As all live languages, American English is not a monolith. It has regional varieties. We mark regional forms as R, “regional”.
Translation in progress.
Regional varieties have second and third forms the same more often — we may compare the forms for “chide” or “hide”.
| chide | chid | chid |
| hide | hid | hid |
Regional variants also may follow a front-to-mid pattern more often.
We may mark this with a flourish.
| spin | spanR | spun |
Regular forms may prevail in standard American. They are not a novelty, however. King James’ Bible has a form as “builded”, for example.
Archaic or obsolete forms are those out of regular use. We do not
need to predict which forms might be alive; we can mark
forms that occur rarely as A, “aged”.
We will find our aged forms especially in poetry. Authors ― also American ― have used the forms for adjectives. We may follow in our wrought writings; we yet always have choice as learned people.
The prejudice about the language standard is that it excludes regional variety or prescribes which verb forms might ever be in use. Neither is true. These are prescriptive attitudes to language, and not language itself, to try to make rulings.
1. Second and third forms <o> – <o>
<oI> — <oI> — <oI> The <oI> resolves in y as in year, backed more than <o> alone. |
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spoil | spoiled /spoilt | spoiled/spoilt | |||||||||||||||
<o> – <o> – <o> | |||||||||||||||||
saw | sawed | sawed/sawn | |||||||||||||||
<ᴜ:> – <o> – <o> | |||||||||||||||||
lose | lost | lost | |||||||||||||||
shoe | shod/shoed | shod/shoed/shoddenR | |||||||||||||||
shoot | shot | shot/shottenR | |||||||||||||||
<з> — <o> — <o> | |||||||||||||||||
work | worked/wroughtA (transitive sense) | workedPREV / wroughtA (transitive sense) | |||||||||||||||
<ɅI > — <o> — <o> | |||||||||||||||||
buy | bought | bought | |||||||||||||||
fight | fought/foutR/fitR | fought/foughtenR/foutR/ fitR | |||||||||||||||
<æ> — <o> — <o> | |||||||||||||||||
catch | caught/catchedR | caught/catchedR | |||||||||||||||
<e:> — <o> — <o> | |||||||||||||||||
bear | bore | borne/born/boreR | |||||||||||||||
sell | sold | sold | |||||||||||||||
swear | swore/swareR | sworn/sworeR | |||||||||||||||
tear | tore/tareA | torn/tareA/toreR | |||||||||||||||
tell | told | told | |||||||||||||||
tread | trod/treaded | trodden/trodR/treadR | |||||||||||||||
wear | wore | worn/woreR | |||||||||||||||
Please compare: To bear, to lower the prices; beared <e>, beared <e>. To tear <tI:r>, to fill with tears, shed tears; teared <I:>, teared <I:> |
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<I> — <o> — <o> | |||||||||||||||||
| bring | brought/ brangR / brungR/ broughtenR | brought/ brangR / brungR/ broughtenR | ||||||||||||||
seek | sought | sought | |||||||||||||||
shear | sheared/shoreR | sheared/shorn | |||||||||||||||
teach | taught | taught | |||||||||||||||
think | thought/thunkR | thought/ thunkR | |||||||||||||||
<ou> — <oᴜ> — <oᴜ> | |||||||||||||||||
mow: to cut, crop | mowed | mowed/mown | |||||||||||||||
mow: to pile as in a haymow | mowed | mowed | |||||||||||||||
mow: to make faces | mowed | mowed | |||||||||||||||
sew: to stitch | sewed | sewed/sewn | |||||||||||||||
show | showed | showed/shown | |||||||||||||||
sow | sowed | sowed/sown | |||||||||||||||
Please compare to sew, to drain of water; sewed, sewed. | |||||||||||||||||
<ᴜ> — <oᴜ> — <oᴜ> |
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choose | chose | chosen/choseR | |||||||||||||||
<ɅI> — <oᴜ> — <oᴜ> | |||||||||||||||||
shine | shone/shined | shone/shined | |||||||||||||||
<eI> — <oᴜ> — <oᴜ> | |||||||||||||||||
break | broke/brakeR | broken/brokeR | |||||||||||||||
stave | stove/staved | stove/staved | |||||||||||||||
wake | woke/waked | woken/waked/wokeR | |||||||||||||||
<I:> — <oᴜ> — <oᴜ> | |||||||||||||||||
cleave: to separate | clove/cleaved/cleft/claveA | cloven/cleaved/cleft/ | |||||||||||||||
cleave to: to adhere | clove/cleaved/claveA | clove/cleaved | |||||||||||||||
freeze | froze/frizR | frozen/frozeR/frizR | |||||||||||||||
heave | hove/heaved/hovedR | hove/heaved/hovenA&R | |||||||||||||||
