Les verbes irréguliers anglais, la liste complète
Les 254 verbes irréguliers de l'anglais courant et soutenu, avec leur prétérit, leur participe passé et leur traduction, du plus fréquent au plus rare.
En bref
En anglais, un verbe irrégulier est un verbe dont le prétérit ou le participe passé ne se forme pas en -ed, comme go, went, gone. Il faut les apprendre par cœur. Les plus fréquents passent en premier, et les verbes qui changent de la même façon se retiennent mieux ensemble, par famille.
Ce qu'est un verbe irrégulier
Un verbe irrégulier est un verbe anglais dont le prétérit, le participe passé, ou les deux, ne se forment pas en ajoutant -ed à la base verbale : see, saw, seen au lieu de *seed.
Chaque verbe a trois formes à connaître. La base verbale sert au présent et après to ou un modal. Le prétérit sert au passé simple (I saw her), voir la leçon sur le prétérit. Le participe passé sert au present perfect, au past perfect et à la voix passive (I have seen, it was seen).
Les familles de verbes irréguliers
Les verbes irréguliers ne sont pas tous irréguliers de la même manière. Les ranger par famille réduit beaucoup l'effort de mémoire.
| Famille | Exemple | Verbes |
|---|---|---|
| Prétérit et participe identiques | buy, bought, bought | 119 |
| Trois formes différentes | go, went, gone | 88 |
| Participe identique à la base | come, came, come | 7 |
| Trois formes identiques | cut, cut, cut | 38 |
| Base et prétérit identiques | beat, beat, beaten | 2 |
Prétérit et participe identiques (119)
have had had · say said said · get got got/gotten · make made made · think thought thought · hold held held · find found found · tell told told · spend spent spent · win won won · feel felt felt · leave left left · mean meant meant · keep kept kept · buy bought bought · send sent sent · hear heard heard · build built built · teach taught taught · bring brought brought · sit sat sat · stand stood stood · lose lost lost · pay paid paid · meet met met · catch caught caught · learn learnt/learned learnt/learned · sleep slept slept · seek sought sought · strike struck struck/stricken · hang hung/hanged hung/hanged · sell sold sold · shoot shot shot · deal dealt dealt · fight fought fought · lead led led · feed fed fed · stick stuck stuck · dig dug dug · burn burnt/burned burnt/burned · swing swung swung · bend bent bent · spin spun spun · flee fled fled · slide slid slid · dream dreamt/dreamed dreamt/dreamed · spell spelt/spelled spelt/spelled · wind wound wound · sweep swept swept · speed sped/speeded sped/speeded · breed bred bred · bind bound bound · creep crept crept · sting stung stung · bleed bled bled · spit spat/spit spat/spit · cling clung clung · dive dived/dove dived/dove · dwell dwelt/dwelled dwelt/dwelled · fling flung flung · grind ground ground · knit knitted/knit knitted/knit · lay laid laid · lean leant/leaned leant/leaned · leap leapt/leaped leapt/leaped · lend lent lent · light lit/lighted lit/lighted · shine shone/shined shone/shined · smell smelt/smelled smelt/smelled · spill spilt/spilled spilt/spilled · spoil spoilt/spoiled spoilt/spoiled · uphold upheld upheld · weep wept wept · wring wrung wrung · misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood · mislead misled misled · kneel knelt/kneeled knelt/kneeled · mislay mislaid mislaid · misspell misspelt/misspelled misspelt/misspelled · behold beheld beheld · foretell foretold foretold · misspend misspent misspent · outsell outsold outsold · outshine outshone/outshined outshone/outshined · cleave cleft/clove/cleaved cleft/cloven/cleaved · clothe clothed/clad clothed/clad · gild gilded/gilt gilded/gilt · gird girded/girt girded/girt · mishear misheard misheard · beseech besought/beseeched besought/beseeched · gainsay gainsaid