http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#927278Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:33:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927278Anonymous0http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#927278http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-927278.xmlREVISED- DEAR MODERATOR IF YOU POST MY BLOG, PLEASE POST THE REVISED VERSION BELOW INSTEAD OF THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT I SENT. THANK YOU.  StartFragment &gt; OTHER WAYS ?   USE SONGS to teach ENGLISH IRREGULAR VERBS Several years ago, when teaching ESL to adolescent and adult students, I developed songs that taught students 58 English irregular verbs. This proved to be very successful with my students. In fact, they begged to sing along with the songs !     After sharing these songs with teachers at conferences and workshops, the response was always the same. Teachers wanted a tape or CD of the songs that they could easily use. So I developed these.  Then teachers wanted exercises to go with the CD. So I wrote...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#927263Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:26:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927263Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#927263http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-927263.xmlOTHER WAYS ?   USE SONGS to teach ENGLISH IRREGULAR VERBS Several years ago, when teaching ESL to adolescent and adult students, I developed songs that taught students 58 English irregular verbs. This proved to be very successful with my students. They begged to sing along with the songs !   After sharing these songs with teachers at conferences and workshops, the response was always the same. Teachers wanted a tape or CD of the songs that they could easily use. So I developed these.  Then teachers wanted exercises which went with with the CD. So I wrote a book of game-like activities so I did that. Now teachers from all over the world use these materials for students of all ages including K-12 learners.  As KKE wrote, it is true...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#670010Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:57:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:670010Anonymous2http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/3/gxpvz/Post.htm#670010http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-670010.xmlYes, there is another way to learn English irregular verbs, through music. Check out &quot;Singing English irregular verbs&quot; which can be found at www.forefrontpublishers.comhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#667351Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:35:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:667351Anonymous3http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#667351http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-667351.xmlI&#39;m glad that someone decided to identify the various ways to acquire English irregular verbs.  They certainly are troublesome to many English language learners.  Yes, I know of an alternative way of learning them - through SONGS.  Go to  www.forefrontpublishers.com for a CD and book of fun teaching activities for teachers to use with their students.  I hope that information helps.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#588421Mon, 25 May 2009 06:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:588421Mister Micawber4http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#588421http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-588421.xml. Self-advertisement of sites which have no fees or registration requirements are acceptable on a once or twice basis, Ben. Your verb site looks attractive. Congratulations on your project. .http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#588357Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:588357Anonymous5http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#588357http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-588357.xmlI&#39;m not sure whether self-advertisement is allowed here but I&#39;ve just finished a little hobby project at www.gyroid.com/verbs/ that&#39;ll quiz you on irregular verbs in english, german or french.  It you&#39;re the kind of person who like learning languages with drills then it might be helpful. Cheers, Benhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575639Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575639KKEE6http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575639http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575639.xmlAs I said, the definition of fluency is subject to much debate. It merits its own thread. The point about this thread is still the same: irregular verbs have got to be learnt and there are different ways of helping students accomplish the task. So far, I have found a few which have proved to be very successful, and I have shared them here with all, and asked if anyone had other ways equally as good or better. Un saludo!http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575566Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575566Huevos7http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575566http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575566.xmlBut even the definition of &quot;fluency&quot; is one which can debated at length. To different people it means different things. So to avoid getting sidetracked, the point is that irregular verbs have got to be learnt if one wants to speak English fluently (I&#39;m not talking about someone making themselves understood, I&#39;m talking about communicating fluently, or at least without making mistakes). Fluency doesn&#39;t have anything to do with not making errors. Many fluent native speakers make errors continually.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575553Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575553KKEE8http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575553http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575553.xmlMy kids are 3 and 5, completely fluent in English, but, like many kids of their age, frequently regularise verbs, both in English and their mother tongue. Classroom time is a limited resource and would be better spent learning rules that can be applied in a wide range of situtations, rather than wasted teaching one-off non-rules which will be acquired anyway through day to day passive contact with the language. We&#39;re in a similar situation. My kids are 2.5 and 5. They are both very articulate for their age, and also regularise in more than one language. I would not however say that they are fluent. But even the definition of &quot;fluency&quot; is one which can debated at length. To different people it means different things....http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575521Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575521Huevos9http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575521http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575521.xmlWhat is it about &quot;brang&quot;? My kids would say bringed. Do is another one that is regularly misused, even to the point where a noun has been derived from the error. &quot; A who-done-it? &quot;http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575502Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575502Grammar Geek10http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575502http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575502.xmlWhat is it about &quot;brang&quot;? Most American children quickly learn which irregular verbs don&#39;t follow patters, but I hear &quot;I brang&quot; more than any other incorrect verb form! (Well, except &quot;I seen it&quot; which makes me want to scream.