speak | spoke/spakeA | spoken/spokeA | |||||||||||||||
steal | stole | stolen/stoleR | |||||||||||||||
weave: to interlace | wove/weaved | woven/weaved | |||||||||||||||
Please compare to weave: to waver; weaved <I:>, weaved <I:>. | |||||||||||||||||
2. Second and third forms <ᴜ:> — <ᴜ:> <æ> — <ᴜ:> — <ᴜ:> |
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stand | stood | stood | |||||||||||||||
3. Second and third forms <з> — <з> <з> — <з> — <з> |
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burn | burned/burnt/brentR/bruntRBE | burned/burnt/brentR/bruntRBE | |||||||||||||||
learn | learned/learntBE | learned/learntBE | |||||||||||||||
<I> — <з> — <з> | |||||||||||||||||
hear | heard/hearedR / hearnA | heard/hearedR / hearnA | |||||||||||||||
4. Second and third forms <Ʌ> — <Ʌ>
<ɅI> — <Ʌ> — <Ʌ> |
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strike | struck | struck/stricken | |||||||||||||||
<Ʌ> — <Ʌ> — <Ʌ> | |||||||||||||||||
thrust | thrust | thrust | |||||||||||||||
<æ> — <Ʌ> — <Ʌ> | |||||||||||||||||
hang | hung/hanged | hung/hanged | |||||||||||||||
<e> — <Ʌ> — <Ʌ> | |||||||||||||||||
get | got/gatA | got/gotten | |||||||||||||||
<I> — <Ʌ> — <Ʌ> | |||||||||||||||||
| cling | clung/clangA | clung | ||||||||||||||
dig | dug | dug | |||||||||||||||
| fling | flung/flangR | flung | ||||||||||||||
| sling: to throw | slung/slangR | slung | ||||||||||||||
sling: to put in a sling | slung/slinged | slung/slinged | |||||||||||||||
| slink | slunk/slinkedR/slankR | slunk | ||||||||||||||
| spin | spun/spanR | spun | ||||||||||||||
stick | stuck | stuck | |||||||||||||||
| sting | stung/stangR | stung | ||||||||||||||
| stink (TABOO) | stunk/stankR | stunk | ||||||||||||||
| string | stringed/strung/strangR | stringed/strung | ||||||||||||||
| swing | swung/swangR | swung | ||||||||||||||
win | won | won | |||||||||||||||
wring | wrung | wrung | |||||||||||||||
Please compare:
To cling: to make a metallic sound; clinged, clinged. To sling: to drink alcohol (TABOO); slung/slinged, slung/slinged. To stick: to arrange, to support with a stick; sticked, sticked. Please compare the regional British to win: to reside (intransitive) winned, winned., and to win as to dry, won, won. |
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<ɅI> — <Ʌᴜ> — <Ʌᴜ> |
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bind | bound | bound/boundedA | |||||||||||||||
find | found | found | |||||||||||||||
grind | ground/grindedR/groundenA | ground/grindedR/ groundenA | |||||||||||||||
wind: to warp | winded <ɅI> / wound | winded <ɅI> / wound | |||||||||||||||
wind: to blow a horn | winded <ɅI> / wound | winded <ɅI> / wound | |||||||||||||||
Please compare to wind, to limit the breath, to expose to wind, dry; winded <ɅI>, winded <ɅI>, and to wind, to smell a scent;
winded <ɅI>, winded <ɅI>. |
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5. Second and third form <e> — <e>
<o> — <e> — <e> |
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hold | held/hiltR | held/holdenR | |||||||||||||||
<e> — <e> — <e> | |||||||||||||||||
bend | bent/bendedR | bent/bendedR | |||||||||||||||
blend: to blind, to deceive (aged, transitive only) | blend/blentA | blent/blendedA | |||||||||||||||
blend: to mix | blendedPREV / blent | blendedPREV / blent | |||||||||||||||
bless | blessedPREV / blest | blessedPREV / blest | |||||||||||||||
lend | lent | lent | |||||||||||||||
rend | rended/rent | rended/rent | |||||||||||||||
send | sent | sent | |||||||||||||||
smell | smelledPREV / smeltBE | smelled/smeltBE | |||||||||||||||
spell | spelled/speltBE | spelled/speltBE | |||||||||||||||
spend | spent | spent | |||||||||||||||
Please compare:
To blessA: to shake, brandish (a weapon); blessedA, blessedA. To spell: to take turns, to allow to rest; spelled, spelled. To spell: to becharm; spelled, spelled. |
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<eI> — <e> — <e> |
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gainsay | gainsaid | gainsaid | |||||||||||||||
say | said/saidestA/saidstA | said | |||||||||||||||
Please compare to say: to assay, to try, to test;
(as)sayed <eI>, (as)sayed <eI>.
