If you’re learning English, understanding the three forms of verb is one of the most important steps. Verbs are action words — they tell us what someone is doing or what is happening. For example: run, eat, go, write, and talk — all these are verbs.
But here’s the thing: verbs change depending on the time of the action. That’s why learning the three forms of verb (base form, past form, and past participle) is so helpful. It makes sentence-making easier and helps you speak and write correctly in different tenses.
Whether you’re writing a story, having a conversation, or practicing grammar, knowing these forms will give you more confidence in English. In this post, we’ll explain everything in a simple way with examples, so you can start using the right verb forms in your daily English speaking.
What are Verbs?
Verbs are words that show action or a state of being. In simple words, they tell us what someone is doing or how something is. For example:
👉 go, eat, write, run, be, have — these are all verbs.
Without verbs, you can’t make a proper sentence in English. That’s why verbs are called the heart of every sentence. Just like your heart keeps you alive, verbs keep your sentences active and meaningful.
Let’s look at some examples:
- ✅ She writes every day.
- ✅ He ran fast to catch the bus.
In both sentences, the verb shows the action. Without it, the sentence wouldn’t make sense.
But verbs don’t stay the same all the time. They change form based on the tense — whether something happened in the past, is happening now, or will happen later. That’s where the three forms of verb become important. You’ll soon see how learning them can improve your speaking, writing, and grammar.
👉 If you’re just starting out and want to practice more with verbs and real-life conversations, check out these beginner-friendly books:
📘 Spoken English Books for Beginners
📗 English Conversation Practice Books
These can help you learn common verb usage and sentence patterns in a fun, easy way.
🔗 Explore More English Grammar Topics:
What Are the Three Forms of Verb?
To use verbs correctly in English, it’s important to know that most verbs change form depending on when the action happens. These are called the three forms of verb, and they are:
✅ 1. Base Form (V1)
This is the original or root form of the verb.
👉 Example: go, eat, write
✅ 2. Past Simple (V2)
This form shows that the action already happened in the past.
👉 Example: went, ate, wrote
✅ 3. Past Participle (V3)
This form is mostly used in perfect tenses or passive voice.
👉 Example: gone, eaten, written
Here’s a quick table with some common verbs to help you understand better:
Verb | V1 (Base) | V2 (Past) | V3 (Past Participle) |
Go | go | went | gone |
Eat | eat | ate | eaten |
Write | write | wrote | written |
Take | take | took | taken |
See | see | saw | seen |
Learning these verb forms is key to forming correct sentences in different tenses like:
- I go to school every day. (V1 – Present)
- I went to school yesterday. (V2 – Past)
- I have gone to school already. (V3 – Present Perfect)
👉 Tip: Keep a small notebook or use a Book Holder to display a verb chart on your study table. It makes daily practice easier and keeps the forms in front of your eyes all the time!
You can also use a Study Lamp for focused learning in the evenings or when you’re reviewing your grammar books.
Regular vs Irregular Verbs
When learning the three forms of verb, you’ll notice that not all verbs follow the same pattern. In fact, verbs are divided into two main types:
✅ Regular Verbs
Regular verbs are easy to remember because they follow a simple rule.
You just add “-ed” to the base form to make both the past form and past participle.
👉 Examples:
- Work → worked – worked
- Talk → talked – talked
- Clean → cleaned – cleaned
These verbs are great for beginners because the pattern stays the same!
❗ Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are different — they don’t follow any fixed rule. The past and past participle forms change in different ways, and sometimes they don’t look like the base form at all.
👉 Examples:
- Take → took – taken
- Go → went – gone
- Write → wrote – written
Unfortunately, the only way to learn irregular verbs is by memorizing them. But don’t worry — with regular practice, it becomes easier.
You can make your study time more comfortable and effective by using tools like:
- 🪑 Comfortable Study Chairs – for longer learning sessions
- 🗂️ Desk Organizers – to keep your verb lists, notebooks, and flashcards tidy
Keeping your study space neat can help reduce distractions and keep you focused while learning new verb forms.
