Maybe it’s just here in the south where folks misuse verb principal parts, but I don’t think so. People on the television from all parts of the country are butchering the English language, especially where past and past participle forms of some verbs are concerned. Court shows are programs where the most incorrect forms are uttered. Defendants say, “The car was tooken from my driveway.” Plaintiffs growl, “He done it on purpose.”

            I feel sure that most, if not all, have been taught in school the correct forms of verbs. Most can remember the long list of verbs which they committed to memory for tests. Evidently, too many tipped their heads and allowed that list to pour from their ears as soon as tests on them were taken.

            At any rate, it would be wonderful if everyone would re-learn the present, past, and past participle (the form used with has or have). If nothing else, the correct usage would prevent my blood pressure from spiking.

VERBS

PRESENT                 PAST                          PAST PARTICIPLE

GO                              WENT                         GONE

We have GONE (not went) to Florida for vacation.

DO                              DID                             DONE

He DID (not done) his homework before supper.

SEE                             SAW                           SEEN

Last night I SAW (not seen) you at the movie theater.

RUN                           RAN                           RUN

The girls have RUN (not ran) the concession stand for the baseball league.

TAKE             TOOK                         TAKEN

The police officer has TAKEN (not took) statements from both drivers in the wreck.

            Above are just a few of the misused verbs. If anyone wants to know more of them, he or she only needs to Google misused irregular verbs to find a complete list of them.  (http://suite101.com/article/irregular-verbs-in-the-english-language-a196296)

Let’s hope that folks will spend some time learning these forms so they don’t sound illiterate. Let’s also hope they encourage their children to learn them the first time around.