<I> — <e> — <e> | ||||||||||||||
bereave | bereaved/bereft | bereaved/bereft/bereavenA | ||||||||||||
bleed | bled/bleededR | bled/bleededR | ||||||||||||
breed | bred | bred | ||||||||||||
deal | dealt | dealt | ||||||||||||
dream | dreamed/dreamt | dreamed/dreamt | ||||||||||||
feed | fed | fed | ||||||||||||
feel | felt | felt | ||||||||||||
flee | fled | fled | ||||||||||||
keep | kept | kept | ||||||||||||
kneel | kneeled/knelt | kneeled/knelt | ||||||||||||
lead | led | led | ||||||||||||
lean | leaned/ leantBE | leaned/leantBE | ||||||||||||
leap | leapedPREV / leapt | leapedPREV / leapt | ||||||||||||
leave | left | left | ||||||||||||
mean | meant/meanedA | meant/meanedA | ||||||||||||
meet | met | met | ||||||||||||
read | read | read | ||||||||||||
sleep | slept | slept | ||||||||||||
speed | speeded/sped | speeded/sped | ||||||||||||
sweep | swept | swept | ||||||||||||
weep | wept | wept | ||||||||||||
Please compare:
To bleedR: to be drained for, e.g. money (in the passive) TABOO; bleededR <I:>, bleededR. To bleedR: to produce or to make pass (baseball slang) TABOO; bleededR <I:>, bleededR. To lead <led>, to cover in lead; leaded <e>, leaded. To lean, to make inclined; leaned <I:>, leaned. To leave: to produce leaves; leaved <I:>, leaved. To mean: to mediateA; meanedA <I:>, meanedA. |
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<ɅI> — <eI> — <eI> |
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lie: to repose | lay | lain/lienA <Iə> | ||||||||||||
Please compare to lie <ɅI>, to make a false statement; lied <ɅI>, lied.
<eI> — <eI> — <eI> |
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inlay | inlaid | inlaid | ||||||||||||
lade | laded | laded/laden | ||||||||||||
lay | laid | laid | ||||||||||||
make | made | made | ||||||||||||
pay | paid | paid | ||||||||||||
shave | shaved | shavedPREV /shaven | ||||||||||||
Please compare:
To pay: to slacken (a rope, for example); paid/payed, paid/payed. To shave: to reduce in amount; shaved, shaved. |
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6. Second and third forms <I> — <I>
<ɅI> — <I> — <I> |
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bite | bit | bitten/bitR | ||||||||||||
chide | chided /chid/chodeA | chided /chid/chidden | ||||||||||||
hide | hid | hidden/hid | ||||||||||||
light: to brighten | lighted/lit | lighted/lit | ||||||||||||
light: to dismount | lightedPREV / lit | lightedPREV / lit | ||||||||||||
slide | slid/slidedR/slodR | slid/slidedR/sliddenA | ||||||||||||
Please compare:
To hide: to punish by beating TABOO; hided <ɅI>, hided. To be/feel slided: to be/feel cheated or wasted (in the passive) TABOO; slided <ɅI>, slided. To slip-slide: to become lower in grade; slip-slided <ɅI>, slip-slided. |
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<I> — <I> — <I>cccc | ||||||||||||||
build | built/buildedA | built/buildedA | ||||||||||||
gild | gilded/gilt | gilded/gilt | ||||||||||||
gird | girded/girt | girded/girt | ||||||||||||
hit | hit | hit | ||||||||||||
knit | knitted/knit/knetR | knitted/knit/knetR | ||||||||||||
rid | ridded /rid | ridded /rid | ||||||||||||
spill | spilled /spilt | spilled /spilt | ||||||||||||
Please compare:
To girdBE: to strike, to mock; girdedBE, girdedBE. |
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<I:> — <I:> — <I:> | ||||||||||||||
beat | beat | beaten/beatR/betR | ||||||||||||
7. We may view irregular patterns as back-to-front. <ɅI:> — <oᴜ> — <I:> |
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drive | drove/draveA/drivR/druvR | driven/droveA/ drivR/druvR | ||||||||||||
ride | rode/ridR/radeR | ridden/ridR/rodeR | ||||||||||||
rise | rose/riseA/rizR | risen/rizR | ||||||||||||
rive | rived/rove | rived/riven | ||||||||||||
shrive | shrived/shrove | shrived/shriven | ||||||||||||
smite | smote/smit | smitten/smote/smit | ||||||||||||
stride | strode | stridden | ||||||||||||
strive | strived/strove | strived/striven/stroveR/ | ||||||||||||
