250 Essential Verbs in British English
Verbs are the heart of any language. They express actions, states, and occurrences, and form the backbone of sentences. Mastering essential verbs in British English is crucial for effective communication, whether in speaking, writing, or comprehension.
Here is a list of 250 commonly used verbs, their pronunciation, and forms to help learners gain fluency and confidence.
Understanding Verb Forms
In English, verbs generally have three main forms:
- Base Form (Infinitive) – The dictionary form of the verb (e.g., go).
- Past Simple – Used to describe completed actions in the past (e.g., went).
- Past Participle – Used in perfect tenses and passive voice (e.g., gone).
For example:
- Base: eat | Past Simple: ate | Past Participle: eaten
Learning verbs along with their pronunciation ensures correct speech patterns and reduces common mistakes.
5 Tips for Learning 250 Verbs Effectively
- Divide and Conquer – Learn 20–25 verbs each week.
- Practice Pronunciation – Use phonetic symbols and listen to native speakers.
- Create Sentences – Apply verbs in meaningful sentences.
- Flashcards – Write base, past, and past participle forms for quick revision.
- Daily Revision – Regular repetition is key to retention.
250 essential verbs in British English, including their pronunciation and forms | ||||
Sr. No. | Verb | Pronunciation (IPA) | Past Simple | Past Participle |
1 | Accept | /əkˈsɛpt/ | accepted | accepted |
2 | Achieve | /əˈtʃiːv/ | achieved | achieved |
3 | Admire | /ədˈmaɪə/ | admired | admired |
4 | Advise | /ədˈvaɪz/ | advised | advised |
5 | Agree | /əˈɡriː/ | agreed | agreed |
6 | Allow | /əˈlaʊ/ | allowed | allowed |
7 | Announce | /əˈnaʊns/ | announced | announced |
8 | Apologise | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/ | apologised | apologised |
9 | Appear | /əˈpɪə/ | appeared | appeared |
10 | Apply | /əˈplaɪ/ | applied | applied |
11 | Argue | /ˈɑːɡjuː/ | argued | argued |
12 | Arrive | /əˈraɪv/ | arrived | arrived |
13 | Ask | /ɑːsk/ | asked | asked |
14 | Assist | /əˈsɪst/ | assisted | assisted |
15 | Assume | /əˈsjuːm/ | assumed | assumed |
16 | Attack | /əˈtæk/ | attacked | attacked |
17 | Attempt | /əˈtɛmpt/ | attempted | attempted |
18 | Avoid | /əˈvɔɪd/ | avoided | avoided |
19 | Bake | /beɪk/ | baked | baked |
20 | Beg | /bɛɡ/ | begged | begged |
21 | Behave | /bɪˈheɪv/ | behaved | behaved |
22 | Believe | /bɪˈliːv/ | believed | believed |
23 | Belong | /bɪˈlɒŋ/ | belonged | belonged |
24 | Bite | /baɪt/ | bit | bitten |
25 | Blame | /bleɪm/ | blamed | blamed |
26 | Bleed | /bliːd/ | bled | bled |
27 | Bless | /blɛs/ | blessed | blessed |
28 | Blow | /bləʊ/ | blew | blown |
29 | Boil | /bɔɪl/ | boiled | boiled |
30 | Borrow | /ˈbɒrəʊ/ | borrowed | borrowed |
31 | Break | /breɪk/ | broke | broken |
32 | Breathe | /briːð/ | breathed | breathed |
33 | Bring | /brɪŋ/ | brought | brought |
34 | Build | /bɪld/ | built | built |
35 | Burn | /bɜːn/ | burnt/burned | burnt/burned |
36 | Buy | /baɪ/ | bought | bought |
37 | Call | /kɔːl/ | called | called |
38 | Calm | /kɑːm/ | calmed | calmed |
39 | Carry | /ˈkæri/ | carried | carried |
40 | Catch | /kætʃ/ | caught | caught |
41 | Celebrate | /ˈsɛlɪbreɪt/ | celebrated | celebrated |
42 | Change | /tʃeɪndʒ/ | changed | changed |
43 | Choose | /tʃuːz/ | chose | chosen |
44 | Climb | /klaɪm/ | climbed | climbed |
