OBS. 3.—­When the verb ends with a smooth consonant, the substitution of t for ed produces an irregularity in sound as well as in writing.  In some such irregularities, the poets are indulged for the sake of rhyme; but the best speakers and writers of prose prefer the regular form, wherever good use has sanctioned it:  thus learned is better than learnt; burned, than burnt; penned, than pent; absorbed, than absorbt; spelled, than spelt; smelled, than smelt.  So many of this sort of words as are allowably contracted, belong to the class of redundant verbs, among which they may be seen in a subsequent table.

OBS. 4.—­Several of the irregular verbs are variously used by the best authors; redundant forms are occasionally given to some verbs, without sufficient authority; and many preterits and participles which were formerly in good use, are now obsolete, or becoming so.  The simple irregular verbs in English are about one hundred and ten, and they are nearly all monosyllables.  They are derived from the Saxon, in which language they are also, for the most part, irregular.

OBS. 5.—­The following alphabetical list exhibits the simple irregular verbs, as they are now generally used.  In this list, those preterits and participles which are supposed to be preferable, and best supported by authorities, are placed first.  Nearly all compounds that follow the form of their simple verbs, or derivatives that follow their primitives, are here purposely omitted. Welcome and behave are always regular, and therefore belong not here.  Some words which are obsolete, have also been omitted, that the learner might not mistake them for words in present use.  Some of those which are placed last, are now little used.

LIST OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS.

Imperfect     Perfect
Present.     Preterit.                Participle.     Participle. 
Arise,        arose,                  arising,      arisen. 
Be,           was,                    being,        been. 
Bear,         bore or bare,         bearing,      borne or born.[274]
Beat,         beat,                   beating,      beaten or beat. 
Begin,        began or begun,[275]  beginning,    begun. 
Behold,       beheld,                 beholding,    beheld. 
Beset,        beset,                  besetting,    beset. 
Bestead,      bestead,                besteading,   bestead.[276]
Bid,          bid or bade,          bidding,      bidden or bid. 
Bind,         bound,                  bing,         bound. 
Bite,         bit,                    biting,       bitten or bit. 
Bleed,        bled,                   bleeding,     bled. 
Break,        broke,[277]             breaking,     broken. 
Breed,        bred,                   breeding,     bred. 
Bring,        brought,                bringing,     brought.