gainsaid · crossbreed crossbred crossbred · inbreed inbred inbred · interbreed interbred interbred · inlay inlaid inlaid · misdeal misdealt misdealt · overhang overhung overhung · overhear overheard overheard · overlay overlaid overlaid · overpay overpaid overpaid · overshoot overshot overshot · oversleep overslept overslept · prepay prepaid prepaid · presell presold presold · rebuild rebuilt rebuilt · remake remade remade · rend rent/rended rent/rended · repay repaid repaid · resell resold resold · retell retold retold · rethink rethought rethought · slink slunk slunk · spellbind spellbound spellbound · spoon-feed spoon-fed spoon-fed · stave staved/stove staved/stove · unbend unbent unbent · undersell undersold undersold · understand understood understood · unwind unwound unwound
Trois formes différentes (88)
be was/were been · do did done · go went gone/been · know knew known · take took taken · see saw seen · give gave given · speak spoke spoken · grow grew grown · begin began begun · show showed shown/showed · fall fell fallen · choose chose chosen · write wrote written · break broke broken · throw threw thrown · wear wore worn · fly flew flown · drink drank drunk · bear bore borne/born · hide hid hidden · draw drew drawn · drive drove driven · eat ate eaten · forget forgot forgotten/forgot · lie lay lain · ride rode ridden · ring rang rung · rise rose risen · shake shook shaken · sing sang sung · blow blew blown · swim swam swum · wake woke/waked woken/waked · bite bit bitten · steal stole stolen · withdraw withdrew withdrawn · swear swore sworn · sink sank/sunk sunk · spring sprang/sprung sprung · stink stank/stunk stunk · forbid forbade/forbad forbidden · forgive forgave forgiven · freeze froze frozen · sew sewed sewn/sewed · shrink shrank/shrunk shrunk/shrunken · slay slew/slayed slain/slayed · sow sowed sown/sowed · stride strode stridden · strive strove/strived striven/strived · tear tore torn · tread trod trodden/trod · undergo underwent undergone · undo undid undone · weave wove/weaved woven/weaved · arise arose arisen · awake awoke/awaked awoken/awaked · mistake mistook mistaken · foresee foresaw foreseen · forsake forsook forsaken · outgrow outgrew outgrown · outdo outdid outdone · forgo forwent forgone · befall befell befallen · beget begot/begat begotten/begot · forswear forswore forsworn · interweave interwove/interweaved interwoven/interweaved · bespeak bespoke bespoken/bespoke · bestride bestrode bestridden · betake betook betaken · countersink countersank countersunk · handwrite handwrote handwritten · overdo overdid overdone · overdraw overdrew overdrawn · overeat overate overeaten · overfly overflew overflown · override overrode overridden · oversee oversaw overseen · overtake overtook overtaken · overthrow overthrew overthrown · partake partook partaken · redo redid redone · rewrite rewrote rewritten · smite smote smitten/smote · strew strewed strewn/strewed · swell swelled swollen/swelled · typewrite typewrote typewritten · underlie underlay underlain
Participe identique à la base (7)
come came come · run ran run · become became become · overcome overcame overcome · outrun outran outrun · overrun overran overrun · rerun reran rerun
Trois formes identiques (38)
read read read · put put put · let let let · cut cut cut · set set set · spread spread spread · cost cost cost · hurt hurt hurt · shut shut shut · cast cast cast · split split split · burst burst burst · bet bet/betted bet/betted · wet wet/wetted wet/wetted · hit hit hit · quit quit/quitted quit/quitted · rid rid/ridded rid/ridded · shed shed shed · slit slit slit · upset upset upset · wed wed/wedded wed/wedded · broadcast broadcast/broadcasted broadcast/broadcasted · forecast forecast/forecasted forecast/forecasted · bid bid/bade bid/bidden · offset offset offset · misread misread misread · overcast overcast overcast · outbid outbid outbid · lipread lipread lipread · dispread dispread dispread · proofread proofread proofread · recast recast recast · reset reset reset · sight-read sight-read sight-read · sublet sublet sublet · typeset typeset typeset · underbid underbid underbid · undercut undercut undercut
