Quick revision:
1 A participle is part of a verb if a verb is more than one word – so I have finished my work – have finished is the complete verb, and finished is the participle).
2 Most verbs take -ed in the past tense (I jump today, I jumped yesterday). Irregular verbs do not follow this pattern.

Now more about irregular verbs: some irregular verbs are the same in the past and past participle forms:

Example sentences:

  • I meant what I said! (past); She had meant to tell me, but she forgot. (past participle)
  • We knelt down and prayed. (past); She had knelt for hours, until her knees were aching. (past participle)
  • I spent all my pocket money on air time. (past); The day was spent waiting in a queue. (past participle)

    • However, many irregular verbs are different in the past and past participle forms:

    Example sentences:

  • They sang in the choir. (past); When they were students, they had sung in the choir. (past participle)
  • The author wrote a chapter a day until he finished the book. (past); The author had written a chapter a day before falling ill. (past participle)
  • You broke my heart! (past); My heart was broken! (past participle)