Common Irregular Verbs: took, got, came, said
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Master the four most common irregular verbs—took, got, came, and said—to unlock basic storytelling in English past tense.
- Irregular verbs do NOT end in -ed; they change their spelling entirely (e.g., 'take' becomes 'took').
- Only use the irregular form in affirmative sentences; use 'did not' + base form for negatives.
- In questions, use 'Did' + subject + base form (e.g., 'Did you come?' not 'Did you came?').
Overview
Action words show time. Many add -ed for the past. Some words are special. You must learn them one by one.
Learn these four important words: take, get, come, and say. For the past, use took, got, came, and said.
These words are very common. Use them to tell simple stories.
These words stay the same for everyone. Say I took, he took, and they took.
These words are easy to use once you know them.
Conjugation Table
| Verb (Present Simple) | Past Simple Form | Example Sentence (Past Simple) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ----------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------ | ||
take |
took |
She took her umbrella. |
||
get |
got |
He got a new job last month. |
||
come |
came |
They came to the party late. |
||
say |
said |
I said hello to my neighbour. |
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
When To Use It
took(Past Simple oftake): This verb has a broad range of meanings, often relating to movement, acquisition, duration, or engagement. Always ensures the action is finished.- To physically move or remove something:
She took the book from the shelf.(The book is no longer on the shelf.) - To use a form of transport:
We took a taxi to the airport this morning.(The journey is complete.) - To accept or receive something:
He took the advice I offered.(He accepted it in the past.) - To require a specific amount of time:
The meeting took two hours yesterday.(The duration is finished.)
got(Past Simple ofget):Getis exceptionally versatile, signifying reception, acquisition, arrival, or a change of state. Its past form,got, denotes a finished event.- To receive something:
I got a really nice email from my professor yesterday.(The email was received.) - To become something (change of state):
It got dark early last night.(The change to darkness happened.) - To arrive at a place:
They got home around 11 PM.(Their arrival is a past event.) - To obtain or buy something:
I got a new phone during the sale.(The purchase is complete.)
came(Past Simple ofcome): This verb typically denotes movement towards the speaker or a designated point.Cameindicates this movement is concluded.- To move towards a specific location:
He came to my office an hour ago.(His movement towards your office is over.) - To arrive or reach a place:
The bus came fifteen minutes late.(The bus's arrival is a past fact.) - To originate from a source:
The idea for the project came from our team leader.(The origin is in the past.)
said(Past Simple ofsay): Primarily used for reporting speech, expressing thoughts, or uttering words.Saidconfirms the utterance or expression is finished.- To utter words:
She said goodbye and left the room.(The words were spoken.) - To report someone's words (direct or indirect speech):
“I’m busy,” he said.orHe said that he was busy.(The report refers to a past statement.) - To express an opinion or convey information:
The news report said there would be rain.(The information was conveyed.)
When Not To Use It
- Do not use for actions happening now: The past simple describes completed actions. For actions occurring at the moment of speaking, you need the present continuous tense. For example, you would say
I am taking a break right now, notI took a break right now(unless referring to a very recently completed break). Similarly,She is saying something importantif the act of speaking is ongoing, notShe said something important.
- Do not use for future actions: To express events that will happen in the future, you typically use
will+ base verb, the present continuous with a future meaning, orbe going to. For instance,I will take the exam next week, notI took the exam next week. If you are planning an arrival, you would sayI am coming tomorrow, notI came tomorrow.
- Crucially, do not use after the auxiliary
didordidn't: This is a very common and significant error for A2 learners. In questions and negative statements in the past simple, the auxiliary verbdid(ordidn'tfor negatives) carries all the past tense information. Therefore, the main verb that followsdidordidn'tmust revert to its base form. - Incorrect:
Did you took a picture? - Correct:
Did you take a picture? - Incorrect:
She didn't came to the meeting. - Correct:
She didn't come to the meeting. - Incorrect:
I didn't said that. - Correct:
I didn't say that.