Base et prétérit identiques (2)
beat beat beaten/beat · browbeat browbeat browbeaten
La liste complète, triable
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| 1 | be | was / were | been | être | A1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | have | had | had | avoir | A1 |
| 3 | do | did | done | faire | A1 |
| 4 | say | said | said | dire | A1 |
| 5 | go | went | gone / been | aller, se rendre | A1 |
| 6 | get | got | got / gotten | obtenir, recevoir | A1 |
| 7 | make | made | made | faire, fabriquer | A1 |
| 8 | know | knew | known | savoir, connaître | A1 |
| 9 | think | thought | thought | penser, réfléchir | A1 |
| 10 | take | took | taken | prendre | A1 |
| 11 | see | saw | seen | voir | A1 |
| 12 | come | came | come | venir | A1 |
| 13 | hold | held | held | tenir, retenir, organiser | A2 |
| 15 | find | found | found | trouver | A1 |
| 16 | give | gave | given | donner | A1 |
| 17 | tell | told | told | dire, raconter | A1 |
| 18 | speak | spoke | spoken | parler | A1 |
| 19 | read | read | read | lire | A1 |
| 20 | spend | spent | spent | dépenser, passer (du temps) | A2 |
| 21 | grow | grew | grown | grandir, pousser, cultiver | A2 |
| 22 | win | won | won | gagner, remporter | A2 |
| 23 | feel | felt | felt | sentir, ressentir | A1 |
| 25 | leave | left | left | partir, quitter, laisser | A1 |
| 26 | put | put | put | mettre, poser | A1 |
| 27 | mean | meant | meant | signifier, vouloir dire | A2 |
| 28 | keep | kept | kept | garder, conserver | A1 |
| 29 | let | let | let | laisser, permettre | A2 |
| 30 | begin | began | begun | commencer | A1 |
| 31 | buy | bought | bought | acheter | A1 |
| 32 | send | sent | sent | envoyer | A1 |
| 33 | show | showed | shown / showed | montrer | A1 |
| 34 | hear | heard | heard | entendre | A1 |
| 35 | build | built | built | construire, bâtir | A2 |
| 36 | run | ran | run | courir, diriger | A1 |
| 37 | fall | fell | fallen | tomber | A1 |
| 38 | cut | cut | cut | couper | A1 |
| 39 | teach | taught | taught | enseigner, apprendre (à quelqu'un) | A2 |
| 40 | bring | brought | brought | apporter, amener | A1 |
| 41 | choose | chose | chosen | choisir | A2 |
| 42 | write | wrote | written | écrire | A1 |
| 43 | sit | sat | sat | s'asseoir, être assis | A1 |
| 44 | stand | stood | stood | être debout, se tenir, supporter | A2 |
| 45 | lose | lost | lost | perdre | A2 |
| 46 | pay | paid | paid | payer | A1 |
| 47 | meet | met | met | rencontrer, retrouver | A1 |
| 48 | catch | caught | caught | attraper, saisir | A2 |
| 49 | break | broke | broken | casser, briser | A1 |
| 50 | set | set | set | poser, fixer, régler | A2 |
| 51 | learn | learnt / learned | learnt / learned | apprendre | A1 |
| 53 | sleep | slept | slept | dormir | A1 |
| 54 | throw | threw | thrown | jeter, lancer | A2 |
| 55 | wear | wore | worn | porter (un vêtement) | A2 |
| 56 | seek | sought | sought | chercher, rechercher, solliciter | B2 |
| 61 | fly | flew | flown | voler, prendre l'avion | A2 |
| 62 | strike | struck | struck / stricken | frapper, faire grève | B2 |
| 65 | spread | spread | spread | répandre, étaler, se propager | B1 |
| 66 | beat | beat | beaten / beat | battre, vaincre | B1 |
| 67 | hang | hung / hanged | hung / hanged | accrocher, suspendre, pendre | B1 |
| 74 | drink | drank | drunk | boire | A1 |