thrive | thrived/throve | thrived/thriven | ||||||||||||
write | wrote/writR | written/wroteR/writR | ||||||||||||
The <I> in <ɅI:> becomes a glide’ it sounds as the y in “you”. | ||||||||||||||
8. We also may view irregular patterns as front-to-mid. <I> — <æ> — <Ʌ> |
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| begin | began/begunR | begun | |||||||||||
| drink | drank/drunkR/drinkedR | drunk/drankR/drinkedR/ drunkenA | |||||||||||
| ring | rang | rung | |||||||||||
| shrink | shrank/shrunkR | shrunk/shrunken | |||||||||||
| sing | sang/sungR | sung/sangR | |||||||||||
| sink | sank/sunkR | sunk/sunken | |||||||||||
| spring | sprang/sprungR | sprung | |||||||||||
| swim | swam/swumR | swum/swamR | |||||||||||
Please compare:
To ring: to put on or form a ring; ringed <I>, ringed. To spring: to supply with springs; springed <I>PREV / sprung, springed <I>PREV / sprung. |
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<I> — <æ> — <æ> |
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sit | sat/sotR/sateA | sat/sotR/sittenA | ||||||||||||
spit | spit/spat | spit/spat/spittedR/spittenA | ||||||||||||
Please compare to spit: to fix (like) with a spit, that is, a pointed rod; spitted, spitted. | ||||||||||||||
9. Third form vowel quality may recur to the base form. |
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<o> — <ᴜ> — <o> | ||||||||||||||
draw | drew/drawedR | drawn | ||||||||||||
know | knew/knowedR | known/knowedR | ||||||||||||
<o> — <e> — <o> | ||||||||||||||
fall | fell | fallen | ||||||||||||
<oᴜ> — <ᴜ> — <oᴜ> | ||||||||||||||
blow: to make a current of air | blew/blowedR | blown/blowedR | ||||||||||||
blow, (aged, to blossom) | blewA | blown/bloweA | ||||||||||||
crow | crowedPREV / crew | crowed | ||||||||||||
grow | grew/growedR | grown/growedR | ||||||||||||
throw | threw/throwedR/trunR | thrown/throwedR | ||||||||||||
<Ʌ> — <æ> — <Ʌ> | ||||||||||||||
| run | ran/runR | run | |||||||||||
<Ʌ> — <eI> — <Ʌ> | ||||||||||||||
come | came/comeR/comedR | come/comedR | ||||||||||||
<eI> — <ᴜ> — <eI> | ||||||||||||||
shake | shook/shakedR/shakenR | shaken/shakedR | ||||||||||||
take | took/takenR | taken/tookR | ||||||||||||
<I> — <eI> — <I> | ||||||||||||||
bid | bade/bid/badA | bidden/bid/bade | ||||||||||||
give | gave/give/givR/guvR | given/givR/guvR | ||||||||||||
<I:> — <o:> — <I:> | ||||||||||||||
see | saw/seedR/seenR | seen/seedR/sawR | ||||||||||||
<I:> — <o:/e:> — <I:> | ||||||||||||||
be | was/were | been | ||||||||||||
<I:> — <eI> — <I:> | ||||||||||||||
eat | ate/eatR | eaten/eatR | ||||||||||||
Learning, we may focus on particular speech sounds. | ||||||||||||||
<ᴜ:> — <I> — <Ʌ> | ||||||||||||||
do | did/doneR/didstA | done | ||||||||||||
<ou> — <e> — <Ʌ> | ||||||||||||||
go | went/goedR | gone/wentR | ||||||||||||
<ɅI> — <U> — <oU> | ||||||||||||||
fly | flew | flown | ||||||||||||
<e> — <e> — <o> | ||||||||||||||
swell | swelled | swelled/swollen | ||||||||||||
The verb to have remains “focused”.
<æ> — <æ> — <æ> |
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have/has | had | had | ||||||||||||
Let us try an exercise.
Exercise 31. Let us think if we could “sum up” verb forms. If we look these here up in a dictionary, we will find that word sense may not be a mere sum. Let us think what the three verb forms would be:
become, befall, beget, behold, beseech, beset, betake, bethink, forbear, forbid, forecast, foreknow, foresee, foretell, forget, forgive, forsake, forswear, hamstring, miscast, misdeal, misgive, mislay, mislead, misspell, misspend, mistake, misunderstand, outbid, outdo, outgo, outgrow, outride, outrun, outshine, overbear, overcast, overcome, overdo, overhang, overhear, overlay, overleap, overlie, overlook, override, overrun, oversee, overshoot, oversleep, overtake, overthrow, partake, recast, remake, repay, rerun, reset, retell, rewrite, unbend, unbind, underbid, undergo, understand, undertake, undo, waylay, withdraw, withhold, withstand.