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Easy English Grammar

You'll find easy English grammar explanations linked from this page. I've experimented with different ways of explaining grammar to my students. These proved to be the ways in which they understood and started applying their knowledge the fastest.

So here are some easy English grammar explanations of the most important topics for learners:

• Personal Pronouns. They are the pronouns which refer to people: I, you, he, she, it, we, you (plural), they.

• Reflexive Pronouns. They are pronouns that you use then the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. For example: Julie enjoyedherself at the party.

• List of irregular verbs. It's really important to learn irregular verbs and their pronunciation. You use their second and third forms in past simple, perfect tenses, past forms of modal verbs… Irregular verb example: I have done my homework.

• List of prepositions. There are few sentences in English that don't contain at least one preposition. Some of them even have more than one meaning. Preposition example: Let's meet outside the hospital.

• Modal auxiliary verbs. They modify the meaning of verbs. Some of them have more than one meaning. Modal auxiliary example: I shouldleave now.

• Reported speech. When you "report" - that is tell somebody what another person said - you usually use reported speech. Reported speech example: He said he would be here as soon as possible.

• Passive. When you don't know or you don't care who did the action, you use passive. It's a rather formal style, therefore it's more common in writing. Passive example: I was told that he had left.

I am going to add more topics to this page whenever I can!

English Homework Help

If you are in need of English homework help, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. You might have questions that your English teacher was not able to answer or maybe you didn't dare to ask :)

Below you'll find a list of topics I can help you with. If you have other kinds of problems concerning English, you can still drop me a line and I'll do my best to help you.

I am able to help you if you have questions regarding:

▪ Grammar - rules, exceptions, clarification
▪ Vocabulary - usage in real life, difference between two or more similar words/expressions
▪ Reading comprehension - clarification of difficult parts of texts, how to improve reading comprehension, what kinds of texts to use for practice
▪ Listening - improving listening skills
▪ Speaking - how, where, with whom to practice, overcoming inhibitions, finding partners to speak
▪ Writing - characteristics of different types of texts, styles, structure
▪ Pronunciation - British and/or American
▪ British vs. American English - pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar differences
▪ British and American culture
▪ Accent reduction
▪ How to improve your English
▪ Best resources for learning English (books, course books, dictionaries, software, etc.)
▪ Language exams and how to prepare for them
▪ Old English usage
▪ Choosing a good English teacher

I created this English Homework Help page hoping that I can contribute to improving your English. Feel free to come back and ask me if you have additional questions. But please don't send me a long text and ask me to correct it for you or ask broad questions like "how can I learn English?". My time is limited, unfortunately. Rather ask specific questions so I can give you specific answers. You'll find the answers to most of your broad and less broad questions on this website. But if you don't, I'm happy to help you.

By the way, if an important topic concerning English is missing from the blog, I'm probably still working on it. So please be patient, sooner or later I'll cover everything I can think of :)

ESL Conversation Question Lists

Each ESL conversation question on this page can be used to facilitate discussion. These are the questions that you're often asked at language exams. Or if you're a teacher, this page will help you prepare your students for oral examinations.

What I like to do is print the questions and discuss all of them with my students. At the exam, they won't have to talk this much about topics they get but if you cover almost every possible aspect of a topic, it'll be less likely that you get an unpleasant surprise at the exam…

There are some questions that could belong to more than one category but I decided that it would be confusing to include them in each appropriate ESL conversation question list. There are open ended and yes/no questions as well. Obviously, don't just answer "yes" or "no" to those but explain the reason for your answer and offer as many details as you can.

The first section is for intermediate level students and the second part is for advanced ones.

Intermediate Questions

Family, Personality, Appearance, Clothes ESL Conversation Question List

• How big is your family?
• Who do you live with?
• Do you think it's a good idea for three generations to live together?
• What is your relationship with your family members like?
• Do you keep in touch with your relatives?
• Who do you take after?

• Who wears the trousers in your family?
• Are parents too permissive these days?
• Should we give children pocket money?
• What are your principles about bringing up children?
• Do children have too many responsibilities nowadays?
• Have you ever experienced generation gap problems?
• What kinds of problems do teenagers have?
• Should parents continue supporting children once they have grown up?
• What are the effects of modern technology on family life (TV, Internet)?
• Do families live differently from families 50 years ago?
• Would you prefer to have a large or a small family?
• How would you describe your personality?
• Who is your personality more similar to, your mother or your father? In what way?
• What is an ideal husband/wife like?
• What does your mother/father/sister/brother/spouse look like?
• What kind of clothes do you like wearing?
• What do you wear in winter/summer?