| 75 | bear | bore | borne / born | supporter, porter | B2 |
| 76 | hide | hid | hidden | cacher, se cacher | A2 |
| 77 | sell | sold | sold | vendre | A2 |
| 81 | shoot | shot | shot | tirer, tourner (un film) | B1 |
| 84 | draw | drew | drawn | dessiner, tirer | A2 |
| 86 | cost | cost | cost | coûter | A2 |
| 87 | deal | dealt | dealt | traiter, gérer, distribuer | B1 |
| 88 | drive | drove | driven | conduire | A2 |
| 89 | eat | ate | eaten | manger | A1 |
| 90 | fight | fought | fought | combattre, se battre | B1 |
| 91 | forget | forgot | forgotten / forgot | oublier | A1 |
| 93 | hurt | hurt | hurt | blesser, faire mal | A2 |
| 94 | lead | led | led | mener, diriger | B1 |
| 95 | lie | lay | lain | être allongé, se trouver | B1 |
| 96 | ride | rode | ridden | monter (à cheval, à vélo) | A2 |
| 97 | ring | rang | rung | sonner, téléphoner | A2 |
| 98 | rise | rose | risen | monter, s'élever, se lever | B1 |
| 99 | shake | shook | shaken | secouer, trembler | B1 |
| 100 | shut | shut | shut | fermer | A2 |
| 101 | become | became | become | devenir | A1 |
| 109 | feed | fed | fed | nourrir, donner à manger | A2 |
| 110 | sing | sang | sung | chanter | A1 |
| 111 | blow | blew | blown | souffler | B1 |
| 113 | swim | swam | swum | nager | A1 |
| 114 | wake | woke / waked | woken / waked | se réveiller, réveiller | A2 |
| 115 | cast | cast | cast | jeter, projeter, distribuer les rôles | B2 |
| 116 | stick | stuck | stuck | coller, coincer | B1 |
| 117 | dig | dug | dug | creuser | B1 |
| 119 | bite | bit | bitten | mordre | A2 |
| 120 | steal | stole | stolen | voler, dérober | A2 |
| 121 | split | split | split | diviser, partager, fendre | B1 |
| 122 | burn | burnt / burned | burnt / burned | brûler | A2 |
| 123 | withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn | retirer, se retirer | B2 |
| 124 | swing | swung | swung | balancer, se balancer | B1 |
| 125 | bend | bent | bent | plier, courber | B1 |
| 126 | burst | burst | burst | éclater, exploser | B2 |
| 127 | spin | spun | spun | tourner, filer | B2 |
| 128 | flee | fled | fled | fuir, s'enfuir | B2 |
| 129 | swear | swore | sworn | jurer | B2 |
| 130 | sink | sank / sunk | sunk | couler, sombrer | B1 |
| 131 | slide | slid | slid | glisser | B1 |
| 132 | bet | bet / betted | bet / betted | parier | B1 |
| 133 | dream | dreamt / dreamed | dreamt / dreamed | rêver | A2 |
| 134 | spell | spelt / spelled | spelt / spelled | épeler, orthographier | A2 |
| 135 | wind | wound | wound | enrouler, remonter (une montre), serpenter | B2 |
| 136 | sweep | swept | swept | balayer | B1 |
| 137 | speed | sped / speeded | sped / speeded | aller à vive allure, se déplacer rapidement | B1 |
| 138 | breed | bred | bred | élever (des animaux), se reproduire | B2 |
| 139 | bind | bound | bound | lier, attacher, relier | B2 |
| 140 | creep | crept | crept | ramper, se glisser furtivement | B2 |
| 141 | spring | sprang / sprung | sprung | bondir, jaillir | B2 |
| 142 | sting | stung | stung | piquer | B1 |
| 143 | bleed | bled | bled | saigner | B1 |
| 144 | spit | spat / spit | spat / spit | cracher | B2 |
| 145 | stink | stank / stunk | stunk | puer, empester | B2 |
| 146 | cling | clung | clung | s'accrocher, se cramponner | C1 |
| 147 | dive | dived / dove | dived / dove | plonger | B1 |
| 149 | wet | wet / wetted | wet / wetted | mouiller | B1 |
| 150 | dwell | dwelt / dwelled | dwelt / dwelled | habiter, résider | C1 |
| 151 | fling | flung | flung | lancer, jeter violemment | B2 |
| 153 | forbid | forbade / forbad | forbidden | interdire | B2 |
| 154 | forgive | forgave | forgiven | pardonner | B1 |
| 155 | freeze | froze | frozen | geler, congeler | B1 |
| 156 | grind | ground | ground | moudre, broyer | B2 |
| 159 | hit | hit | hit | frapper, heurter | A2 |
