Do You Know the Correct Past Tenses?

Take a Listen!

 

Reading and Practice Time: 5 Minutes

When it comes to IELTS writing, irregular verbs can present quite a challenge due to their unique past tense forms. In this article, we’ll delve into some of the most commonly used irregular verbs and provide examples to illustrate their correct usage.

 

Incorrect Irregular Verb Forms

First, let’s look at common mistakes made by IELTS writing candidates. Here are some examples of incorrect usage and their correct forms:

 

• Incorrect: He runned a marathon last year.
• Correct: He ran a marathon last year.

 

• Incorrect: She teached English in Japan for five years.
• Correct: She taught English in Japan for five years.

 

• Incorrect: The company boughted new equipment.
• Correct: The company bought new equipment.

 

• Incorrect: He drived to work every day.
• Correct: He drove to work every day.

 

• Incorrect: The children growed up in a small town.
• Correct: The children grew up in a small town.

 

20 Verbs with Irregular Past Tenses

Understanding the past tenses of the twenty common irregular verbs below will significantly enhance your English grammar skills and contribute to your confidence in IELTS writing. Remember, practice makes perfect, so use these verbs whenever you are practicing IELTS writing!

1 – 5 

1. Be – was/were: This verb indicates existence or state of being.

Example: I was at home last night.

 

2. Have – had: It’s used to indicate possession or to describe an action that has taken place.

Example: She had a lovely time at the party.

 

3. Do – did: It’s used as an auxiliary verb to form questions or to indicate an action.

Example: Did you finish your homework?

 

4. Say – said: This verb refers to spoken words or statements.

Example: He said he would arrive by 8 PM.

 

5. Make – made: It’s used to describe the creation or completion of something.

Example: They made a delicious cake for her birthday.

 

6 – 10

6. Go – went: It indicates movement or travel.

Example: She went to Paris for vacation.

 

7. Take – took: It can mean to grasp or capture something or to consume something.

Example: He took the book from the shelf.

 

8. Come – came: This verb signifies movement towards the speaker or their location.

Example: They came to visit us last week.

 

9. See – saw: It refers to the act of perceiving with the eyes.

Example: I saw a beautiful sunset yesterday.

 

10. Know – knew: It’s used to express familiarity or understanding of something.

Example: He knew the answer to the question.

 

11 – 15

11. Get – got: It indicates receiving, obtaining, or reaching something.

Example: She got a new job last month.

 

12. Give – gave: This verb refers to the act of offering or providing something.

Example: They gave their old clothes to charity.

 

13. Find – found: It means to discover or locate something.

Example: We found the missing piece of the puzzle.

 

14. Think – thought: It refers to the act of using one’s mind to consider or analyze something.

Example: He thought the movie was great.

 

15. Tell – told: It means to communicate or inform someone about something.

Example: She told me she would be late.

 

16 – 20

16. Become – became: It indicates a change or transformation.

Example: The caterpillar became a butterfly.

 

17. Show – showed: It means to display or reveal something.

Example: He showed me his new car.

 

18. Leave – left: It indicates departure or absence.

Example: They left early to avoid traffic.

 

19. Feel – felt: This verb expresses emotions or sensations.

Example: He felt sad after watching the movie.

 

20. Put – put: It’s used to describe placing or positioning something somewhere.

Example: She put the keys on the table.

 

Practice Activity

Fill in the blanks with the correct past tense:

1. Yesterday, I ____ (run) for ten miles with a friend. It felt great.  
2. Last year, she ____ (teach) English in a school.
3. They ____ (buy) a new house in the suburbs.
4. I ____ (drive) to work every day last year.
5. We ____ (grow) up in a small town in the countryside.

 

In Conclusion

By studying grammar with an experienced IELTS teacher, candidates can gain valuable guidance on identifying and correcting common mistakes, ensuring accuracy and coherence in their writing. Furthermore, an IELTS teacher can provide feedback, leading to better performance in the exam.

At IFI, we understand the importance of grammar in English language learning and its significant role in achieving high IELTS writing scores. Our courses place equal emphasis on grammar alongside other vital areas of English learning, such as reading, listening, speaking, and vocabulary. Enroll in our courses today to receive expert guidance and support in mastering grammar and all other aspects of the English language to secure your IELTS success.

Click Here to Find Out More!

 

Practice Activity Answer Key 

1. Ran    2. Taught    3. Bought    4. Drove    5. Grew

 

You May Also Like: 

10 Rules about using THE in IELTS Writing & Speaking

 

We Strongly Recommend:

Grammar for IELTS by IDP IELTS