Regular Verbs - A Complete Guide

What is a regular verb in English? A regular verb is a type of verb that follows the same pattern of conjugation [formation]. Regular verbs end in "d," "ed" or "ied" depending on the ending letter of the verb as in "saved," "formed" and "married".

Continue to read to learn regular verb definition, usage, conjugation, most importantly rules and examples with clear explanation in this article.

Regular Verbs - Definition and Meaning

The word "regular" in "regular verbs" indicates that something happens to the "regular verbs" repeatedly. As such a regular verb means a verb whose past verb forms follow the same regular and standard pattern of conjugation [formation].

So then what is a regular verb in points? A regular verb is defined as:

• 1. a regular verb is a type of verb categorized based on its formation
• 2. a verb which follows the same pattern of conjugation
• 3. a verb whose past tense forms end in "d," "ed" or "ied"

Regular Verb Examples in Words

A list of regular verbs is given below for the sake of making you understand what they are and how they are formed following the same pattern of conjugation and depending on the ending letter.

1. Regular Verbs Ending in "d"

• Love Loved Loved
• Save Saved Saved
• Like Liked Liked
• Dislike Disliked Disliked
• Propose Proposed Proposed
• Pose Posed Posed
• Cape Caped Caped
• Name Named Named 
• Phone Phoned Phoned
• Converse Conversed Conversed

2. Regular Verbs Ending in "ed"

• Protect Protected Protected
• Reject Rejected Rejected
• Explain Explained Explained 
• Eject Ejected Ejected
• Insert Inserted Inserted 
• Display Displayed Displayed
• Employ Employed Employed
• Render Rendered Rendered 
• Seat Seated Seated
• Horn Horned Horned

3. Regular Verbs Ending in "ied"

• Marry Married Married
• Carry Carried Carried 
• Levy Levied Levied
• Terrify Terrified Terrified
• Exemplify Exemplified Exemplified
• Accompany Accompanied Accompanied
• Miscarry Miscarried Miscarried
• Identify Identified Identified
• Copy Copied Copied 
• Occupy Occupied Occupied 

Examples of Regular Verbs in Sentences

1. She rejected his offer.

2. He will protect her.

3. John saved me.

4. He married Sofia.

5. I will name my son John.

6. We need to first identify the problem.

7. He delivered an excellent speech.

8. He learned English.

9. They accompanied me.

Must-Learn Rules of Regular Verbs

Unlike irregular verbs, regular verbs are governed by some rules. Here are the rules and usage guides that govern the spelling of regular verbs.

Rule 1. The past tense forms of some regular verbs add only "d" at the end. These regular verbs end in "e".

For example:

a.  Like Liked Liked

b. Save Saved Saved

c. Hate Hated Hated

Rule 2. The past tense forms of some regular verbs add "ed". These regular verbs do not end in "e".

For example:

a. Protect Protected Protected 

b. Walk Walked Walked 

c. Talk Talked Talked

Rule 3. Change "y" with "ied" with the past tense forms of the regular verbs that end in a consonant + y.

For example:

a. Carry Carried Carried

b. Accompany Accompanied Accompanied

c. Identify Identified Identified

Rule 4. Use "ed" with the past tense forms of the regular verbs that end in a vowel + y. 

For example:

a. Play Played Played

b. Destroy Destroyed Destroyed

c Display Displayed Displayed 

Rule 5. Double the last consonant of the past tense forms of some regular verbs that end in a single consonant + a vowel before it.

For example:

a. Stop Stopped Stopped

b. Nod Nodded Nodded 

c. Rub Rubbed Rubbed 

FAQs - Regular Verbs

What is a regular verb?

A regular verb is a verb that follows the same pattern of conjugation or formation of past tense forms as in "liked and liked".

Difference between regular and irregular verbs

The main difference between a regular and irregular verb is this: a regular verb follows the same pattern of past tense forms formation, whereas an irregular verb doesn't. 

10 example sentences of regular verbs

1. She rejected his offer.

2. He will protect her.

3. John saved me.

4. He married Sofia.

5. I will name my son John.

6. We need to first identify the problem.

7. He delivered an excellent speech.

8. He learned English.

9. They accompanied me.

10. He walked towards the station.

What is V1 V2 and V3 forms in regular verbs

Here are the v1 v2 and v3 forms of regular verbs:

1. Marry Married Married

2. Carry Carried Carried 

3. Levy Levied Levied

4. Pose Posed Posed

5. Cape Caped Caped

6. Name Named Named 

7. Protect Protected Protected

8. Reject Rejected Rejected

9. Explain Explained Explained