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Unit 6: Passive voice
Tips for learning irregular verbs

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  1. 1Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3If or whether?
  4. 45 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5Let and allow
  6. 6Passive voice
  7. 7Unless
  8. 8Mixed conditionals
  9. 9The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12The continuous passive
  13. 13Future perfect
  14. 14Need + verb-ing
  15. 15Have something done
  16. 16Wish
  17. 17Word stress
  18. 18Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19Passive reporting structures
  20. 20The subjunctive
  21. 21When and if
  22. 22Inversion
  23. 23Phrasal verbs
  24. 24The future
  25. 25Modals in the past
  26. 26Narrative tenses
  27. 27Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28Conditionals review
  29. 29Used to - review
  30. 30Linking words of contrast

Session 4

Learning irregular verbs can be hard. But with Helen's tips they'll become easy!

Wayiitiwwan marii boqonnaa kana keessaa

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Wayitii marii qabxii 4

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Stop Saying...

Irregular verbs

As you know, learning irregular verbs in English is not easy. Raphael from Reunion Island would like some tips for learning them. Can Helen help him, and you, learn some new strategies?

Vidiyoo daawwadhuuti shaakala kana xumuri

Summary

It's a good idea to learn verbs in groups, depending on how many forms they have for the infinitive, past simple and past participle.

One form

  • put, put, put
  • shut, shut, shut

Two forms

  • find, found, found
  • have, had, had

Three forms

  • choose, chose, chosen
  • ring, rang, rung

The last group can be split into further groups in which the three verb forms rhyme, for example:

Rhyming group 1

  • begin, began, begun
  • sing, sang, sung

Rhyming group 2

  • break, broke, broken
  • speak, spoke, spoken

There are more rhyming groups - look at a the Grammar Reference, plus here and here for more tips!

To do

Do you know how many forms these verbs have?

How many forms?

6 Questions

How many forms do these verbs have? Choose the correct answers.

Baga gammadde! Qormaata xumurteetta
Excellent!Great job!Carraa badaa!Qabxii argatte:
x / y

End of Session 5

That's it for this session.

Next time we dine at the White Elephant, BBC Learning English's favourite comedy restaurant.

Thanks to St George International school for providing a student for this programme.

Caasluga kutaa kanaa

  • Group verbs depending on how many forms they have for the infinitive, past simple and past participle.

    One form

    • put, put, put
    • shut, shut, shut

    Two forms

    • find, found, found
    • have, had, had

    Three forms

    • choose, chose, chosen
    • ring, rang, rung

    The last group can be split into further groups in which the three verb forms rhyme, for example:

    Rhyming group 1

    • begin, began, begun
    • sing, sang, sung

    Rhyming group 2

    • break, broke, broken
    • speak, spoke, spoken
Wabii caasluga guutuu agarsiisi

Wiirtuu gadi-buufatan

Qabiyyee koorsiiwwan dhihoo kanaa