50 Common Verbs in All Three Forms
To speak and write correctly in English, you need to remember how verbs change. That’s why having a verb forms list is super helpful — especially when you’re learning common irregular verbs.
Here are 50 important verbs, grouped in sets of 10, to help you learn step by step.
Group 1: Daily Action Verbs
Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
go | went | gone |
eat | ate | eaten |
drink | drank | drunk |
do | did | done |
get | got | gotten |
come | came | come |
make | made | made |
take | took | taken |
give | gave | given |
see | saw | seen |
Group 2: Common Speaking Verbs
Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
say | said | said |
tell | told | told |
ask | asked | asked |
answer | answered | answered |
speak | spoke | spoken |
talk | talked | talked |
call | called | called |
reply | replied | replied |
shout | shouted | shouted |
whisper | whispered | whispered |
👉 Tip: Print this verb forms list and keep it near your study desk. Or better yet, use a Reading Stand to hold your notes or books while you practice speaking the verbs aloud.
Group 3: Learning & Work Verbs
Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
read | read | read |
write | wrote | written |
learn | learned | learned |
teach | taught | taught |
study | studied | studied |
think | thought | thought |
know | knew | known |
understand | understood | understood |
work | worked | worked |
plan | planned | planned |
👉 Want to listen and repeat while studying verb forms? Try using Bluetooth Speakers or Noise-Cancelling Headphones to block distractions and focus better during your learning time.
Group 4: Movement Verbs
Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
run | ran | run |
walk | walked | walked |
sit | sat | sat |
stand | stood | stood |
drive | drove | driven |
ride | rode | ridden |
fly | flew | flown |
climb | climbed | climbed |
jump | jumped | jumped |
swim | swam | swum |
Group 5: Home & Life Verbs
Base (V1) | Past (V2) | Past Participle (V3) |
live | lived | lived |
wash | washed | washed |
clean | cleaned | cleaned |
cook | cooked | cooked |
sleep | slept | slept |
buy | bought | bought |
sell | sold | sold |
bring | brought | brought |
open | opened | opened |
close | closed | closed |
✅ Now that you’ve seen this complete verb forms list, try practicing 5 new verbs every day. Saying them aloud will help your memory and pronunciation.
How to Memorize Verb Forms Easily
Learning the three forms of verb may feel challenging at first, especially with irregular verbs. But with a few smart tricks and regular practice, you can remember them easily — and even have fun while doing it!
Here are some simple and proven ways to master verb forms:
✅ 1. Practice Every Day (Just 10 Minutes!)
Set aside just 10–15 minutes daily to review a few verbs. Say them aloud, write them down, and try using them in simple sentences.
👉 Example:
- Go – went – gone → I have gone to school.
- Eat – ate – eaten → She has eaten breakfast.
Create a small routine — maybe right before bed or after your morning tea. A dedicated space with a Laptop Table or a Study Lamp can make your practice feel more focused and comfortable.
✅ 2. Use Flashcards or Apps
Flashcards are an old but powerful trick! You can make your own cards or use free apps that show you the base, past, and past participle forms with a quick swipe.
Pro tip: Keep your flashcards in a Desk Organizer so they’re always nearby when you sit down to study.
✅ 3. Group Similar Verbs
Some verbs follow a pattern. When you group them together, they’re easier to remember.
🔸 drink – drank – drunk
🔸 sing – sang – sung
🔸 ring – rang – rung
You’ll start to notice these sound patterns, and that helps with faster recall.
✅ 4. Read and Listen to Real English
Reading English stories, listening to English podcasts, or watching shows with subtitles helps you see verbs in real use.
While reading a page or watching a video, pause and try to spot the verb forms. For example, in the sentence, “He has written a letter,” notice the verb written is the V3 form of write.
👉 Use a Smart Speaker like Alexa to practice speaking or quiz yourself on verb forms! Just say, “Alexa, give me a verb quiz,” and enjoy interactive learning.
