Strong verbs and Weak verbs are important in English grammar. Strong verbs are also known as Irregular verbs. Weak verbs are also known as Regular verbs.
Strong verbs : Definition, Examples
Verbs that form their past form or past participle form by changing the vowel in their present form, are called Strong verbs.
Strong verbs are also known as Irregular Verbs.
For example,
| Present | Past | Past participle |
| Sing | Sang | Sung |
| Draw | Drew | Drawn |
| Give | Gave | Given |
| Break | Broke | Broken |
| Know | Knew | Known |
| Eat | Ate | Eaten |
| Dig | Dug | Dug |
| Fall | Fell | Fallen |
| Forgive | Forgave | Forgiven |
| Forget | Forgot | Forgotten |
| Speak | Spoke | Spoken |
| Drink | Drank | Drunk |
| Drive | Drove | Driven |
| Grow | Grew | Grown |
Weak verbs: Definition, Examples
Verbs that form their past form or past participle form by adding ed, d, t to the present form, are called Weak verbs.
Weak verbs are also known as Regular Verbs.
For example,
| Present | Past | Past participle |
| Allow | Allowed | Allowed |
| Add | Added | Added |
| Clean | Cleaned | Cleaned |
| Enjoy | Enjoyed | Enjoyed |
| Help | Helped | Helped |
| Laugh | Laughed | Laughed |
| Play | Played | Played |
| Work | Worked | Worked |
| Walk | Walked | Walked |
| Arrive | Arrived | Arrived |
| Arrange | Arranged | Arranged |
| Change | Changed | Changed |
| Complete | Completed | Completed |
| Divide | Divided | Divided |
| Live | Lived | Lived |
| Carry | Carried | Carried |
| Cry | Cried | Cried |
| Try | Tried | Tried |
| Say | Said | Said |
| Buy | Bought | Bought |
| Catch | Caught | Caught |
| Keep | Kept | Kept |
| Send | Sent | Sent |
| Sleep | Slept | Slept |
| Think | Thought | Thought |
FAQs
What type of verb is “sleep”?
“Sleep” is a weak verb or regular verb.
Sleep (Present) – Slept (Past) – Slept (Past participle)
Is “eat” a regular verb?
No. “Eat” is an irregular verb.
Eat (Present) – Ate (Past) – Eaten (Past participle)
Is “work” a regular verb ?
Yes. “Work” is a regular verb.
Work (Present) – Worked (Past) – Worked (Past participle)
Is “drink” a regular verb?
No. “Drink” is an irregular verb.
Drink (Present) – Drank (Past) – Drunk (Past participle)
Is “fell” a weak verb?
The past form of “Fall” is “Fell”. “Fall” is a strong verb.
Fall (Present) – Fell (Past) – Fallen (Past participle)
Is “Swim” an irregular verb?
Yes. “Swim” is an irregular verb.
Swim (Present) – Swam (Past) – Swum (Past participle)
Is “died” a regular verb?
The past form and past participle form of “Die” is “Died”. “Die” is a regular verb.
Die (Present) – Died (Past) – Died (Past participle)
Is “cried” an irregular verb?
The past form and past participle form of “Cry” is “Cried”. “Cry” is a regular verb.
Cry (Present) – Cried (Past) – Cried (Past participle)
Is “walk” a regular verb?
Yes. “Walk” is a regular verb.
Walk (Present) – Walked (Past) – Walked (Past participle)
Is “jump” a regular verb?
Yes. “Jump” is a regular verb.
Jump (Present) – Jumped (Past) – Jumped (Past participle)
Is “liked” an irregular verb?
The past form and past participle form of “Like” is “Liked”. “Like” is a regular verb.
Like (Present) – Liked (Past) – Liked (Past participle)
Is “study” an irregular verb?
No. “Study” is a regular verb.
Study (Present) – Studied (Past) – Studied (Past participle)
Is “sing” a regular verb?
No. “Sing” is an irregular verb.
Sing (Present) – Sang (Past) – Sung (Past participle)
Is “dance” a regular verb?
Yes. “Dance” is a regular verb.
Dance (Present) – Danced (Past) – Danced (Past participle)
Is “try” a regular verb?
Yes. “Try” is a regular verb.
Try (Present) – Tried (Past) – Tried (Past participle)
What type of verb is “get”?
“Get” is a strong verb.
Get (Present) – Got (Past) – Got / Gotten (Past participle)
Is “wash” a regular verb?
Yes. “Wash” is a regular verb.
Wash (Present) – Washed (Past) – Washed (Past participle)
Is “clean” a regular verb?
Yes. “Clean” is a regular verb.
Clean (Present) – Cleaned (Past) – Cleaned (Past participle)