MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which definition best fits the term 'regular verb'?

1. A verb that changes form irregularly

2. A verb that forms the past tense by adding "ed"

3. A verb that is always in the present tense

4. A verb that does not have a direct object

The correct answer is: A verb that forms the past tense by adding "ed"

The definition that best fits the term 'regular verb' is one that states a regular verb forms the past tense by adding "ed." This characteristic is a defining feature of regular verbs, as they follow a consistent and predictable pattern when altering their tense. For example, verbs such as "walk" become "walked" and "play" become "played" in the past tense without any irregular transformations. This steady formation makes it easier for learners of English to conjugate verbs correctly compared to irregular verbs, which do not adhere to a single pattern and may change forms entirely (e.g., "go" becomes "went"). Thus, identifying a verb by its ability to take on the "ed" ending in the past tense is the quintessential attribute that characterizes a regular verb.