Daily Routine ESL Conversation Question List

• When do you usually get up?
• Do you get up as soon as you wake up?
• Do you sometimes oversleep?
• What do you do right after your get up?
• What do you do before breakfast?
• What do you have for breakfast?
• How do you get to school/work?
• How many hours do you spend there?
• Where do you have lunch?
• What time do you leave for home?
• How do you spend the afternoons/evenings?
• How is your daily routine different at the weekends?
• Would you like to make any changes in your daily routine?

Housing ESL Conversation Question List

• Where do you live?
• Do you like where you live?
• How many residents are there in your town?
• What is your neighborhood like?
• Would you prefer to live in a city or in a village?
• What are the differences between living in a city and living in a village?
• Would you prefer to live in an apartment building/block of flats or in a detached house?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a flat/house?
• Do you like your neighbors?
• Do you have to go far for shopping and entertainment?
• What is your flat/apartment/house like?
• How many rooms are there?
• What furniture do you have?
• What are the walls and the floor like?
• What electronic devices do you have in your home?
• What is your kitchen like?
• What is your bathroom like?
• What is your bedroom like?
• Do you have a balcony?
• Where do you study/work in your home?
• What kind of heating do you have?
• Have you ever redecorated your flat/apartment/house?
• Do you share housework in your family?
• What jobs need to be done every day or once a week in your home?
• What kind of problems might come up in a flat/apartment/house?
• Have you ever lived in a rent? What was it like?
• Where do university students live?
• How can people afford to buy a flat/apartment/house?

Education ESL Conversation Question List

• What schools did you attend?
• Did you do well at school?
• Did you like being a student?
• Did you like your teachers?
• Which were your favorite subjects?
• Which were your least favorite subjects?
• Were you involved in any extracurricular activities?
• Where are you studying now?
• Are you planning to continue your studies?
• How much freedom should we give children to choose their career?

Work ESL Conversation Question List

• What are the prospects of young people/fresh graduates today?
• Do you have a job? Where?
• What do you do for a living?
• What are your responsibilities in your position?
• Do you like your job?
• How do you get on with your boss?
• Is there possibility for promotion?
• Are you satisfied with your salary?
• What is your office/workplace like?
• Where did you work before?
• Why did you quit those jobs?
• What are your working hours?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of flextime/fixed hours?
• Who work part-time?
• Who is freelance work for?
• Have you been unemployed?
• Did you get unemployment benefit? Was it enough to make ends meet?
• How did you find a new job?
• How can people find a new job?
• Is it easy to find a new job?
• Are you considering a career change?
• What kinds of questions are applicants asked at job interviews?
• What is the most important thing to you about your job?
• What is more important: enjoying work or salary?
• How do you spend your days at work?
• What jobs/professions can you think of?
• Are men and women paid equally for the same job?
• What is gross salary and net salary?
• What are the best-paid jobs these days?
• Would you consider starting your own business?
• Do you want to work abroad?
• Can you save money each month?
• How many days of paid holiday do you get?
• What is the retirement age in your country?

Food ESL Conversation Question List

• How many times do you eat a day?
• What is the most important meal of the day?
• What do you usually have for breakfast?
• What do you usually have for lunch?
• What do you usually have for dinner?
• Do you have a snack during the day?
• Who makes the breakfast/lunch/dinner?
• What time do you have breakfast/lunch/dinner?
• Do you have some special food on weekends?
• How many courses do you usually have?
• What do you like to drink?
• Do you eat at the canteen in your school/workplace?
• Do you like canteen food?
• Do you like cooking?
• Who cooks in your family?
• Is your nation's food the best?
• What are some famous national dishes of your country?
• What kinds of food do you dislike?
• What are your favorite dishes?
• What are your favorite ingredients?
• What's your opinion about vegetarianism?
• What do you have in your fridge?
• How do you lay the table?
• Do you ever get a take-away?
• Do you like eating out?
• Do you often eat out?
• What's your favorite restaurant?
• How do you choose what to order from the menu?
• Do you give a tip to the waiter? How much?
• Have you ever had a problem in a restaurant?

Shopping ESL Conversation Question List

• Where do you like to go shopping?
• Where do you do your daily shopping?
• What do you buy daily?
• What different shop types are there?
• Do you prefer bigger or smaller shops?
• Do you visit markets?
• Do you shop online?
• Do you feel you spend too much money in shops?
• How have shopping habits changed?
• Do you make a shopping list?
• How do you take the goods home?
• Who goes shopping in your family?
• Do you like window-shopping?
• Do you ever buy products on hire-purchase?
• Do sales attract you?
• Do you shop from catalogues?
• Do you like to read advertisements?
• Do advertisements and commercials influence you?

