Regularverb

Regularverb is a term used in linguistics to denote a verb form that follows a predictable, rule-governed pattern for its inflected forms. A regularverb contrasts with irregular verbs, which exhibit stem changes, irregular endings, or forms that do not follow a single, uniform rule across tenses and persons. The designation can apply within a language or across languages that share a common regular-conjugation system.

In English, regularverbs typically form their past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed, and their present participle by adding -ing. The third-person singular present form usually adds -s. Examples include walk, walked, walking, walks; talk, talked, talking, talks. Once the base form is known, other inflections are derived by applying standard rules, with minimal exception.

Across languages, regularverb concepts are organized into conjugation classes that share the same endings and patterns. For instance, Spanish has regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs with well-defined endings for each tense and mood, while French differentiates regular -er verbs from other verb types through systematic endings. German also identifies regular weak verbs with consistent past tense and participle formations, distinct from strong irregulars.

Limitations exist: even so-called regularverbs may undergo phonological adjustments for spelling, pronunciation, or assimilation, and some forms can be irregular in specific tenses or in certain phonological environments. Nonetheless, the regularverb category provides a useful framework for learning, teaching, and analyzing morphology, offering a baseline against which irregular patterns are identified.