- Do not confuse with present perfect: While both refer to past events, the present perfect (
have/has+ past participle, e.g.,have taken) connects past actions to the present, often implying an ongoing result or an unspecified time. The past simple, usingtook,got,came,said, refers to actions completed at a definite past time. At the A2 level, focus on this distinction: a definite past time usually calls for the past simple.
Common Mistakes
- Over-regularization: The most prevalent error is treating these irregular verbs as if they were regular verbs by adding
-ed. This results in incorrect forms such astaked,getted,comed, orsayed. This mistake stems from a natural tendency to generalize the more common-edrule across all verbs. However, fortake,get,come, andsay, such forms are always incorrect. Remember:took,got,came,saidare the fixed and correct past simple forms.
- Using the base form in positive past simple statements: Another common error is failing to conjugate the verb when an action happened in the past, leading to sentences like
I take the bus yesterdayinstead ofI took the bus yesterday. In positive sentences withoutdidordidn't, the main verb must be in its past simple form to correctly indicate past tense.
- Incorrect verb form after
did/didn't: As detailed previously, whendidordidn'tis present in a question or a negative statement, the main verb must always be in its base form. A frequent mistake is to incorrectly retain the irregular past simple form, resulting in sentences likeDid she came to the party?orHe didn't took my advice.Learners correctly identify the past tense but misapply the conjugation rule by double-marking the past tense. The auxiliarydidalready carries the past tense; the main verb should revert to its infinitive form.
- Confusing
sayandtell: Whilesaidis the past simple ofsay, andtoldis the past simple oftell, their grammatical usage differs significantly. Learners often interchange them incorrectly. Generally,sayis used without a direct object immediately following it that identifies the person being spoken to (e.g.,She said that she was tired). In contrast,tellrequires a direct object—the person or people being spoken to (e.g.,She told me that she was tired). Mastering this structural distinction is crucial for clear reported speech.
- Misinterpreting the various meanings of
got: The verbgetis highly polysemous, meaning it has numerous different meanings depending on the context (e.g., to receive, to become, to arrive, to obtain, to understand). Learners may struggle to applygotcorrectly across its diverse uses. For example,I got sick(became sick) is different fromI got a package(received a package). Practice withgotin specific contexts helps in disambiguating its function.
Memory Trick
Do not just read. Practice these words to remember them well.
Use pictures to help you remember the words.
Imagine taking a photo now. Then look at an old photo. Say, 'I took this'.
- get / got: Visualize yourself getting a gift (present) and then happily holding the gotten gift. Think of an email notification: You got a new message!
- come / came: Envision someone coming towards you (present). Then, see them having came to your location, perhaps sitting beside you. A friend arriving at your house: He came over on Saturday.
- say / said: Think of a speech bubble saying words (present). Then, imagine the words written down, having been said. Picture a conversation ending: She said her goodbyes.
Use cards. Put 'take' on one side. Put 'took' on the other. Look at them often.
Write 3 to 5 sentences every day. Write about your life. This helps you remember. Example: Yesterday, I took my dog for a walk.
Say the words out loud. Say "take" and "took" together. Listen to your voice. Watch English videos too.
Real Conversations
Understanding how these irregular verbs function in genuine, everyday English is key to fluency. Here are examples reflecting modern usage, from casual exchanges to brief notes.
- Text message exchange about a recent event:
Sarah: Hey, how was the concert last night?
Tom: Amazing! We got really good seats near the stage. The band came on exactly at 8.
Sarah: Nice! What did they say about their new album?
Tom: They said it's coming out next month!
- A quick email to a colleague:
Subject: Project Update
Hi Mark,
I just took a look at the latest draft. Overall, it looks strong. I also got some feedback from the client this morning; they came back with a few minor edits. Will discuss them in our call.
Best,
Lena
- Casual conversation between friends:
Friend 1: So, you finally got that new game console, right?
Friend 2: Yeah, I took it home last Friday. It came with three games.
Friend 1: What did you say about the graphics?
Friend 2: I said they're incredible! You should come over and try it.