45 | Close | /kləʊz/ | closed | closed |
46 | Collect | /kəˈlɛkt/ | collected | collected |
47 | Compare | /kəmˈpɛː/ | compared | compared |
48 | Complain | /kəmˈpleɪn/ | complained | complained |
49 | Complete | /kəmˈpliːt/ | completed | completed |
50 | Cook | /kʊk/ | cooked | cooked |
51 | Copy | /ˈkɒpi/ | copied | copied |
52 | Correct | /kəˈrɛkt/ | corrected | corrected |
53 | Count | /kaʊnt/ | counted | counted |
54 | Cry | /kraɪ/ | cried | cried |
55 | Dance | /dɑːns/ | danced | danced |
56 | Decide | /dɪˈsaɪd/ | decided | decided |
57 | Describe | /dɪsˈkraɪb/ | described | described |
58 | Destroy | /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ | destroyed | destroyed |
59 | Develop | /dɪˈvɛləp/ | developed | developed |
60 | Die | /daɪ/ | died | died |
61 | Dig | /dɪɡ/ | dug | dug |
62 | Discover | /dɪsˈkʌvə/ | discovered | discovered |
63 | Discuss | /dɪsˈkʌs/ | discussed | discussed |
64 | Disturb | /dɪˈstɜːb/ | disturbed | disturbed |
65 | Dream | /driːm/ | dreamt/dreamed | dreamt/dreamed |
66 | Drink | /drɪŋk/ | drank | drunk |
67 | Drive | /draɪv/ | drove | driven |
68 | Drop | /drɒp/ | dropped | dropped |
69 | Dry | /draɪ/ | dried | dried |
70 | Earn | /ɜːn/ | earned | earned |
71 | Eat | /iːt/ | ate | eaten |
72 | Encourage | /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/ | encouraged | encouraged |
73 | Enjoy | /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/ | enjoyed | enjoyed |
74 | Examine | /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ | examined | examined |
75 | Explain | /ɪkˈspleɪn/ | explained | explained |
76 | Fall | /fɔːl/ | fell | fallen |
77 | Feed | /fiːd/ | fed | fed |
78 | Feel | /fiːl/ | felt | felt |
79 | Fight | /faɪt/ | fought | fought |
80 | Find | /faɪnd/ | found | found |
81 | Finish | /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ | finished | finished |
82 | Fix | /fɪks/ | fixed | fixed |
83 | Fly | /flaɪ/ | flew | flown |
84 | Follow | /ˈfɒləʊ/ | followed | followed |
85 | Forget | /fəˈɡɛt/ | forgot | forgotten |
86 | Forgive | /fəˈɡɪv/ | forgave | forgiven |
87 | Freeze | /friːz/ | froze | frozen |
88 | Fry | /fraɪ/ | fried | fried |
89 | Get | /ɡɛt/ | got | got/gotten |
90 | Give | /ɡɪv/ | gave | given |
91 | Go | /ɡəʊ/ | went | gone |
92 | Grow | /ɡrəʊ/ | grew | grown |
93 | Guess | /ɡɛs/ | guessed | guessed |
94 | Handle | /ˈhændl/ | handled | handled |
95 | Happen | /ˈhæpən/ | happened | happened |
96 | Hate | /heɪt/ | hated | hated |
97 | Have | /hæv/ | had | had |
98 | Hear | /hɪə/ | heard | heard |
99 | Help | /hɛlp/ | helped | helped |
100 | Hide | /haɪd/ | hid | Hidden |
Sr. No. | Verb | Pronunciation (IPA) | Past Simple | Past Participle |
101 | Hit | /hɪt/ | hit | hit |
102 | Hold | /həʊld/ | held | held |
103 | Hope | /həʊp/ | hoped | hoped |
104 | Hug | /hʌɡ/ | hugged | hugged |
105 | Hurry | /ˈhʌri/ | hurried | hurried |
106 | Identify | /aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ/ | identified | identified |
107 | Ignore | /ɪɡˈnɔː/ | ignored | ignored |
108 | Imagine | /ɪˈmædʒɪn/ | imagined | imagined |
109 | Improve | /ɪmˈpruːv/ | improved | improved |
110 | Include | /ɪnˈkluːd/ | included | included |
111 | Increase | /ɪnˈkriːs/ | increased | increased |
112 | Inform | /ɪnˈfɔːm/ | informed | informed |
113 | Introduce | /ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs/ | introduced | introduced |
