EXCEPTIONS AND IRREGULAR VERBS

EXCEPTIONS

1. For verbs that end in an "e", we only add "-d".

Ex .: reduce   reduced
        believe   believed

2. If the verb ends in consonant-vowel-consonant (except "y" or "w") and also the last syllable is tonic, we double the final consonant.

Ex: drag           dragged
       crop           cropped

but listen -> listened

3. With verbs that end in a consonant and a "y", the "y" is changed to an "i".

Ex: modify              modified
      fry                     fried

IRREGULAR VERBS

 

The simple past in irregular verbs does not have a definite norm for all verbs, so it is necessary to learn them individually. It is important to keep in mind that this irregular form is only used in affirmative phrases. In the negative and interrogative sentences they work just like regular verbs.