There is no exact number of irregular verbs in the English language, as this can vary depending on the source and the criteria used to define irregularity. However, it is generally estimated that there are around 200-250 irregular verbs in English. These verbs do not follow the standard pattern of adding “-ed” to form their…
Sink is a very versatile verb in English, and can be used to mean a number of different things. Broadly speaking, the word “sink” refers to the downward movement of something from a higher position to a lower one, and is very often associated with objects moving through water. The simple past tense of “sink”…
In its verb form, the English word “begin” refers to the action of starting something, or undertaking the first section or part of something. It is not to be confused with its noun form “beginning.” The simple past tense form of begin is “began” and its past participle is “begun.” Besides its more formal and…
The English verb “bear” has multiple meanings but is invariably connected with carrying or shouldering a burden or responsibility, as well as enduring some sort of hardship or difficulty. It can be used in a literal or physical sense, and also in a more abstract sense. Bear is something of an irregular verb when it…
The English verb “to freeze” might be most closely associated with the coldest season of the year, but of course it carries a wealth of different meanings, some of which we will explore below. While the infinitive is “freeze,” the simple past tense is “froze” and the past participle is “frozen.” The present participle is…
The verb “to bite” in English can have a variety of meanings, ranging from a literal sense relating to the action of clamping down on something with one’s teeth or mouth, to a more figurative sense where we use it to describe pain felt at the onset of things like sharp winter winds. The simple…
The verb “speak” is one of the first ones that many learn when learning English as a second language. Even when it is our mother tongue, learning to speak is one of the biggest milestones in our early development, and thus the word has a firm place in the imaginations of English speakers everywhere. The…
The word “draw” is a common verb in English that broadly speaking has two main definitions, namely to produce a picture or diagram by making lines with a pen, pencil or similar instrument, to pull or drag. The second definition can also be used somewhat abstractly to mean conjure or create something, especially conclusions. We…
The word “lay” has two main definitions, both of which pertain to putting things down on the ground. In English, among both native and second-language speakers, the word “lay” is often mistakenly used interchangeably with “lie” but the two are actually different. The past tense of “lay” is “laid.” So whether you want to lay…