114 | Invite | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | invited | invited |
115 | Jump | /dʒʌmp/ | jumped | jumped |
116 | Keep | /kiːp/ | kept | kept |
117 | Kick | /kɪk/ | kicked | kicked |
118 | Kill | /kɪl/ | killed | killed |
119 | Kiss | /kɪs/ | kissed | kissed |
120 | Knock | /nɒk/ | knocked | knocked |
121 | Know | /nəʊ/ | knew | known |
122 | Laugh | /lɑːf/ | laughed | laughed |
123 | Learn | /lɜːn/ | learnt/learned | learnt/learned |
124 | Leave | /liːv/ | left | left |
125 | Lend | /lɛnd/ | lent | lent |
126 | Lie (to rest) | /laɪ/ | lay | lain |
127 | Lie (not tell the truth) | /laɪ/ | lied | lied |
128 | Like | /laɪk/ | liked | liked |
129 | Listen | /ˈlɪsən/ | listened | listened |
130 | Lose | /luːz/ | lost | lost |
131 | Love | /lʌv/ | loved | loved |
132 | Make | /meɪk/ | made | made |
133 | Manage | /ˈmænɪdʒ/ | managed | managed |
134 | Marry | /ˈmæri/ | married | married |
135 | Mean | /miːn/ | meant | meant |
136 | Meet | /miːt/ | met | met |
137 | Miss | /mɪs/ | missed | missed |
138 | Mix | /mɪks/ | mixed | mixed |
139 | Move | /muːv/ | moved | moved |
140 | Need | /niːd/ | needed | needed |
141 | Notice | /ˈnəʊtɪs/ | noticed | noticed |
142 | Offer | /ˈɒfə/ | offered | offered |
143 | Open | /ˈəʊpən/ | opened | opened |
144 | Order | /ˈɔːdə/ | ordered | ordered |
145 | Organise | /ˈɔːɡənaɪz/ | organised | organised |
146 | Own | /əʊn/ | owned | owned |
147 | Paint | /peɪnt/ | painted | painted |
148 | Park | /pɑːk/ | parked | parked |
149 | Pay | /peɪ/ | paid | paid |
150 | Perform | /pəˈfɔːm/ | performed | performed |
151 | Pick | /pɪk/ | picked | picked |
152 | Plan | /plæn/ | planned | planned |
153 | Play | /pleɪ/ | played | played |
154 | Point | /pɔɪnt/ | pointed | pointed |
155 | Prefer | /prɪˈfɜː/ | preferred | preferred |
156 | Prepare | /prɪˈpeə/ | prepared | prepared |
157 | Press | /prɛs/ | pressed | pressed |
158 | Prevent | /prɪˈvɛnt/ | prevented | prevented |
159 | /prɪnt/ | printed | printed | |
160 | Protect | /prəˈtɛkt/ | protected | protected |
161 | Prove | /pruːv/ | proved | proved/proven |
162 | Pull | /pʊl/ | pulled | pulled |
163 | Push | /pʊʃ/ | pushed | pushed |
164 | Put | /pʊt/ | put | put |
165 | Rain | /reɪn/ | rained | rained |
166 | Read | /riːd/ | read | read |
167 | Realise | /ˈrɪəlaɪz/ | realised | realised |
168 | Receive | /rɪˈsiːv/ | received | received |
169 | Recognise | /ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz/ | recognised | recognised |
170 | Recommend | /ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd/ | recommended | recommended |
171 | Remember | /rɪˈmɛmbə/ | remembered | remembered |
172 | Repeat | /rɪˈpiːt/ | repeated | repeated |
173 | Replace | /rɪˈpleɪs/ | replaced | replaced |
174 | Reply | /rɪˈplaɪ/ | replied | replied |
175 | Request | /rɪˈkwɛst/ | requested | requested |
176 | Rescue | /ˈrɛskjuː/ | rescued | rescued |
177 | Respect | /rɪˈspɛkt/ | respected | respected |
178 | Rest | /rɛst/ | rested | rested |
179 | Return | /rɪˈtɜːn/ | returned | returned |
180 | Ride | /raɪd/ | rode | ridden |
181 | Ring | /rɪŋ/ | rang | rung |
182 | Run | /rʌn/ | ran | run |
183 | Save | /seɪv/ | saved | saved |
184 | Say | /seɪ/ | said | said |
185 | See | /siː/ | saw | seen |
186 | Sell | /sɛl/ | sold | sold |
187 | Send | /sɛnd/ | sent | sent |
188 | Show | /ʃəʊ/ | showed | shown |
189 | Sing | /sɪŋ/ | sang | sung |
