Defective and Redundant Verbs
Defective Verbs are those which want some of the principal parts. They are:
- beware
- ought
- quoth
- quod
- wit (and its derivatives:)
- wot
- wis
- weet
- wist
- wote
Redundant Verbs are those which have more than one form for their past tense or perfect participle; as,
- cleave, clove, or clave;
- cleft, cloven, or cleaved.
Exercises
Correct the following sentences, using this model:
“The man throwed a stone.”
This sentence is incorrect. The word ” throwed ” should be “threw,” the past indicative of the verb “throw.” The sentence should read, “The man threw a stone.”
- I have saw some fine cattle to-day.
- He ought to have went home.
- The beads were stringed on a silk thread.
- He has brung some snow into the school-house.
- The cloth was weaved by hand.
- The horse come cantering along.
- This coat has wore well.
- The cars have ran off the track.
- The bells ringed when the news was got.
- I dumb the tree and shaked the apples off.
- The candle should be blowed out.
- I laid down, and ris much refreshed.
- Was the cow drove to pasture?
- The plastering has fell from the ceiling.
Correct all errors in the use of irregular verbs you may notice in your conversation with your school-mates.
Questions
- What is a regular verb? Give examples.
- What is an irregular verb? Give examples.
- What is a defective verb? Give examples.
- Which are the defective verbs? Give examples.
- What are redundant verbs? Give examples.