| 161 | knit | knitted / knit | knitted / knit | tricoter | B2 |
| 162 | lay | laid | laid | poser, déposer | B1 |
| 163 | lean | leant / leaned | leant / leaned | s'appuyer, se pencher | B1 |
| 164 | leap | leapt / leaped | leapt / leaped | bondir, sauter | B2 |
| 165 | lend | lent | lent | prêter | A2 |
| 166 | light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted | allumer, éclairer | B1 |
| 168 | overcome | overcame | overcome | surmonter, vaincre | B2 |
| 169 | quit | quit / quitted | quit / quitted | quitter, arrêter, démissionner | B1 |
| 170 | rid | rid / ridded | rid / ridded | débarrasser | C1 |
| 172 | sew | sewed | sewn / sewed | coudre | B1 |
| 173 | shed | shed | shed | perdre (ses feuilles), verser (des larmes) | B2 |
| 174 | shine | shone / shined | shone / shined | briller, faire briller | B1 |
| 177 | shrink | shrank / shrunk | shrunk / shrunken | rétrécir | B2 |
| 179 | slay | slew / slayed | slain / slayed | tuer, abattre | C2 |
| 180 | slit | slit | slit | fendre, inciser | C1 |
| 181 | smell | smelt / smelled | smelt / smelled | sentir | A2 |
| 182 | sow | sowed | sown / sowed | semer | B2 |
| 183 | spill | spilt / spilled | spilt / spilled | renverser, répandre | B1 |
| 184 | spoil | spoilt / spoiled | spoilt / spoiled | gâcher, gâter | B1 |
| 185 | stride | strode | stridden | marcher à grands pas | C1 |
| 186 | strive | strove / strived | striven / strived | s'efforcer, lutter | C1 |
| 188 | tear | tore | torn | déchirer | B1 |
| 189 | tread | trod | trodden / trod | marcher sur, fouler | C1 |
| 190 | undergo | underwent | undergone | subir | B2 |
| 191 | undo | undid | undone | défaire, annuler | B1 |
| 192 | uphold | upheld | upheld | maintenir, confirmer | C1 |
| 193 | upset | upset | upset | contrarier, bouleverser | B1 |
| 194 | weave | wove / weaved | woven / weaved | tisser, se faufiler | C1 |
| 195 | wed | wed / wedded | wed / wedded | épouser, marier | C1 |
| 196 | weep | wept | wept | pleurer | B2 |
| 197 | wring | wrung | wrung | tordre, essorer | C1 |
| 199 | arise | arose | arisen | survenir, se présenter | B2 |
| 200 | awake | awoke / awaked | awoken / awaked | se réveiller, réveiller | B2 |
| 201 | mistake | mistook | mistaken | confondre, se tromper sur | B1 |
| 202 | misunderstand | misunderstood | misunderstood | mal comprendre | B1 |
| 204 | broadcast | broadcast / broadcasted | broadcast / broadcasted | diffuser, retransmettre | B1 |
| 205 | forecast | forecast / forecasted | forecast / forecasted | prévoir | B2 |
| 206 | mislead | misled | misled | induire en erreur, tromper | B2 |
| 207 | kneel | knelt / kneeled | knelt / kneeled | s'agenouiller | B1 |
| 208 | bid | bid / bade | bid / bidden | enchérir ; ordonner, souhaiter | B2 |
| 209 | offset | offset | offset | compenser, contrebalancer | B2 |
| 210 | foresee | foresaw | foreseen | prévoir, anticiper | B2 |
| 211 | forsake | forsook | forsaken | abandonner, renoncer à | C1 |
| 212 | outgrow | outgrew | outgrown | devenir trop grand pour, passer l'âge de | B2 |
| 213 | misread | misread | misread | mal lire, mal interpréter | B2 |
| 214 | outdo | outdid | outdone | surpasser, faire mieux que | B2 |
| 215 | outrun | outran | outrun | distancer, courir plus vite que | B2 |
| 216 | overcast | overcast | overcast | couvrir (le ciel), assombrir | C1 |
| 218 | mislay | mislaid | mislaid | égarer | B2 |
| 219 | misspell | misspelt / misspelled | misspelt / misspelled | mal orthographier | B2 |
| 220 | behold | beheld | beheld | contempler, voir | C1 |
| 221 | foretell | foretold | foretold | prédire, présager | C1 |
| 222 | forgo | forwent | forgone | renoncer à, se passer de | C1 |
| 223 | misspend | misspent | misspent | gaspiller, mal employer | C1 |