💡 Quick Tip: Keep a “verb diary” where you write down 3 new verbs each day with their forms and your own sentence examples. Over time, your verb bank will grow, and so will your confidence!
Verb Forms Used in Tenses (Quick Guide)
Once you learn the three forms of verb, the next step is to use them correctly in different tenses. Don’t worry — it’s easier than it sounds! Here’s a quick guide to help you understand how verb forms are used in real English sentences.
✅ Simple Past → Use V2
This form is used to talk about actions that happened in the past.
👉 Example:
I ate rice. (V2 – Past Simple of “eat”)
Other examples:
- She went to school yesterday.
- He wrote a letter last night.
✅ Present Perfect → Use V3
This form is used when an action has already happened, but we don’t say exactly when.
👉 Example:
I have eaten rice. (V3 – Past Participle of “eat”)
Other examples:
- She has gone to the market.
- We have seen that movie.
✅ Passive Voice → Use V3
In passive sentences, we use the V3 form of the verb with “is/was/have been,” etc.
👉 Example:
The letter was written by him. (V3 – written)
Other examples:
- The food is cooked by Mom.
- The door was opened by John.
Learning to recognize where to use V2 and V3 is a big step in improving your English grammar and speaking skills. To make things easier, try using a Microphone to record yourself practicing sentences. It’s a great way to listen to your own progress and correct mistakes.
You can also organize your verb notes and tenses examples in one place using a Book Holder — a simple tool that keeps your study space neat and accessible while reading or reviewing.
Common Mistakes with Verb Forms
Even advanced learners make mistakes with verb forms sometimes — and that’s okay! What matters is that you notice the mistake, understand why it happens, and correct it. Below are some of the most common errors beginners make when using the three forms of verb, with clear examples to help you avoid them.
❌ Mistake 1: Using V1 Instead of V2
Many beginners forget to change the verb for past tense and use the base form (V1) instead.
Wrong: I go to school yesterday.
Right: I went to school yesterday.
Why? Because the action happened yesterday (in the past), so you need the past form (V2) — went, not go.
❌ Mistake 2: Confusing V2 and V3
Some learners mix up the past form and the past participle, especially when using perfect tenses.
Wrong: I have went to the market.
Right: I have gone to the market.
Why? After “have/has/had,” you must always use the V3 form — so it’s gone, not went.
❌ Mistake 3: Overusing “-ed” for Irregular Verbs
It’s tempting to add “-ed” to every verb, but irregular verbs don’t follow this rule!
Wrong: She eated dinner.
Right: She ate dinner.
Wrong: He runned fast.
Right: He ran fast.
Why? These are irregular verbs. Their past forms need to be memorized, not guessed.
💡 Quick Tip: Record your own voice using a Headphone with Mic or even a Smart Speaker like Alexa and say 5 sentences daily. Then play them back and check for mistakes in verb forms. This habit helps you hear your own errors and improve faster!
You can also use a Comfortable Study Chair to create a learning spot where you can practice without distractions or discomfort.
Practice Section – Fill in the Blanks
Now it’s time to practice using verb forms! Below are 10 simple sentences. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb (V1, V2, or V3) based on the sentence.
Try to do it yourself before checking the answers. ✅
📝 Exercise:
- She ___ (go) to school yesterday.
- They have ___ (eat) dinner.
- I ___ (write) a letter last night.
- We ___ (see) that movie already.
- He ___ (run) very fast in the race.
- The book was ___ (give) to me.
- I ___ (take) a break this morning.
- The students have ___ (finish) their homework.
- He ___ (buy) a new phone last week.
- They ___ (come) to the party early.
💡 Quick Tip for Practice:
Keep a verb notebook nearby using a simple Desk Organizer to store your daily writing exercises. You can even speak your answers aloud using a Microphone to improve your pronunciation and speaking fluency.