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575498Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575498CalifJim11http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/2/gxpvz/Post.htm#575498http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575498.xmlYou can take advantage of the similarities in teaching irregular verbs. ... all the while cautioning about the likes of: tell - told vs. hold - held and sing - sang vs. bring brought Too much patterning results in a big Ouch! I told him she had *hold the baby for a half hour. She sang the music I *brang. ____ On the other hand, maybe learning some of these wrong forms AS wrong forms would be both amusing and instructive for students. Who knows. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575433Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575433Diamondrg12http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575433http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575433.xmlYou can take advantage of the similarities in teaching irregular verbs. bend - bent build - built lend - lent send - sent spend - spent sell -sold tell - told .. You can find a complete list in some grammars. For example, in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575399Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:39:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575399Huevos13http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575399http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575399.xmlSimilarly, not knowing English irregular verbs is a barrier to fluency in English. It&#39;s not a barrier to fluency, and it&#39;s not an impediment to communication. My kids are 3 and 5, completely fluent in English, but, like many kids of their age, frequently regularise verbs, both in English and their mother tongue. Irregularities are just that, irregular. There are no rules. The only way to learn them is through acquisition. Each time you learn one all you have learned is just one. Classroom time is a limited resource and would be better spent learning rules that can be applied in a wide range of situtations, rather than wasted teaching one-off non-rules which will be acquired anyway through day to day passive contact with the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575377Mon, 25 May 2009 06:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575377KKEE14http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575377http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575377.xmlThanks CJ, I think we are actually saying the same thing. It works best when students see the verbs in context. That&#39;s when I use the Dictionary of Irregular Verbs because the quotations provide various different contexts, all of which are real, they are often amusing or fascinating and always interesting, so students tend to forget they are learning irregular verbs, and that&#39;s the most effective way really! But this book is for intermediate and advanced levels. It wouldn&#39;t suit for lower levels. For other levels the games are useful. And when it comes to revising or finding an answer quickly then clearly verbbusters and lists are quite effective. This set of tools I&#39;m using is working very well and perhaps I had the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575272Mon, 25 May 2009 06:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575272CalifJim15http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575272http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575272.xmlI think language is better learned by real contact with real language than through a quasi-mathematical approach with drills. It seems to me that mistakes are normal in learning, and there is no need to stress students with artificial exercises to master. Personally, I never got a lot out of such drills when I learned foreign languages. If the students are gradually brought into contact with the irregularities of language (whether verbs or other elements), I think they do just as well or better than if a whole batch of irregularities are dropped on them at once with the injunction to &quot;Learn this!&quot; Ideally, an acquaintance with certain adjective forms in conversational settings ( well done, thoughtful, lost dog, newly fallen...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575195Mon, 25 May 2009 06:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575195KKEE16http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575195http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-575195.xmlConsidering them a barrier is not really a matter of choice. It is a fact. In the same way that if you speak language A and want to communicate with a person who speaks language B, then the lack of knowledge of language B is a barrier to your communication with that person. Similarly, not knowing English irregular verbs is a barrier to fluency in English. However, if you object to the word &quot;barrier&quot;, then I am happy to use the term &quot;hurdle&quot; which hands power back to the student aiming to jump over it. I do agree with you that students should not become obsessed with irregular verbs, in the same way that I think they should not become obsessed with any aspect of the language. I can also agree with you that trying to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574965Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574965Mister Micawber17http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574965http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-574965.xml. Trying to &#39;understand or use correctly&#39; irregular verbs as distinct from regular verbs is an error in effort. There is nothing special to understand about them-- native speakers certainly do not. Considering them a &#39;barrier&#39; is also an unhelpful approach-- there is no further problem than memorizing the unusual spellings of a couple of hundred verb forms-- in a language that is awash in unusual spellings. Minimum time and concentration should be directed to these verbs directly-- it creates a self-generating problem for already self-conscious students. .http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574952Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574952KKEE18http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574952http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-574952.xmlI&#39;m the unregistered person who posted the question. The fact is I find that each of these can serve in different circumstances. Learning the verbs and their irregular past tenses is something anyone can do: it is just that each person has different methods of memorising, and the games certainly help to make that task less tedious, although as you say it very much depends on the people in your class (I find some adults are happy to play boardgames, but not all and it is a question of judgement). But memorising them doesn&#39;t automatically translate into understanding them or using them correctly. I have been using the Dictionary of Irregular Verbs with Quotations for almost a year now and find that it really helps the students to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574439Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574439Mister Micawber19http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#574439http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-574439.xml. There are only about 150 commonly used irregular verbs. Make a list of them, post them in the bathroom, and drill them until you can repeat them fast, accurately and sight unseen. That is as efficient as it can get. I&#39;m not much for games unless my students are children. .http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htmSat, 25 Apr 2009 06:39:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:574316Anonymous20http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-574316.xmlI am trying to collect all the different ways there are to teach and learn irregular verbs, so as to identify the best. These are the best ones I am aware of: 1. The Dictionary of Irregular Verbs with real Quotations www.almadreams.com 2. A fun board game to play in a class http://manyenglishes.blogspot.com/2007/12/teaching-irregular-verbs.html 3. http://www.verbbusters.com 4. Verb tennis http://www.eslcafe.com/idea/index.cgi?display:913435788-29269.txt Are there other ways as good as these?