SAT Test Prep
CHAPTER 15
ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR SKILLS
Lesson 13: Irregular Verbs
Know Your Irregulars
When using the perfect tenses or using participial phrases, you must use the past participle of the verb rather than the past tense form of the verb. Don”t mix them up!
For many verbs, the two forms are the same, as in we walked (past) and we had walked (past perfect), but for many “irregular” verbs, they are different, as in we ate (past) and we had eaten (past perfect). You should know the irregular forms of common verbs.
Concept Review 13: Irregular Verbs
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb:
1. We would have __________ (to ride) even further if we had had the time.
2. Until now, that issue hasn”t __________ (to arise).
3. Before we won last week”s game, we hadn”t __________ (to beat) the Cougars in ten years.
4. I would not have __________ (to drink) the punch if I had known that it had liquor in it.
5. We searched everywhere, but our friends had __________ (to go) out for the evening.
6. Had I never __________ (to know) about video games, I would have __________ (to get) perfect grades last semester.
7. At last night”s concert, the band __________ (to sing) all of its greatest hits.
8. The Donnellys have __________ (to run) their corner store for over 20 years.
9. They had hardly __________ (to speak) about the incident until that night.
10. I can”t believe you put my wool sweater in the dryer and __________ (to shrink) it.
11. His batting average has really __________ (to sink) ever since his injury.
12. She had __________ (to speak) for so long that the other speakers didn”t have time to finish their presentations.
13. It seems as if the tulips __________ (to spring) out of the ground overnight.
14. We should have __________ (to take) that shortcut to work.
15. If we had jumped over that fence, the polar bear would have __________ (to tear) us to shreds.
16. I promise you that by next month I will have __________ (to write) the first four chapters of the book.
Worksheet 13: Irregular Verbs
Circle the past participle(s) or past tense verbs in each sentence, and make any necessary corrections.
1. Elisha could never have went to the state finals if I had not convinced her to join the team in the first place.
2. In retrospect, it seems I might have took too much time on the essay portion of the test.
3. While we played video games, Danny lay on the couch all afternoon.
4. Most people find it amazing that, millions of years ago, life sprung from a primordial swamp.
5. After we had placed our bets, we lay our cards on the table.
6. Carl would have tore his uniform if he had not stopped his slide at the last second.
7. The generals forsook their own troops to surrender and save their own lives.
8. When the temperature sunk below zero, the pipes bursted like water balloons.
9. The assets of the company were froze as soon as it declared bankruptcy.
10. Promptly at 6 o”clock, the assistant cook rung the bell for dinner, and the whole camp raced up the hill.
11. I was concerned about buying a cotton warm-up suit, and sure enough, it shrunk two sizes after the first wash.
12. By the time they pitched camp for the night, they had ridden over 30 miles.
13. George needed his friends more than ever, but they had forsook him.
14. We sung just about every song we knew, then we went to bed.
15. The senator could have spoke a lot longer, but she yielded the floor to her colleague.
Answer Key 13: Irregular Verbs
Concept Review 13
1. We would have ridden even further if we had had the time.
2. Until now, that issue hasn”t arisen.
3. Before we won last week”s game, we hadn”t beaten the Cougars in ten years.
4. I would not have drunk the punch if I had known that it had liquor in it.
5. We searched everywhere, but our friends had gone out for the evening.
6. Had I never known about video games, I would have gotten perfect grades last semester.
7. At last night”s concert, the band sang all of its greatest hits.
8. The Donnellys have run their corner store for over 20 years.
9. They had hardly spoken about the incident until that night.
10. I can”t believe you put my wool sweater in the dryer and shrank it.
11. His batting average has really sunk ever since his injury.
12. She had spoken for so long that the other speakers didn”t have time to finish their presentations.
13. It seems as if the tulips sprang out of the ground overnight.
14. We should have taken that shortcut to work.
15. If we had jumped over that fence, the polar bear would have torn us to shreds.
16. I promise you that by next month I will have written the first four chapters of the book.
Worksheet 13
1. Elisha could never have gone to the state finals if I had not convinced her to join the team in the first place.
2. In retrospect, it seems I might have taken too much time on the essay portion of the test.
3. While we played video games, Danny lay on the couch all afternoon. (Correct)
4. Most people find it amazing that, millions of years ago, life sprang from a primordial swamp.
5. After we had placed our bets, we laid our cards on the table.
6. Carl would have torn his uniform if he had not stopped his slide at the last second.
7. The generals forsook their own troops to surrender and save their own lives. (Correct)
8. When the temperature sank below zero, the pipes burst like water balloons.
9. The assets of the company were frozen as soon as it declared bankruptcy.
10. Promptly at 6 o”clock, the assistant cook rang the bell for dinner, and the whole camp raced up the hill.
11. I was concerned about buying a cotton warm-up suit, and sure enough, it shrank two sizes after the first wash.
12. By the time they pitched camp for the night, they had ridden over 30 miles. (Correct)
13. George needed his friends more than ever, but they had forsaken him.
14. We sang just about every song we knew, then we went to bed.
15. The senator could have spoken a lot longer, but she yielded the floor to her colleague.