190 | Sit | /sɪt/ | sat | sat |
191 | Sleep | /sliːp/ | slept | slept |
192 | Smell | /smɛl/ | smelt/smelled | smelt/smelled |
193 | Smile | /smaɪl/ | smiled | smiled |
194 | Solve | /sɒlv/ | solved | solved |
195 | Speak | /spiːk/ | spoke | spoken |
196 | Spell | /spɛl/ | spelt/spelled | spelt/spelled |
197 | Spend | /spɛnd/ | spent | spent |
198 | Spill | /spɪl/ | spilt/spilled | spilt/spilled |
199 | Spoil | /spɔɪl/ | spoilt/spoiled | spoilt/spoiled |
200 | Stand | /stænd/ | stood | stood |
Sr. No. | Verb | Pronunciation (IPA) | Past Simple | Past Participle |
201 | Start | /stɑːt/ | started | started |
202 | Stay | /steɪ/ | stayed | stayed |
203 | Steal | /stiːl/ | stole | stolen |
204 | Stick | /stɪk/ | stuck | stuck |
205 | Stop | /stɒp/ | stopped | stopped |
206 | Study | /ˈstʌdi/ | studied | studied |
207 | Succeed | /səkˈsiːd/ | succeeded | succeeded |
208 | Suffer | /ˈsʌfə/ | suffered | suffered |
209 | Suggest | /səˈdʒɛst/ | suggested | suggested |
210 | Support | /səˈpɔːt/ | supported | supported |
211 | Suppose | /səˈpəʊz/ | supposed | supposed |
212 | Surprise | /səˈpraɪz/ | surprised | surprised |
213 | Swim | /swɪm/ | swam | swum |
214 | Take | /teɪk/ | took | taken |
215 | Talk | /tɔːk/ | talked | talked |
216 | Taste | /teɪst/ | tasted | tasted |
217 | Teach | /tiːtʃ/ | taught | taught |
218 | Tell | /tɛl/ | told | told |
219 | Thank | /θæŋk/ | thanked | thanked |
220 | Think | /θɪŋk/ | thought | thought |
221 | Throw | /θrəʊ/ | threw | thrown |
222 | Touch | /tʌtʃ/ | touched | touched |
223 | Train | /treɪn/ | trained | trained |
224 | Travel | /ˈtrævəl/ | travelled | travelled |
225 | Try | /traɪ/ | tried | tried |
226 | Turn | /tɜːn/ | turned | turned |
227 | Understand | /ˌʌndəˈstænd/ | understood | understood |
228 | Use | /juːz/ | used | used |
229 | Visit | /ˈvɪzɪt/ | visited | visited |
230 | Wait | /weɪt/ | waited | waited |
231 | Wake | /weɪk/ | woke | woken |
232 | Walk | /wɔːk/ | walked | walked |
233 | Want | /wɒnt/ | wanted | wanted |
234 | Warn | /wɔːn/ | warned | warned |
235 | Wash | /wɒʃ/ | washed | washed |
236 | Watch | /wɒtʃ/ | watched | watched |
237 | Wear | /wɛə/ | wore | worn |
238 | Win | /wɪn/ | won | won |
239 | Work | /wɜːk/ | worked | worked |
240 | Worry | /ˈwʌri/ | worried | worried |
241 | Write | /raɪt/ | wrote | written |
242 | Xerox (photocopy) | /ˈzɪərɒks/ | xeroxed | xeroxed |
243 | X-ray | /ˈɛks reɪ/ | X-rayed | X-rayed |
244 | Yawn | /jɔːn/ | yawned | yawned |
245 | Yell | /jɛl/ | yelled | yelled |
246 | Yoke (join together) | /jəʊk/ | yoked | yoked |
247 | Yearn (long for) | /jɜːn/ | yearned | yearned |
248 | Zap | /zæp/ | zapped | zapped |
249 | Zoom | /zuːm/ | zoomed | zoomed |
250 | Zigzag | /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/ | zigzagged | zigzagged |
Conclusion
Learning 250 essential verbs in British English, along with their pronunciation and forms, is a foundational step in mastering the language. Grouping verbs by type, practising daily, and applying them in sentences will enhance your speaking, writing, and comprehension skills. With consistent effort, you will gain confidence in expressing yourself accurately and fluently in everyday situations.
Mastering verbs is not just about memorising; it is about using them actively in communication, which transforms knowledge into skill.
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