Services ESL Conversation Question List

• What kinds of services do you use? How often?
• Do you go to the dry-cleaner's?
• How often do you go to the hairdresser's?
• Do you ever have your clothes made?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of having your clothes made by a tailor?
• Where do you take your car to have it serviced?
• What services do you use in the post office?
• Do you have a mobile phone?
• Do you ever use public phones?
• Are you satisfied with your internet service provider?

Health ESL Conversation Question List

• Have you ever been on a diet?
• Do you eat healthily?
• How do you keep fit?
• Do you regularly visit the dentist?
• When did you last visit the doctor?
• What was the matter with you?
• What were your symptoms?
• How did the doctor examine you?
• Did you get a prescription?
• How long did it take you to recover?
• Have you ever broken a bone?
• Have you ever had to stay in a hospital?
• Have you had surgery?
• Have you ever had to call an ambulance?
• Have you ever had to give first aid?
• What are the most common diseases nowadays?
• What do you think of smokers?
• What do you think of alcoholics?
• What do you think of drug users?
• Are you satisfied with healthcare in your country?

Sport ESL Conversation Question List

• Do you do any sport?
• What sports facilities are there near your home?
• What sports do you know?
• Do you like extreme sports?
• Have you tried any water sports?
• Have you tried any winter sports?
• Do you like team sports?
• Do/Did you like the P.E. lessons in your school?
• Do you do sports together with your friends or family?
• Which sports are you good at?
• Which sports are you bad at?
• Which sports is your country good at?
• Do you like watching sports/games in person?
• Do you like watching sports/games on TV?
• Are you a fan of any sport teams?
• Are you planning to take up/try a new sport?
• Do you think chess is a sport?

Weather ESL Conversation Question List

• What's the climate of your country like?
• Is there a country the climate of which you'd prefer?
• What are the characteristics of different seasons?
• What's your favorite season?
• Does weather affect your mood?
• What do you do if the weather is nice?
• What do you do if the weather is bad?
• When do you usually go on holiday?
• Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
• How do weather conditions influence traffic?
• Do you listen to/read the weather forecast?

Environment ESL Conversation Question List

• What is global warming?
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What other environmental problems do we face?
• What types of pollution can you think of?
• How can you protect the environment?
• Do you select waste selectively?
• Do you recycle?
• What are some examples of endangered species?
• Do you think people will become more environment-conscious soon?

Traffic ESL Conversation Question List

• How did you get here?
• How long did it take you to get here?
• What means of transport are there in your town?
• Are you satisfied with the public transport service in your town?
• What is the fastest/slowest/most comfortable way to travel?
• What's your favorite means of transport?
• How often do buses/trams/the underground run?
• Where and how can you get bus/tram/underground tickets?
• Are they expensive? Are there cheaper alternatives?
• Are there controllers to check the validity of your ticket?
• Do you like traveling by train?
• How do you spend the time on the train?
• Do you ever decide to go on foot instead of using public transport?
• Do you ever take a taxi?
• Do you tip the taxi driver?
• What are the problems in your town in connection with traffic?
• How could you solve those problems?
• Do you ever get stuck in traffic jams?
• Do you drive?
• Are you a good driver?
• What do you have to do to get a driving license?
• Do you have a car?
• Is having a car expensive?
• Has your car even broken down?
• How often do you take your car to the service station?
• Do you enjoy driving/traveling by car?
• What are the most common causes of car accidents?
• Do you ever cycle in your town?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of cycling in the town?
• What are some famous sights in your town?