These examples demonstrate how took, got, came, and said are seamlessly integrated into natural communication, describing completed past actions or reporting past statements.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Regular Verbs vs. Irregular Verbs: The primary contrast is with regular verbs, which form their past simple by adding
-ed(e.g.,start→started,finish→finished). Youworkedyesterday, youtalkedto a friend. Thewhyis historical linguistic evolution, as discussed. Thewhatis a different ending. The formation rule for regular verbs is simple: Base Form + -ed. For irregular verbs liketake,get,come,say, there is no such predictable rule; their forms (took,got,came,said) are unique and must be learned individually. Always remember: if it's not one of these specific irregular verbs, the-edrule likely applies.
- Past Simple (
took,got,came,said) vs. Present Perfect (have taken,have gotten,have come,have said): At A2, the main distinction lies in the connection to the present. The past simple describes actions completed at a definite time in the past, with no explicit connection to the present moment. For example,I took a break an hour ago.(The break is over, and the time is specified.) The present perfect describes actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or whose results are relevant now. For instance,I have taken three courses this semester.(The semester is ongoing, or the result—having taken the courses—is relevant now.) If you specify a definite past time (e.g.,yesterday,last week), you almost always use the past simple. If the time is not specified or the action has a present consequence, the present perfect is often used. This specific contrast will be explored in more depth at higher CEFR levels, but for A2, recognizing the role ofdefinite past timefor the past simple is key.
Progressive Practice
Practice these words every day. Start with easy things. Then do harder things.
- Recognition Practice (Listening & Reading):
Listen to English songs or stories. Listen for "took", "got", "came", and "said".
Read short stories. Find "took", "got", "came", and "said". Draw a line under them.
Write the correct word in the blank space. Example: Yesterday, I ___ (take) a class.
- Controlled Production Practice (Speaking & Writing):
Change your sentences. Change "I take the train" to "I took the train".
Practice asking questions. Practice saying "no". Use "did" and "didn't". Example: Did she take a taxi?
Look at photos. Tell a story. Use "took", "got", "came", and "said". Tell what happened.
- Free Production Practice (Speaking & Writing):
Write about your day in a book. Use these words. Example: Today, I got up early.
Watch a video. Tell the story again. Use the four words in your story.
Talk with a friend. Ask about last weekend. Answer their questions. Use these words correctly.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Are these the only irregular verbs I need to know?
- A: No, English has many irregular verbs. However,
take,get,come, andsayare among the most common and essential for A2 learners. Mastering these provides a strong foundation.
- Q: How do I know when to use
saidversustold? - A: Use
saidwithout a direct object immediately following the verb (e.g.,He said hello). Usetoldwhen you specify the person who received the message (e.g.,He told me hello).
- Q: Is
gottencorrect? I hear it sometimes. - A:
Gottenis the past participle ofgetprimarily used in American English with the present perfect tense (e.g.,I have gotten a new car). In British English,gotis used for both the past simple and past participle (e.g.,I have got a new car). For A2, focus ongotas the past simple form.
- Q: Can
takehave other past forms? - A: No. For the past simple,
tookis the only correct form. Its past participle istaken(used withhave/hasin the present perfect, e.g.,I have taken).
2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
did not take
|
didn't take
|
Very common in speech
|
|
did not get
|
didn't get
|
Very common in speech
|
|
did not come
|
didn't come
|
Very common in speech
|
|
did not say
|
didn't say
|
Very common in speech
|
Irregular Past Simple Forms
| Infinitive | Past Simple (Affirmative) | Past Simple (Negative) | Past Simple (Question) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
take
|
took
|
didn't take
|
Did ... take?
|
|
get
|
got
|
didn't get
|
Did ... get?
|
|
come
|
came
|
didn't come
|
Did ... come?
|
|
say
|
said
|
didn't say
|
Did ... say?
|
Meanings
These are the past simple forms of 'take', 'get', 'come', and 'say', used to describe completed actions in the past.
Took (Physical Movement/Time)
The past of 'take'; used for moving something or the duration of an event.
