Which is the most irregular verb?

[AELC]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Forms of "can": can, could
Forms of "do": do, did, does
Forms of "be": be, is, are, am, was, were (check) :D

Don't forget "been."

[hector51]

hey,I think English is such a strange language...for example,we have the verb "wait" ,why do we need the verb "await",but it's really interesting to remember all synonym words.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by yulia

Could you, pls, explain me one thing. In the list of irregular verbs, there are two forms for Past Simple & Partciple 1 for some of the verbs. What for these two forms are given & how to know which one to use? Because sometimes these two forms are absolutely differrent. :wink:

Hi Yulia


If both forms are accepted by English dictionaries and grammar ,then you can choose either of them. Sometimes one of the forms is more preferred by British English or American English . English dictionaries usually tell you which form is accepted by BrE and which one is AE.

For instance, the verb "learn" has two forms in the past and participle:

1. learn -learned - learned

2. learn - learnt - learnt

I was taught to use "learnt", but some time ago [in a message posted on this forum], I was told that "learned" is preferred by both BrE and AmE while "learnt" has became obsolete.

Romanian teachers prefer the second form [learnt]. They want to check if students are aware of the existence of this form, as well.

Regards,

[florr0]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Forms of "can": can, could
Forms of "do": do, did, does
Forms of "be": be, is, are, am, was, were (check) :D

You could say that de Past Participle of "can" is been able to

[IZZUL]

where can i get all of the irregular verb

[philadelphia]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Forms of "be": be, been, is, are, am, was, were (check) :D

You got to be right.

[MagickallWrdSmth]

The most difficult, most irregular verb is to lay because the simple present tense of the infinitive to lay is the same as the simple past tense of to lie AND it is difficult in many situations to decide which to use: e.g. Daniel likes to lay on the floor OR Daniel likes to lie on the floor. If the inflection spoken suggests consistent action happening in the past (and now) then use lay, but if it is happening right now use lie - In fact either is probably okay for meaning in this case so there's the rub.

[gabber]

I suppose it's "be," with its eight forms: be,being, been am, is are was, were.