Entertainment ESL Conversation Question List

• How often do you go to the theater?
• What kinds of plays do you like?
• Where do you like to sit in the theater?
• Do you have any favorite actors/actresses?
• What preparations do you have to make before you go to the theater?
• How do you spend the time during the intervals?
• Do you like going to concerts?
• Where do you like to sit/stand?
• Do you have any favorite performers?
• What kind of music do you like?
• Where do you usually listen to music?
• How often do you go to the movie theater?
• Where do you like to sit in movie theater?
• What kind of movies do you like?
• Do you prefer seeing foreign movies in the original language or dubbed/subtitled?
• What's your favorite movie?
• Do you have any favorite movie stars?
• Do you think movie tickets should be cheaper?
• How much TV do you watch?
• What are your favorite TV programs/shows?
• Do you watch the news? Where?
• What do you think about reality shows?
• Do you prefer watching DVDs at home to going to the movies?
• Do you ever listen to the radio?
• What kinds of radio programs do you like?
• Do you purchase CDs or download music? Why?
• How do you learn about TV programs?
• Do you read newspapers and/or magazines, journals?
• Do you think we still need print media?
• Do you subscribe to any newspapers?
• Are you a member of a library?
• How often do you borrow books?
• What are the rules and fees in your library?
• Do you like reading?
• Where and when do you read?
• What kinds of books do you like?
• Do you like e-readers or reading on the computer screen?
• What are your favorite books/authors?
• Which book did you last read?
• How often do you go out?
• What kinds of places do you like?
• Who do you like going out with?
• How long do you usually stay?
• What are your hobbies?
• Do you know someone with an unusual hobby?
• Do you have any pets?
• Would you like to have other pets?
• Do you know anyone who has an exotic pet?
• Do you like visiting museums?
• What kind of exhibitions do you like?
• Have you even done community work?
• Do you sometimes learn in your free time? What?
• Are you a member of any clubs?

Computers ESL Conversation Question List

• What kind of computer do you have?
• How much time do you spend using your computer?
• What do you use your computer for?
• Do you have internet access at home?
• What do you use the internet for?
• What are your favorite websites?
• Are you on social networking sites?
• What do you think about social networking sites?
• How do you keep track of your passwords?
• Do you like chatting?
• Do you sometimes shop on the internet?
• What are the dangers of using the internet?
• What are the dangers of using social networking sites?
• Do you ever download software/music/movies?
• What's your opinion about internet piracy?
• Do you think there is such a thing as privacy these days?

Holidays and Celebrations ESL Conversation Question List

• What family occasions do you celebrate?
• How do you celebrate birthdays?
• What happens at a wedding?
• Do you often have family reunions?
• Do you celebrate Christmas/Easter?
• Do you celebrate Christmas/Easter differently than most people?
• What do you eat at Christmas/Easter?
• Do you like getting and giving presents at Christmas?
• What kind of presents do you like giving/getting?
• How do you celebrate New Year's Eve?
• What public holidays does your country have?
• What and how do you celebrate on these occasions?

Travel ESL Conversation Question List

• Do you like traveling?
• How often do you travel?
• How do you like to travel (plane, bus, train, car)?
• What's the difference between a package tour and independent travel? Which one do you prefer?
• Which countries have you been to?
• Where would you like to travel next?
• Have you been to any English speaking countries?
• Where did you last go on holiday?
• What's your opinion about low-cost airlines?
• What do you have to do between arriving at the airport and take-off?
• What are the rules on the airplane?
• How do you spend the time on the plane?
• Are you afraid of flying?
• Have you ever been on a cruise?
• Did you get seasick?
• How do you prepare for a journey?
• What do you pack?
• Do you make a packing list?
• What documents do you need to travel abroad?
• Where do you exchange money?
• Do you like camping?
• Do you like staying in a hotel?
• What services are usually available in hotels?
• What are the major sights in the US/UK/Australia?

English Language ESL Conversation Question List

• When is it ideal to start learning English?
• What are the benefits of speaking English?
• How and where can you learn English?
• How can you practice outside class?
• Do your read/watch movies specifically to practice English?
• Where do you use English?
• Why is speaking English important to you?

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Advanced Questions

Family ESL Conversation Question List

• How have family roles changed in the last 50 years?
• Is the mother's place at home?
• How many roles do most women have to fulfill?
• Why are there so many divorces?
• How does divorce influence children?
• Should a pre-nuptial agreement be signed?
• What do you think about pre-arranged marriages?
• At what age is it ideal to get married?
• What problems do newly-wed couples face when they want to buy a flat/apartment/house?
• Why are there so many homeless people?
• How would you discipline your children?
• Should children get pocket money?
• What do you think about corporal punishment?
• Are children overburdened nowadays?
• What problems do teenagers have?
• How do teenagers choose a career?
• How does television influence family life?
• Should parents financially support children once they've moved out?

Education ESL Conversation Question List

• Are you satisfied with the education system or would you make some changes?
• How can you get into a university?
• Why is it important to learn languages?
• Does the school system prepare children for life?
• Are there any subjects that aren't taught in school but you think would be necessary?
• What kinds of problems do teachers have with children inside and outside the classroom?

