lightlit/lightedlit/lighted “Lit” is more common in modern English. “Lighted” is often used in formal or literary contexts.
22mowmowedmowed/mownBoth “mowed” and “mown” are accepted past participles.
23pleadpleaded/pledpleaded/pled“Pleaded” is the most common form for both past forms, but “pled” is also used in American English.
24proveprovedproved/proven“Proved” is the main past participle, but “proven” is also common, especially in American English.
25seeksoughtsought
26sewsewedsewed/sewnBoth “sewed” and “sewn” are accepted past participles.
27shrinkshrank/shrunkshrunk“Shrunk” is also used as a past simple form in American English.
28sinksanksunk
29slayslew/slayedslain/slayedWhen the meaning is “kill”, the past forms are “slew” and “slain”. When the meaning is “perform well”, the past forms are both “slayed”.
30slinkslunkslunk
31slideslidslid
32sowsowedsown/sowed“Sown” is the more common past participle, but “sowed” is also used.
33splitsplitsplit
34spreadspreadspread
35spinspunspun
36springsprang/sprungsprung“Sprung” is also used as a past simple form in American English.
37stavestaved/stovestaved/stove“Stove” is used in literary contexts.
38stingstungstung
39stinkstankstunk
40strikestruckstruck/stricken“Struck” is the more common past participle in modern English. “Stricken” is often used in formal or literary contexts.
41stridestrodestridden
42swearsworesworn
43sweepsweptswept
44swellswelledswollen/swelled“Swollen” is the more common past participle, but “swelled” is also used informally.
45swingswungswung
46treadtrodtrodden/trod“Trodden” is the more common past participle, but “trod” is also used in modern English.
47weavewove/weavedwoven/weaved“Wove” and “woven” are used for fabric and “weaved” is used for the movement.
48weepweptwept
49windwound/windedwound/windedWhen the meaning is “twist or turn”, the past forms are both “wound”. When the meaning is “make someone have difficulty breathing”, the past forms are both “winded”.
50wringwrungwrung

50 Irregular Verbs →

100 Irregular Verbs →

Past Simple – Use →

Past Simple – Structure →

Present Perfect – Use →

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Kahoot Quiz – Past Simple – Irregular Verbs (1)

Kahoot Quiz – Past Simple – Irregular Verbs (2)

Kahoot Quiz – Present Perfect

Kahoot Quiz – Present Perfect or Past Simple


Past Simple Exercises