Regular Verbs:
* Follow predictable patterns for their past tense and past participle forms.
* They typically add "-ed" to the base form to create the past tense and past participle.
* Examples:
* walk - walked - walked
* play - played - played
* jump - jumped - jumped
Irregular Verbs:
* Don't follow the standard "-ed" rule for past tense and past participle forms.
* They have unique, often unpredictable, forms that must be memorized.
* Examples:
* go - went - gone
* see - saw - seen
* eat - ate - eaten
How to Tell:
1. Consider the verb's base form. If it ends in "-y" preceded by a consonant, the "-y" changes to "-i" before adding "-ed" (e.g., try - tried, cry - cried).
2. Check for common irregular verbs. There are lists of common irregular verbs available online and in textbooks. You can also use a dictionary to look up the past tense and past participle forms of a verb.
3. Try adding "-ed" to the base form. If the resulting form sounds correct, the verb is likely regular. If not, it might be irregular.
4. Consult a grammar resource. If you're unsure, always refer to a reliable grammar resource like a dictionary, grammar textbook, or online grammar website.
Key Point: While there are general rules, there are always exceptions. Some verbs might appear regular but have irregular forms. For instance, "prove" is a regular verb, but its past tense and past participle are "proved" and "proven."
Practice is essential! The more you read and write in English, the more familiar you'll become with regular and irregular verb forms.