Quizzes

Irregular Verbs Quiz

In this quiz, we will put your knowledge of these troublesome verbs to the test.

Shai K. 7/19/2026

English is a wonderfully unruly language, and nowhere more so than in its verbs. Most behave themselves and simply take an "ed" at the end, but a stubborn few refuse to follow the rules. We drink, drank, and have drunk. We lay a book down, but we lie down ourselves. Pictures are hung, yet criminals are hanged. These irregular verbs trip up even confident writers, and some of them hide surprising histories. In this quiz, we will put your knowledge of these troublesome verbs to the test.

Yesterday I ______ three glasses of water.

drink

drank

drunk

drinked

I ______ across the lake last summer.

swimmed

swum

swim

swam

Which is correct when speaking of an execution?

The criminal was hung at dawn.

The criminal was hunged at dawn.

The criminal was hanged at dawn.

The criminal was hanging at dawn.

"Lay" (meaning to place something) has which past participle?

Lain

Lied

Layed

Laid

"Lie" (meaning to recline) has which past participle?

Laid

Lain

Lied

Layed

Which is the standard past participle of "prove"?

Proven or proved

Proving

Proved only

Prove

The knight ______ the dragon in the old tale.

slayed

slew

slain

sleeped

Which sentence uses "bade" correctly?

He bade her farewell at the station.

He bade a new car last week.

He bade the highest price at the auction.

He bade very tired that evening.

The old stone path had been ______ by centuries of pilgrims.

treaded

trodden

treading

treaden

In the old tale, the hero ______ his enemy with a single blow.

smited

smote

smitten

smiten

"Wrought iron" preserves an old past tense of which everyday verb?

Wring

Work

Write

Wreak

He was left utterly ______ of hope.

bereaven

bereft

bereaved

bereavened

Which is the standard past tense in the phrase "the storm ______ havoc"?

wrought

wreaked

wreaken

wroke

The guests had all ______ of the feast before midnight.

partook

partaken

partaked

parten

She ______ her share of the profits so the others could be paid.

forgoed

forwent

forgone

forewone

Room to Grow

Well, it seems a few of these verbs got the better of you, and honestly, you are in very good company. Irregular verbs are the trickiest corner of English grammar, and even professional writers reach for a dictionary when the lay and lie family comes along. The good news is that these forms stick once they click. Why not review a few of the classic troublemakers, then come back and try again? You may surprise yourself next time. Thank you for playing along with us today!

Pretty Darn Good

Nicely done! You have a solid grasp of English verbs and a good ear for what sounds right. You know that pictures are hung while criminals are hanged, and you did not stumble over the usual traps. A few of the trickier forms slipped past you, but that is no shame at all, as some of these verbs have puzzled writers for centuries. With a little more practice, you would be unstoppable. A fine result to be proud of!

A Master of the Language!

Outstanding! You are a true master of English verbs, and it shows. From borne and lain to trodden and wrought, not one of these stubborn old forms managed to catch you out. You clearly have both a sharp ear and a real love of language, and your knowledge does it full justice. Few people could navigate these verbs with such confidence. Take a well earned bow, because this was a performance worthy of the finest grammarians. Simply magnificent!