Imperfect Conjugation Chart: AR, ER, IR – A Detailed Guide for You
Understanding the irregular conjugations of verbs in English can be quite challenging, especially for those who are learning the language. One of the most common irregular verb conjugations involves the endings “ar,” “er,” and “ir.” In this article, I will provide you with a comprehensive guide to these conjugations, helping you master them with ease.
What are AR, ER, IR Conjugations?
AR, ER, IR conjugations refer to the endings that verbs take in the past tense and past participle forms. These endings are particularly important because they help indicate the past tense of a verb. While many verbs follow a regular pattern, some, like those ending in “ar,” “er,” or “ir,” do not. Let’s delve deeper into each of these conjugations.
AR Conjugations
Verbs ending in “ar” often change to “ared” in the past tense and “having been” in the past participle form. Here’s a table to illustrate this:
Present Tense | Past Tense | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
work | worked | having worked |
play | played | having played |
run | ran | having run |
ER Conjugations
Verbs ending in “er” typically change to “erged” in the past tense and “having been” in the past participle form. Here’s a table to demonstrate this:
Present Tense | Past Tense | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
swim | swum | having swum |
drive | drove | having driven |
live | lived | having lived |
IR Conjugations
Verbs ending in “ir” often change to “ired” in the past tense and “having been” in the past participle form. Here’s a table to illustrate this:
Present Tense | Past Tense | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
write | wrote | having written |
hide | hid | having hidden |
spend | spent | having spent |
Common Exceptions
While the general rule for AR, ER, IR conjugations is straightforward, there are some exceptions. Here are a few common ones:
- Verbs ending in “y”: When a verb ends in “y,” you often change the “y” to “i” before adding the past tense ending. For example, “try” becomes “tried” and “cry” becomes “cried.” However, some verbs, like “buy” and “fly,” do not follow this rule.
- Verbs ending in “e”: Verbs ending in “e” often drop the “e” before adding the past tense ending. For example, “see” becomes “saw” and “use” becomes “used.” However, some verbs, like “be