| 224 | outbid | outbid | outbid | surenchérir sur, enchérir plus haut que | C1 |
| 225 | outsell | outsold | outsold | se vendre mieux que, dépasser en ventes | B2 |
| 226 | outshine | outshone / outshined | outshone / outshined | éclipser, surpasser | C1 |
| 227 | befall | befell | befallen | arriver à, frapper (un malheur) | C1 |
| 228 | cleave | cleft / clove / cleaved | cleft / cloven / cleaved | fendre ; s'attacher à | C2 |
| 229 | clothe | clothed / clad | clothed / clad | vêtir, habiller | B2 |
| 230 | gild | gilded / gilt | gilded / gilt | dorer | C1 |
| 231 | gird | girded / girt | girded / girt | ceindre, se préparer (à) | C2 |
| 232 | mishear | misheard | misheard | mal entendre, comprendre de travers | B2 |
| 233 | beget | begot / begat | begotten / begot | engendrer | C2 |
| 234 | beseech | besought / beseeched | besought / beseeched | supplier, implorer | C2 |
| 235 | gainsay | gainsaid | gainsaid | contredire, nier | C2 |
| 236 | forswear | forswore | forsworn | abjurer, renoncer solennellement à | C2 |
| 237 | interweave | interwove / interweaved | interwoven / interweaved | entrelacer, entremêler | C1 |
| 238 | browbeat | browbeat | browbeaten | intimider, rudoyer | C1 |
| 239 | bespeak | bespoke | bespoken / bespoke | témoigner de, révéler ; commander sur mesure | C2 |
| 240 | bestride | bestrode | bestridden | enjamber, chevaucher, dominer | C2 |
| 241 | betake | betook | betaken | se rendre (quelque part) | C2 |
| 242 | crossbreed | crossbred | crossbred | croiser (des races, des variétés) | C1 |
| 243 | inbreed | inbred | inbred | reproduire par consanguinité | C2 |
| 244 | interbreed | interbred | interbred | se croiser, s'hybrider | C1 |
| 245 | inlay | inlaid | inlaid | incruster, marqueter | C2 |
| 246 | misdeal | misdealt | misdealt | mal distribuer (les cartes) | C2 |
| 247 | countersink | countersank | countersunk | fraiser (un trou), noyer (une vis) | C2 |
| 248 | handwrite | handwrote | handwritten | écrire à la main | C1 |
| 249 | lipread | lipread | lipread | lire sur les lèvres | C1 |
| 250 | dispread | dispread | dispread | déployer, étaler | C2 |
| 251 | overdo | overdid | overdone | exagérer, en faire trop | B2 |
| 252 | overdraw | overdrew | overdrawn | mettre à découvert | C1 |
| 253 | overeat | overate | overeaten | trop manger | B2 |
| 254 | overfly | overflew | overflown | survoler | C1 |
| 255 | overhang | overhung | overhung | surplomber | C1 |
| 256 | overhear | overheard | overheard | entendre par hasard, surprendre (une conversation) | B1 |
| 257 | overlay | overlaid | overlaid | recouvrir, superposer | B2 |
| 258 | overpay | overpaid | overpaid | surpayer, payer trop cher | B2 |
| 259 | override | overrode | overridden | passer outre, annuler, outrepasser | B2 |
| 260 | overrun | overran | overrun | envahir, dépasser (le temps prévu) | B2 |
| 261 | oversee | oversaw | overseen | superviser, surveiller | B2 |
| 262 | overshoot | overshot | overshot | dépasser (une cible, un objectif) | B2 |
| 263 | oversleep | overslept | overslept | se réveiller en retard, dormir trop longtemps | A2 |
| 264 | overtake | overtook | overtaken | dépasser, doubler | B1 |
| 265 | overthrow | overthrew | overthrown | renverser (un régime, un pouvoir) | B2 |
| 266 | partake | partook | partaken | prendre part, participer | C1 |
| 267 | prepay | prepaid | prepaid | payer d'avance | B2 |
| 268 | presell | presold | presold | vendre en prévente, prévendre | C1 |
| 269 | proofread | proofread | proofread | relire, corriger des épreuves | B2 |
| 270 | rebuild | rebuilt | rebuilt | reconstruire | B1 |
| 271 | recast | recast | recast | refondre, redistribuer (un rôle) | C1 |
| 272 | redo | redid | redone | refaire | A2 |
| 273 | remake | remade | remade | refaire, recréer | B1 |
