英語動詞按其過去式和過去分詞的構成方式可分為規則動詞和不規則動詞。規則動詞的過去式和過去分詞由詞尾加ed構成，而不規則動詞的變化因詞而異。但如對不規則動詞的過去式和過去分詞做一分析，就可發現其中的“規則”。為方便同學們記憶，現將初中英語教學大綱中的69個不規則動詞的原形、過去式和過去分詞列出并規為五種類型。同學們還可將第二、三類分為若干組，以便準確記憶。
一、AAA型(原形、過去式和過去分詞同形)：
cost cost cost cut cut cut
let let let put put put
read read read
二、ABB型(過去式與過去分詞同形)：
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、過去式和過去分詞各異)：
be was