Work ESL Conversation Question List

• What is important to you about a job?
• How difficult is it for beginners to find a job?
• Would you prefer to work for a small, mid-sized or a big company?
• What's the reason for illegal work in your country?
• Would you ever consider working abroad? Why?
• What are your future professional goals?
• Are men and women equally paid?
• Why do we have to pay taxes from our salary?
• When do you need to start saving for your retirement?
• How big problem is unemployment?
• How do the unemployed feel?

Travel ESL Conversation Question List

• How could we protect landmarks and beauties of nature from tourists?
• What are the dangers of going on holiday?
• What's the safest way to travel?
• How do you choose where to travel?
• Do you even work during your holiday?

Technology and Entertainment ESL Conversation Question List

• How has modern technology for entertainment changed our and our family's life? (TV, internet, iPod, iPad, etc.)
• Should children have unlimited internet access?
• What are the benefits of using the internet?
• Does the internet help children develop in any way?
• Is the internet a reliable source of information?
• What are the dangers of shopping on the internet?
• How has the mobile phone changed your life?
• What's your opinion about violence on TV?
• How much TV should children watch?
• What kinds of programs should children watch?
• What do you think about commercials on TV?
• Do advertisements influence you to buy products?

Sports ESL Conversation Question List

• What's the role of sports in your life and in your country?
• What's the life of a professional athlete like?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a professional athlete?
• What are the dangers of sports?
• What are the mental and physical benefits of sports?
• Do famous sportspeople deserve so much money?
• What do you think about professional athletes taking steroids?
• What's your opinion about football hooligans?

Health ESL Conversation Question List

• Are you satisfied with healthcare in your country?
• How do you minimize your chances of getting sick?
• Do people take too many medicines?
• Do you believe in alternative medicine?
• How would you help a person who takes drugs?
• How would you quit smoking?
• What diseases can smoking cause?
• Where are you not allowed to smoke?
• Do you think smokers should have more freedom?
• What are your thoughts on passive smoking?
• How often do you drink alcohol?
• Should the drinking age limit be increased?
• How can you help an alcoholic to quit?
• What are the symptoms of addiction?
• Could you ever become a vegetarian?
• Is vegetarianism healthy?
• Do people in your country eat healthily?
• Is your country's kitchen healthy?
• Do you think canteen food is healthy?
• Is obesity a problem in your country?
• What are the consequences of obesity?
• Have you ever dieted? How?
• How do you stay fit?

Environment ESL Conversation Question List

• What are the biggest environmental problems of today?
• In what ways is the environment being polluted?
• How can we decrease or stop pollution?
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What is global warming?
• What can we do about it?
• What do YOU do to protect the environment?
• What do you think about Greenpeace and their methods?
• What do you know about WWF?
• What are some endangered species?
• What's being done to save them?
• What do you think about hunters?
• How will this planet change in 50 years?

Politics ESL Conversation Question List

• Can you describe the system of your country's government?
• What political parties are there?
• What are their main views?
• What's the election system like?
• Is the standard of living better than it was 10 years ago?
• What are the biggest economic problems?
• Are there any discriminated groups in your country?
• Is your country's army good?
• Are you afraid of terrorism?

Consumer Society ESL Conversation Question List

• How do you feel about globalization?
• Is money getting more important to people nowadays?
• Do people spend too much?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of paying for a product in installments?
• Do you know any shopaholics?
• How do you decide what you're going to buy?
• Do you often buy things you don't need?
• What do you do with things you don't use?
• How do some advertisements deceive consumers?

Moral Issues ESL Conversation Question List

• How can we help starving nations?
• How can we help people suffering from malnutrition in our own country?
• How can you prevent pregnancy?
• What do you think about abortion?
• What do you think about cloning?
• What do you think about euthanasia?
• What do you think about capital punishment?
• How do you feel about genetically modified vegetables?

Holidays ESL Conversation Question List

• What holidays do you celebrate in your country?

• What do we celebrate at Christmas/Easter/Thanksgiving/Halloween?
• Is commemorating important events in history important to you?

Future ESL Conversation Question List

• What are your future plans?
• What is your dream future like?
• Does anything worry you about the future?
• What do you think life will be like in 100 years?
• What kind of problems will people have?
• Which countries will be the most powerful?
• Do you think people will meet UFOs in the future?
• What advances will be made in connection with medicine?
• Is life going to get better or worse? How?
• Will people live shorter or longer? Why?
• How will the role of women and men change?
• How will the structure of families change?
• How will people communicate?
• Will there be any wars?
• Will we still have to work?

This is quite a lengthy list of ESL questions and conversation topics :) If you answer each ESL conversation question in a couple of sentences, there's no way your English doesn't get much better! This ESL conversation question list has helped many of my students pass language examinations. I'm sure it'll help you too!

