irregular verb form
[/ɪˈrɛɡjələr vɜːrb fɔːrm/]
nounpl: irregular verb forms
forma de verbo irregular
1. A verb form that does not follow standard conjugation patterns in a language
The past tense 'went' is an irregular verb form of 'go'.
O tempo passado 'foi' é uma forma de verbo irregular de 'ir'.
2. Any conjugation of an irregular verb that cannot be predicted by regular rules
The verb 'be' has many irregular verb forms such as 'am', 'is', 'are', 'was', 'were'.
O verbo 'ser/estar' tem muitas formas de verbo irregular como 'sou', 'é', 'somos', 'era', 'eram'.
3. In linguistics, deviations from the standard morphological rules of verb conjugation
Students must memorize irregular verb forms because they cannot be derived from regular patterns.
Os alunos devem memorizar as formas de verbo irregular porque não podem ser derivadas de padrões regulares.
In both English and Portuguese-speaking contexts, irregular verb forms are a significant part of language education. Brazilian Portuguese students often struggle with the many irregular verbs in both Portuguese and English, making this a common topic in language classrooms. The concept is universal across both cultures, with emphasis placed on rote memorization during early language learning stages.
Related Idioms & Phrases
to memorize irregular verb forms
to master irregular verbs
the challenge of irregular forms
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