Weak Verb Examples and How to Identify Them in English
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| love | loved | has loved | regular verb |
| play | played | has played | regular verb |
| creep | crept | has crept | irregular verb |
| shoot | shot | has shot | irregular verb |
| put | put | has put | irregular verb |
What Are Weak Verbs?
Weak verbs in English are verbs that form their past tense by adding "-ed", "-d", or "-t" to the base form, without changing the main vowel. They are sometimes called "regular verbs," but this group also includes some irregular verbs. For example, "play" becomes "played," and "love" becomes "loved."
Types of Weak Verb
Weak verbs can be classified by how their past tense forms are created. Understanding the types helps with quick identification in exams and writing.
Type 1: Past tense adds "-d", "-ed", or "-t" (No vowel change)
This is the most common type. The verb simply takes an added ending.
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| love | loved | has loved | regular verb |
| hate | hated | has hated | regular verb |
| move | moved | has moved | regular verb |
Type 2: Adds "-d" or "-t", vowel may slightly shorten
Some weak verbs are irregular, forming the past with "-t" or "-d" and a small vowel change.
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| tell | told | has told | irregular verb |
| keep | kept | has kept | irregular verb |
Type 3: Ends in "-d" or "-t," vowel shortens sharply
Some verbs have a clear vowel shortening but keep the "-d" or "-t" ending.
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| meet | met | has met | irregular verb |
| bleed | bled | has bled | irregular verb |
Type 4: Past and participle match base verb (with ending or not)
A few weak verbs keep the same form in all tenses.
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| put | put | has put | irregular verb |
| set | set | has set | irregular verb |
Examples of Weak Verbs
Here are example sentences using weak verbs in context:
- He loved his new book. (Type 1)
- She kept her promise. (Type 2)
- They met at the station. (Type 3)
- I put my keys on the table. (Type 4)
Regular Verbs Are Weak Verbs
Most regular verbs in English are weak verbs by definition. If a verb changes from present to past with "-ed," it is both regular and weak. For example: "want" becomes "wanted." This is why the terms often overlap in grammar study.
Why Weak Verbs Are Important
Understanding weak verbs helps you:
- Score better in grammar exams.
- Use the right form in essays and letters.
- Communicate clearly in spoken English.
- Avoid common mistakes in creative writing.
When to Use Weak Verbs in Sentences
Use weak verbs whenever you need the past or perfect form for regular actions. For example: "I played cricket yesterday." Remember, some weaker verbs may not show expressive action. For creative writing, prefer more descriptive verbs when you can.
Related Grammar Resources
Explore these topics for stronger grammar:
In summary, weak verbs make up the bulk of English verb forms and are essential for proper grammar in all situations. They help you build the correct tense easily and give you clarity in exams, conversations, and writing. Mastering weak verbs lets you use English more effectively every day.
FAQs on Weak Verbs in English: Meaning, Forms & Examples
1. What is a weak verb in English grammar?
A weak verb in English grammar forms its past tense by adding -ed, -d, or -t to the base form, without changing the vowel. This is unlike strong verbs which change their vowel to indicate the past tense. For example, walk becomes walked, love becomes loved.
2. Can you give examples of weak verbs?
Yes, many common verbs are weak verbs. Here are some examples of weak verbs with their past tense forms: walk (walked), jump (jumped), play (played), love (loved), help (helped), listen (listened), end (ended), start (started), wash (washed), want (wanted).
3. How are weak verbs different from strong verbs?
The key difference lies in how they form the past tense. Weak verbs add -ed, -d, or -t. Strong verbs, however, change their internal vowel to show past tense (e.g., sing becomes sang, swim becomes swam). This is often called ablaut.
4. Are regular verbs always weak verbs?
In English, most regular verbs are considered weak verbs. Regular verbs consistently follow the rule of adding -ed, -d, or -t to form the past tense. However, it's important to note that not all weak verbs are regular (some irregular verbs can also be weak).
5. Why do we need to learn about weak verbs?
Understanding weak verbs is crucial for correct verb conjugation in English. This is essential for clear and accurate written and spoken communication. It also helps in mastering various tenses and passing grammar exams.
6. What is an example of a weak verb?
A simple example of a weak verb is the verb "walk." Its past tense is "walked," formed by adding "-ed." Other examples include played, loved, and helped.
7. What are 20 strong verbs?
This question asks for strong verbs, which are the opposite of weak verbs. Here are 20 strong verbs: sing, sang, sung; drink, drank, drunk; swim, swam, swum; eat, ate, eaten; begin, began, begun; see, saw, seen; go, went, gone; give, gave, given; take, took, taken; come, came, come.
8. How are weak verbs formed?
Weak verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed, -d, or -t to the base form of the verb. The choice of suffix depends on the pronunciation and spelling of the base verb. Regular verbs are typically weak verbs.
9. What are weak verbs vs strong verbs?
Weak verbs add -ed, -d, or -t to the base form to make the past tense. Strong verbs change the vowel inside the word to form the past tense. This is the main difference between them. For instance, "walked" is a weak verb, while "sang" is a strong verb.
10. What are Class 2 weak verbs?
The classification of weak verbs into classes (like Class 1 and Class 2) is a more detailed linguistic categorization. For most learners, focusing on the general distinction between regular (mostly weak) and irregular verbs is sufficient. The key is understanding how past tense is formed in both types.
11. What are weak verbs and regular verbs?
Many regular verbs are also weak verbs. Regular verbs form their past tense by adding -ed, -d, or -t. This is the defining characteristic of weak verbs. However, it's important to note that some irregular verbs may also be considered weak.
12. What are weak verbs V1 V2 V3?
V1, V2, and V3 represent the base form (present tense), past simple, and past participle forms of a verb, respectively. For weak verbs, V2 and V3 are typically identical and formed by adding -ed, -d, or -t. Example: walk (V1), walked (V2), walked (V3).
