How to Learn Irregular Verbs Faster (Proven Methods)

Irregular verbs are one of the most difficult parts of English grammar. Because they don’t follow a clear rule, many learners try to memorize long lists and quickly forget them.

The good news?
👉 There are proven methods to learn irregular verbs faster and remember them long-term.

Why Irregular Verbs Are Hard to Learn

• No fixed rule for past forms

• Many similar forms cause confusion (come–came–come, run–ran–run)

• Learners memorize lists without context

• Little real-life usage practice

The solution is smart learning, not more memorization.

Proven Methods to Learn Irregular Verbs Faster

1. Learn Irregular Verbs by Frequency (Not Alphabet)

Start with the most common verbs, not the full list.

Examples:

• be – was/were – been

• have – had – had

• go – went – gone

• do – did – done

👉 These verbs appear in almost every conversation.

✔ Focus first on the top 50–100 irregular verbs.

2. Group Verbs With Similar Patterns

Many irregular verbs follow similar sound or spelling patterns.

Examples:

• -ought:

  • bring – brought – brought

  • buy – bought – bought

• -ang / -ung:

  • sing – sang – sung

  • ring – rang – rung

Learning by patterns reduces memory load.

3. Learn Irregular Verbs in Sentences

Never learn verbs alone. Learn them inside real sentences.

❌ Wrong:

• go – went – gone

✅ Better:

• I went to school yesterday.

• I have gone home already.

Context helps your brain remember meaning + form.

4. Use the Past Simple and Present Perfect Together

Most irregular verbs are used in:

• Past simple

• Present perfect

Practice both forms together:

• I saw him yesterday.

• I have seen him before.

This method reinforces correct usage.

5. Speak Them Out Loud (Very Important)

Speaking activates memory more than silent study.

✔ Read verbs aloud
✔ Say example sentences
✔ Record your voice

Example:

“I wrote an email. I have written many emails.”

This improves:

• Memory

• Pronunciation

• Fluency

6. Use Spaced Repetition

Review verbs:

• Day 1

• Day 3

• Day 7

• Day 14

Short, frequent reviews are much more effective than long study sessions.

Use:

• Flashcards

• Notes

• Apps

• Personal verb lists

7. Write Short Stories Using Irregular Verbs

Writing forces your brain to actively choose the correct form.

Example:

Yesterday I woke up early, ate breakfast, and went to work. I have done this routine many times.

This method improves:

• Grammar

• Writing

• Verb accuracy

8. Avoid Learning All Verbs at Once

❌ Don’t try to memorize 200 verbs in one week
✔ Learn 5–10 verbs per day
✔ Use them repeatedly

Slow and consistent learning beats fast memorization.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Memorizing without examples
❌ Ignoring pronunciation
❌ Learning rare verbs too early
❌ Not reviewing regularly

Featured Snippet Answer

To learn irregular verbs faster, focus on the most common verbs first, group them by patterns, learn them in sentences, practice past simple and present perfect together, speak them out loud, review using spaced repetition, and use them in short stories. Consistent practice is more effective than memorizing long lists.

Best Resource to Combine With These Methods

📘 English Grammar & Irregular Verbs Resources on TutorSpeak
👉 https://tutorspeak.com/english-grammar-books

These methods work even better when combined with:

• Grammar explanations

• Speaking practice

• Writing correction

Final Advice

You don’t need to memorize every irregular verb.
Master the most common ones, use them daily, and your accuracy will improve naturally.