List of Prepositions

Here is a list of prepositions that are the most important to know. You'll also find their pronunciation on this page.

But first of all, what are prepositions? They are the little words that you use before a noun (e.g. at the party), a noun phrase (e.g. in the beautiful lake) or a pronoun (e.g. beside him). It connects to the following word, clarifying its meaning (e.g. time, duration, direction...).

Some of the prepositions (especially the most common ones) have more than one meaning. The context and your knowledge of grammar will help you find out which meaning is intended in a particular sentence. For example:

There was no-one in the building. ("in" refers to a position)She didn't start school in 1982. ("in" refers to a longer period of time)

List of Prepositions

• about /əˈbaʊt/
• above /əˈbʌv/
• across /əˈkrɑːs/
• after /ˈæf.tɚ/
• against /əˈgentst/
• along /əˈlɑːŋ/
• among /əˈmʌŋ/
• around /əˈraʊnd/
• aside /əˈsaɪd/
• at /æt/ or /ət/
• away /əˈweɪ/
• before /bɪˈfɔːr /
• behind /bɪˈhaɪnd/
• below /bɪˈloʊ/
• beside /bɪˈsaɪd/
• besides /bɪˈsaɪdz/
• between /bɪˈtwiːn/
• beyond /biˈjɑːnd/
• by /baɪ/
• despite /dɪˈspaɪt/
• down /daʊn/
• during /ˈdʊr.ɪŋ/
• except /ɪkˈsept/
• for /fɔːr/ or /fɚ/
• from /frɑːm/ or /frəm/
• in /ɪn/
• in front of /ɪn frʌnt ɑːv/
• inside /ɪnˈsaɪd/
• into /ˈɪn.tuː/
• like /laɪk/
• near /nɪr/
• next to /nekst tu/
• of /ɑːv/
• off /ɑːf/
• on /ɑːn/
• onto /ˈɑːn.tu/
• opposite /ˈɑː.pə.zɪt/
• out /aʊt/
• out of /aʊt ɑːv/
• outside /ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/ or /ˈaʊtsaɪd/
• over /ˈoʊ.vɚ/
• past /pæst/
• round /raʊnd/
• through /θruː/
• throughout /θruːˈaʊt/
• to /tu/ or /tə/
• toward(s) /tʊˈwɔːrdz/
• under /ˈʌn.dɚ/
• unlike /ʌnˈlaɪk/
• until /ənˈtɪl/ or /ˈʌntɪl/
• up /ʌp/
• with /wɪð/
• within /wɪˈðɪn/
• without /wɪˈðaʊt/

Here is a list of prepositions that are more formal, old-fashioned, literary or aren't used that often:

• amid /əˈmɪd/
• amidst /əˈmɪdst/
• amongst /əˈmʌŋst/
• atop /əˈtɑːp/
• beneath /bɪˈniːθ/
• lest /lest/
• midst /mɪdst/
• underneath /ˌʌn.dɚˈniːθ/
• unto /ˈʌn.tuː/
• upon /əˈpɑːn/

List of Irregular Verbs

This list of irregular verbs will help you speak English correctly. Because if you learn the words in this list, you'll know almost all irregular past forms of English.

If you take a thorough look at this list of irregular verbs, you'll see patterns that will help you remember the past forms more easily.

For example, if you know the past forms of "get" (got, gotten), you know the past forms of "forget" (forgot, forgotten) too. Or if you know the past forms of "stand" (stood, stood), you know the past forms of "understand" (understood, understood) too.

Another pattern you might notice in this irregular verbs list is in connection with pronunciation. Several students have difficulty remembering how to pronounce the different past forms. But there is often a pattern here too.

For example, "fly" and "blow" belong to the same group/pattern. Their past forms are very similar: "flew, flown" and "blew, blown". And they are pronounced as "/fluː/, /floʊn/" and "/bluː/, /bloʊn/". You'll find many more examples for this in this list of irregular verbs.

In the first row of this list of irregular verbs you'll see the headers "Infinitive, Past Simple and Past Participle".

• You use the infinitive form in many cases, e.g. after modal verbs (must, can, should), after the infinitive "to" (want to, afford to).

• The past simple column is obvious, you use this form in the past simple tense.

• You use the past participle form in perfect tenses (I have been there, will have done, had done), past form of modal verbs (must have been, could have been) and in some other cases.

I'd been looking for a good list of irregular verbs for my students that includes the pronunciation of the different forms as well. Since I hadn't found any, I made one myself. I hope it helps you as much as it did for my students!