“He took my umbrella by mistake.”
“The flight took six hours.”
Got (Acquisition/Arrival)
The past of 'get'; used for receiving, buying, arriving, or becoming.
“I got a new phone yesterday.”
“We got home at midnight.”
Came (Arrival at Speaker's Location)
The past of 'come'; movement toward the person speaking or a specific destination.
“They came to my party on Friday.”
“The bus came ten minutes late.”
Said (Reporting Speech)
The past of 'say'; used to report words spoken by someone.
“She said she was tired.”
“He said 'thank you' to the waiter.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Irregular Verb
|
I took the photo.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + didn't + Base Verb
|
I didn't take the photo.
|
|
Question
|
Did + Subject + Base Verb?
|
Did you take the photo?
|
|
Short Answer (+)
|
Yes, Subject + did
|
Yes, I did.
|
|
Short Answer (-)
|
No, Subject + didn't
|
No, I didn't.
|
|
Wh- Question
|
Wh- + did + Subject + Base Verb?
|
Where did you get that?
|
|
Negative Question
|
Didn't + Subject + Base Verb?
|
Didn't he come to work?
|
Formality Spectrum
I received your correspondence. (Communication)
I got your message. (Communication)
Got your text! (Communication)
Caught your ping. (Communication)
The Big Four Past Verbs
Movement
- took moved away
- came moved toward
Communication
- said spoke words
Acquisition
- got received/arrived
Regular vs. Irregular
Choosing the Right Form
Is it an affirmative sentence?
Is it a negative or question?
Meanings of 'Got'
Arrive
- • got home
- • got to work
- • got there
Receive
- • got a gift
- • got an email
- • got a call
Become
- • got cold
- • got angry
- • got tired
Examples by Level
I took the bus today.
She got a gift.
He came to my house.
They said hello.
I didn't take my keys.
Did you get my email?
The rain came suddenly.
He said that he was busy.
It took me a long time to learn this.
I got tired of waiting for the bus.
The news came as a shock to everyone.
She said she would be here by noon.
He took the opportunity to apologize.
I finally got around to fixing the door.
It came to my attention that there was an error.
They said as much during the meeting.
The project took a toll on his health.
She got wind of the secret plan.
The realization came to him in a dream.
He said his piece and then left the room.
He took exception to the comments made.
The plan got short shrift from the board.
It came home to me how much I missed them.
Suffice it to say, he was not happy.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'said' with a person object (e.g., 'He said me').
Learners confuse the direction of movement relative to the speaker.
Similar to came/went, these involve direction of carrying.
Common Mistakes
I taked the bus.
I took the bus.
He comed to my house.
He came to my house.
I sayed hello.
I said hello.
She getted a gift.
She got a gift.
Did you came?
Did you come?
I didn't took it.
I didn't take it.
He said me 'hi'.
He said 'hi' to me.
It took to me an hour.
It took me an hour.
I have got a letter yesterday.
I got a letter yesterday.
He said to be tired.
He said he was tired.
Sentence Patterns
It took me ___ to ___.
I got ___ because ___.
She said that ___.
When I came to ___, I ___.
Real World Usage
I just got home! It took forever.
In my last role, I took the lead on the project.
I got the pizza, but it came with the wrong toppings.
Look at this photo I took in Paris!
We came to the museum early to avoid the line.
He said I should take this medicine twice a day.
The 'Did' Rule
Pronouncing 'Said'
Got = Arrived
Reporting Speech
Smart Tips
Focus on using 'got' for everything you received or everywhere you arrived. It simplifies your speech immensely.
Stop! Don't use the irregular form. Use the simple dictionary form of the verb.
Use 'said' for the words and 'told me' if you want to mention yourself.
Use 'It took...' to describe how long an activity lasted.
Pronunciation
The 'said' vowel
The 'ai' in 'said' is pronounced like the 'e' in 'bed'. It is /sɛd/.
The 'took' vowel
The 'oo' in 'took' is a short sound, like in 'book' or 'foot'. It is /tʊk/.