| 274 | rend | rent / rended | rent / rended | déchirer, fendre | C2 |
| 275 | repay | repaid | repaid | rembourser | B1 |
| 276 | rerun | reran | rerun | relancer, rediffuser | B2 |
| 277 | resell | resold | resold | revendre | B1 |
| 278 | reset | reset | reset | réinitialiser, remettre à zéro | A2 |
| 279 | retell | retold | retold | raconter de nouveau | B1 |
| 280 | rethink | rethought | rethought | repenser, reconsidérer | B2 |
| 281 | rewrite | rewrote | rewritten | réécrire | B1 |
| 282 | sight-read | sight-read | sight-read | déchiffrer (une partition) | C1 |
| 283 | slink | slunk | slunk | se faufiler, s'esquiver | C1 |
| 284 | smite | smote | smitten / smote | frapper, terrasser | C2 |
| 285 | spellbind | spellbound | spellbound | envoûter, captiver | C1 |
| 286 | spoon-feed | spoon-fed | spoon-fed | donner à la cuillère, mâcher le travail | C1 |
| 287 | stave | staved / stove | staved / stove | défoncer, enfoncer | C2 |
| 288 | strew | strewed | strewn / strewed | joncher, éparpiller | C1 |
| 289 | sublet | sublet | sublet | sous-louer | B2 |
| 290 | swell | swelled | swollen / swelled | enfler, gonfler | B1 |
| 291 | typeset | typeset | typeset | composer (un texte) | C1 |
| 292 | typewrite | typewrote | typewritten | taper à la machine | C2 |
| 293 | unbend | unbent | unbent | redresser, se détendre | C1 |
| 294 | underbid | underbid | underbid | sous-enchérir, faire une offre inférieure | C1 |
| 295 | undercut | undercut | undercut | casser les prix, saper | B2 |
| 297 | underlie | underlay | underlain | sous-tendre | C1 |
| 298 | undersell | undersold | undersold | vendre moins cher, sous-estimer la valeur de | C1 |
| 299 | understand | understood | understood | comprendre | A1 |
| 300 | unwind | unwound | unwound | dérouler, se détendre | B1 |
Comment les apprendre
Commencez par les cinquante premiers du tableau, les plus fréquents. Apprenez-les par dix, toujours dans une phrase complète (I took the train plutôt que take, took, taken seul), et revoyez chaque série le lendemain, puis à intervalles de plus en plus longs. C'est la répétition espacée.
Les pièges des francophones viennent surtout du participe passé, qu'on confond avec le prétérit (I have went au lieu de I have gone), et des verbes devenus réguliers en anglais américain (learnt ou learned, les deux sont justes).
Questions fréquentes
Combien y a-t-il de verbes irréguliers en anglais ?
Il n'existe pas de nombre officiel. Tout dépend des verbes rares et des composés (overdo, mistake) qu'une liste retient. Celle-ci en compte 254, rangés du plus fréquent au plus rare. Les cinquante premiers suffisent à la plupart des conversations.
Quels verbes irréguliers apprendre en premier ?
Les plus fréquents, triés par rang dans le tableau : be, have, do, say, go, get, make, know, think, take. Ils reviennent dans presque chaque phrase. Ensuite, apprenez par famille, les verbes qui changent de la même façon se retiennent ensemble.
Learnt ou learned, quelle est la différence ?
Les deux sont corrects. Learnt, dreamt, spelt, burnt sont plus fréquents en anglais britannique, learned, dreamed, spelled, burned en anglais américain, où ces verbes sont devenus réguliers. Le tableau donne les deux formes quand elles existent.
Comment retenir les verbes irréguliers anglais ?
Par petites séries, dans une phrase, et en révisant juste avant de les oublier. C'est le principe de la répétition espacée. Une liste lue d'une traite s'oublie en quelques jours, une série de dix verbes revue le lendemain, puis trois jours plus tard, puis une semaine plus tard, s'installe.
Dans Copybook, ces 254 verbes forment un paquet de cartes illustrées, revues en répétition espacée avec une phrase d'exemple. Les 50 plus fréquents sont dans la formule gratuite.
Réviser les verbes irréguliers