英语动词按其过去式和过去分词的构成方式可分为规则动词和不规则动词。规则动词的过去式和过去分词由词尾加ed构成，而不规则动词的变化因词而异。但如对不规则动词的过去式和过去分词做一分析，就可发现其中的“规则”。为方便同学们记忆，现将初中英语教学大纲中的69个不规则动词的原形、过去式和过去分词列出并规为五种类型。同学们还可将第二、三类分为若干组，以便准确记忆。
一、AAA型(原形、过去式和过去分词同形)：
cost cost cost cut cut cut
let let let put put put
read read read
二、ABB型(过去式与过去分词同形)：
bring brought brought
build built built
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
dig dug dug
feel felt felt
find found found
get got got
have had had
hear heard heard
hold held held
keep kept kept
※learn learnt learnt
leave left left
lend lent lent
make made made
meet met met
pay paid paid
say said said
sell sold sold
send sent sent
shine shone shone
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
※smell smelt smelt
spend spent spent
stand stood stood
teach taught taught
tell told told
think thought thought
understand understood
understood
三、ABC型(原形、过去式和过去分词各异)：
be was