The 'came' vowel
The 'a' in 'came' is a long 'A' sound, like in 'name'. It is /keɪm/.
Emphasis on the verb
I TOOK the money (I didn't steal it).
Clarifying the action taken.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
T.G.C.S. - 'The Great Cat Slept' (Took, Got, Came, Said).
Visual Association
Imagine a thief who TOOK a bag, GOT away, CAME to a secret hideout, and SAID 'I'm rich!' Visualize this sequence to remember the four verbs.
Rhyme
I took a look, I got a book, he came to see, and said to me.
Story
Yesterday, I took my dog for a walk. We got some ice cream at the park. My friend came to join us. He said it was the best day ever.
Word Web
Challenge
Write four sentences about your morning using each of these verbs once. Do it in under 2 minutes!
Cultural Notes
Americans use 'got' for past simple but 'gotten' for the past participle. 'I got a car' (Past) vs 'I have gotten a car' (Perfect).
British speakers use 'got' for both past simple and past participle. 'I've got' is also very common to mean 'I have'.
Similar to British English, 'got' is used extensively in informal contexts to replace 'became' or 'arrived'.
These verbs come from Old English and have Germanic roots. Their irregularity is a result of 'strong verb' patterns where vowels shifted to indicate tense.
Conversation Starters
What was the best gift you ever got?
How long did it take you to get here today?
Who came to your last birthday party?
What was the last thing your boss said to you?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Yesterday, I ___ (take) my sister to the park.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She sayed that she was tired.
I got a new phone.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Did you see Mark? B: Yes, he ___ hello to me.
Identify the non-past form.
took / an / it / hour / me
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesYesterday, I ___ (take) my sister to the park.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She sayed that she was tired.
I got a new phone.
Match: 1. Get, 2. Take, 3. Come, 4. Say
A: Did you see Mark? B: Yes, he ___ hello to me.
Identify the non-past form.
took / an / it / hour / me
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesMy friend ___ me a gift for my birthday.
They taked the wrong turn on the road.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella vino a la fiesta con sus amigos.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the verbs:
The professor ___ that the exam would be next week.
When did you came back from your trip?
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Nosotros tomamos muchas fotos en las vacaciones.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
English spelling is often based on history. 'Sayed' existed centuries ago, but it eventually became 'said' to reflect the shortened pronunciation.
It is better to use more specific verbs like `received`, `obtained`, or `arrived` in formal essays, but `got` is perfectly fine for emails and stories.
Yes! In American English, `gotten` is the past participle (used with 'have'). In British English, they just use `got` for both.
Use `came` for movement toward the speaker's current location and `went` for movement away from it.
Never. After `didn't`, you must always use the base form `take`.
Try the mnemonic 'The Great Cat Slept' (Took, Got, Came, Said) or practice them in a short story about your day.
No. `Paid` rhymes with `made`, but `said` rhymes with `bed`.
Usually, we say `had` or `ate`. However, you can say `I took a bite` or `I took my medicine`.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito Indefinido (tomó, obtuvo, vino, dijo)
Spanish verbs change for every person (yo vine, tú viniste), while English only has one form (I came, you came).
Passé Composé (a pris, a eu, est venu, a dit)
English uses a single word (took), French uses two (a pris).
Präteritum (nahm, bekam, kam, sagte)
German uses the Präteritum mostly in writing; English uses the Past Simple in both speech and writing.
Past tense suffix ~ta (totta, moratta, kita, itta)
Japanese is agglutinative (adding endings); English is fusional (changing the word internal).
Past tense verb stems (akhadha, hasala, ja'a, qala)
Arabic verbs conjugate for gender and number in the past.
Particle 'le' (了)
Chinese has no irregular verbs because it has no conjugation at all.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Past Simple: Regular Verbs (The -ed Rule)
Overview The **Past Simple** tense in English is essential for describing actions or states that began and finished at a...
Past Simple Spelling Rules (-ed, -ied, -d)
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The Big Four: Go, Have, Do, Make in the Past
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