So here is the list of irregular verbs:

List of Irregular Verbs

Infinitive	Past Simple	Past Participle
be /biː/	was /wɑːz/ - were /wɝː/	been /biːn/
beat /biːt/	beat /biːt/	beaten /ˈbiː.tən/
become /bɪˈkʌm/	became /bɪˈkeɪm/	become /bɪˈkʌm/
begin /bɪˈgɪn/	began /bɪˈgæn/	begun /bɪˈgʌn/
bend /bend/	bent /bent/	bent /bent/
bet /bet/	bet /bet/	bet /bet/
bite /baɪt/	bit /bɪt/	bitten /ˈbɪt.ən/
bleed /bliːd/	bled /bled/	bled /bled/
blow /bloʊ/	blew /bluː/	blown /bloʊn/
break /breɪk/	broke /broʊk/	broken /ˈbroʊ.kən/
bring /brɪŋ/	brought /brɑːt/	brought /brɑːt/
broadcast /ˈbrɑːd.kæst/	broadcast /ˈbrɑːd.kæst/	broadcast /ˈbrɑːd.kæst/
build /bɪld/	built /bɪlt/	built /bɪlt/
burst /bɜrst/	burst /bɜrst/	burst /bɜrst/
buy /baɪ/	bought /bɑːt/	bought /bɑːt/
catch /kætʃ/	caught /kɑːt/	caught /kɑːt/
choose /tʃuːz/	chose /tʃoʊz/	chosen /ˈtʃoʊ.zən/
come /kʌm/	came /keɪm/	come /kʌm/
cost /kɑːst/	cost /kɑːst/	cost /kɑːst/
creep /kriːp/	crept /krept/	crept /krept/
cut /kʌt/	cut /kʌt/	cut /kʌt/
deal /dɪəl/	dealt /delt/	dealt /delt/
dig /dɪg/	dug /dʌg/	dug /dʌg/
do /duː/	did /dɪd/	done /dʌn/
draw /drɑː/	drew /druː/	drawn /drɑːn/
dream /driːm/	dreamt /dremt/ - dreamed	dreamt /dremt/ - dreamed
drink /drɪŋk/	drank /dræŋk/	drunk /drʌŋk/
drive /draɪv/	drove /droʊv/	driven /ˈdrɪv.ən/
eat /iːt/	ate /eɪt/	eaten /'iː.tən/
fall /fɑːl/	fell /fel/	fallen /ˈfɑː.lən/
feed /fiːd/	fed /fed/	fed /fed/
feel /fiːl/	felt /felt/	felt /felt/
fight /faɪt/	fought /fɑːt/	fought /fɑːt/
find /faɪnd/	found /faʊnd/	found /faʊnd/
flee /fliː/	fled /fled/	fled /fled/
fly /flaɪ/	flew /fluː/	flown /floʊn/
forbid /fərˈbɪd/	forbade /fərˈbeɪd/	forbidden /fərˈbɪd·ən/
forget /fərˈget/	forgot /fərˈgɑt/	forgotten /fərˈgɑt·ən/
forgive /fərˈgɪv/	forgave /fərˈgeɪv/	forgiven /fərˈgɪv·ən/
freeze /friːz/	froze /froʊz/	frozen /ˈfroʊ.zən/
get /get/	got /gɑːt/	got /gɑːt/ - gotten /ˈgɑː.t ̬ən/
give /gɪv/	gave /geɪv/	given /ˈgɪv.ən/
go /goʊ/	went /went/	gone /gɑːn/
grow /groʊ/	grew /gruː/	grown /groʊn/
hang /hæŋ/	hung /hʌŋ/	hung /hʌŋ/
have /hæv/	had /hæd/	had /hæd/
hear /hɪr/	heard /hɜrd/	heard /hɜrd/
hide /haɪd/	hid /hɪd/	hidden /ˈhɪd·ən/
hit /hɪt/	hit /hɪt/	hit /hɪt/
hold /hoʊld/	held /held/	held /held/
hurt /hɜrt/	hurt /hɜrt/	hurt /hɜrt/
keep /kiːp/	kept /kept/	kept /kept/
kneel /niːl/	knelt /nelt/ - kneeled	knelt /nelt/ - kneeled
know /noʊ/	knew /nuː/	known /noʊn/
lay /leɪ/	laid /leɪd/	laid /leɪd/
lead /liːd/	led /led/	led /led/
leave /liːv/	left /left/	left /left/
lend /lend/	lent /lent/	lent /lent/