✅ Answer Key:
- went
- eaten
- wrote
- seen
- ran
- given
- took
- finished
- bought
- came
Practicing like this every day will help you get comfortable with the three forms of verb and build your English confidence.
FAQs: Three Forms of Verb
If you’re still a little confused about verb forms, don’t worry! These quick answers will help clear things up:
Q1. What are the 3 forms of verb?
A:
The three forms of verb are:
- Base form (V1) – the original form (e.g., go)
- Past simple (V2) – the past form (e.g., went)
- Past participle (V3) – used with perfect tenses (e.g., gone)
These are important to speak and write correctly in English.
Q2. How can I learn verb forms fast?
A:
Practice daily — even just 10 minutes a day helps a lot. You can:
- Make flashcards for each verb
- Watch English videos with subtitles
- Speak out loud using new verbs
- Write short sentences using V1, V2, and V3
👉 Pro tip: Use a Reading Stand to hold your verb chart or grammar book while you study hands-free. It makes it easier to stay consistent.
Q3. Are all verbs regular?A:
No. Not all verbs are regular. In fact, many common English verbs are irregular — they don’t follow the usual “-ed” rule.
Examples:
- go – went – gone
- eat – ate – eaten
These must be memorized and practiced often. You’ll learn them over time with consistent effort.
Q4. Why are verb forms important in English?
A:
Because verb forms help us talk about time — past, present, and future. Without using the correct form, your sentence may sound wrong or confusing.
✅ Example:
- Correct: I have eaten.
- Incorrect: I have ate.
Learning the three forms of verb helps you speak and write accurately.
Q5. Do all tenses use the same verb form?
A:
No. Different tenses use different verb forms.
- Present tense uses the base form (V1): I go
- Past tense uses V2: I went
- Perfect tenses use V3: I have gone
Understanding which form to use is the key to mastering tenses.
Q6. What’s the difference between V2 and V3?
A:
Both V2 and V3 are past-related, but they are used differently.
- V2 is used in simple past tense: He wrote a book.
- V3 is used in perfect tenses and passive voice: He has written a book.
Q7. Can I learn verb forms without memorizing?
A:
You can learn many patterns through usage, but for irregular verbs, you’ll need to memorize them. But don’t worry — with practice, they become easy and natural.
Try using a Smart Speaker like Alexa to quiz yourself daily on verb forms!
Q8. How many irregular verbs are there in English?A:
There are about 200 common irregular verbs, but you don’t need to learn them all at once. Start with the most used ones like go, eat, see, take, etc., and learn 5–10 at a time.
Q9. How can I test myself on verb forms?
A:
You can:
- Do fill-in-the-blank exercises
- Speak the forms aloud (go – went – gone)
- Record yourself using a microphone or phone
- Write short paragraphs using past and perfect tense
Q10. What are some good resources for learning verb forms?
A:
Here are a few helpful tools:
- English Conversation Practice Books
- Spoken English Books for Beginners
- YouTube grammar videos
- Verb charts printed and kept on your study desk
Conclusion
To speak English confidently and correctly, learning the three forms of verb is a must. Verbs are the heart of every sentence, and knowing how they change based on tense helps you express past, present, and future actions more clearly.
Whether you’re writing a sentence, speaking with someone, or preparing for an exam, using the correct verb form makes a big difference. So don’t just memorize — practice a little every day. Use the verbs in real sentences, speak them out loud, and test yourself often.
If you’re serious about improving your spoken English, consider using tools like:
📘 Spoken English Books for Beginners
🎧 Noise-Cancelling Headphones for distraction-free study
🗂️ Desk Organizers to keep your learning space tidy and productive
👉 Got a verb you’re confused about? Leave a comment below with the verb, and I’ll help you with its forms and usage!
Remember:
✅ Practice makes progress.
✅ Confidence comes from repetition.
✅ “Learn 5 new verbs every day and speak with confidence!”
📢 Disclaimer:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally believe will help beginners improve their English learning experience.