let /let/	let /let/	let /let/
lie /laɪ/	lay /leɪ/	lain /leɪn/
light /laɪt/	lit /lɪt/	lit /lɪt/
lose /luːz/	lost /lɑːst/	lost /lɑːst/
make /meɪk/	made /meɪd/	made /meɪd/
mean /miːn/	meant /ment/	meant /ment/
meet /miːt/	met /met/	met /met/
pay /peɪ/	paid /peɪd/	paid /peɪd/
prove /pruːv/	proved	proved - proven /ˈpruː.vən/
put /pʊt/	put /pʊt/	put /pʊt/
quit /kwɪt/	quit /kwɪt/	quit /kwɪt/
read /riːd/	read /red/	read /red/
ride /raɪd/	rode /roʊd/	ridden /ˈrɪd.ən/
ring /rɪŋ/	rang /ræŋ/	rung /rʌŋ/
rise /raɪz/	rose /roʊz/	risen /ˈrɪz·ən/
run /rʌn/	ran /ræn/	run /rʌn/
say /seɪ/	said /sed/	said /sed/
see /siː/	saw /sɑː/	seen /siːn/
seek /siːk/	sought /sɑːt/	sought /sɑːt/
sell /sel/	sold /soʊld/	sold /soʊld/
send /send/	sent /sent/	sent /sent/
set /set/	set /set/	set /set/
sew /soʊ/	sewed	sewn /soʊn/ - sewed
shake /ʃeɪk/	shook /ʃʊk/	shaken /ˈʃeɪ·kən/
shine /ʃɑɪn/	shone /ʃoʊn/	shone /ʃoʊn/
shoot /ʃuːt/	shot /ʃɑːt/	shot /ʃɑːt/
show /ʃoʊ/	showed	shown /ʃoʊn/ - showed
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/	shrank /ʃræŋk/	shrunk /ʃrʌŋk/
shut /ʃʌt/	shut /ʃʌt/	shut /ʃʌt/
sing /sɪŋ/	sang /sæŋ/	sung /sʌŋ/
sink /sɪŋk/	sank /sæŋk/	sunk /sʌŋk/
sit /sɪt/	sat /sæt/	sat /sæt/
sleep /sliːp/	slept /slept/	slept /slept/
slide /slaɪd/	slid /slɪd/	slid /slɪd/
speak /spiːk/	spoke /spoʊk/	spoken /ˈspoʊ.kən/
spell /spel/	spelt /spelt/ - spelled	spelt /spelt/ - spelled
spend /spend/	spent /spent/	spent /spent/
spit /spɪt/	spat /spæt/	spat /spæt/
split /splɪt/	split /splɪt/	split /splɪt/
spread /spred/	spread /spred/	spread /spred/
spring /sprɪŋ/	sprang /spræŋ/	sprung /sprʌŋ/
stand /stænd/	stood /stʊd/	stood /stʊd/
steal /stiːl/	stole /stoʊl/	stolen /ˈstoʊ.lən/
stick /stɪk/	stuck /stʌk/	stuck /stʌk/
sting /stɪŋ/	stung /stʌŋ/	stung /stʌŋ/
stink /stɪŋk/	stank /stæŋk/	stunk /stʌŋk/
strike /straɪk/	struck /strʌk/	struck /strʌk/
swear /swer/	swore /swɔːr/	sworn /swɔːrn/
sweep /swiːp/	swept /swept/	swept /swept/
swim /swɪm/	swam /swæm/	swum /swʌm/
swing /swɪŋ/	swung /swʌŋ/	swung /swʌŋ/
take /teɪk/	took /tʊk/	taken /ˈteɪ.kən/
teach /tiːtʃ/	taught /tɑːt/	taught /tɑːt/
tear /ter/	tore /tɔːr/	torn /tɔːrn/
tell /tel/	told /toʊld/	told /toʊld/
think /θɪŋk/	thought /θɑːt/	thought /θɑːt/
throw /θroʊ/	threw /θruː/	thrown /θroʊn/
understand /ˌʌn·dərˈstænd/	understood /ˌʌn·dərˈstʊd/	understood /ˌʌn·dərˈstʊd/
wake /weɪk/	woke /woʊk/	woken /ˈwoʊ·kən/
wear /weər/	wore /wɔr/	worn /wɔrn
weep /wiːp/	wept /wept/	wept /wept/
win /wɪn/	won /wʌn/	won /wʌn/
write /raɪt/	wrote /roʊt/	written /ˈrɪt.ən/