We’ve all seen it, lists of irregular verbs drilled out of context:
eat, ate, eaten…
drink, drank, drunk…
But here’s the thing: how often do we use all three forms like that in real life? Pretty much never. So why do we teach them that way?
In my latest YouTube video, I share a chant that gives irregular verbs meaning, structure, and rhythm. It’s designed to stick—and to support your learners with grammar, pronunciation, and fluency all at once.
🎶 The Chant
Yesterday I ate an apple
I’ve eaten an apple today
Tomorrow I’m going to eat an apple
I eat one every day
Each line features a different tense, with a clear time reference:
Past simple – Yesterday I ate
Present perfect – I’ve eaten today
Future with going to – I’m going to eat
Present simple – I eat one every day
It’s simple. It’s rhythmic. It’s real.
Why It Works
This chant follows my MMM Framework:
Meet the language in a meaningful, memorable context
Manipulate the language through structured play
Make it your own by adapting, performing, and personalising it
By anchoring each tense with a time reference, learners don’t just learn grammar, they understand when and why each form is used.
And thanks to the chant’s rhythm, pronunciation and fluency come naturally, especially with contractions like I’ve eaten and I’m going to eat.
How to Use It in Class: Step-by-Step
👂 1. Choral Repetition
Say each line and have your learners echo it:
Teacher: “Yesterday I ate an apple”
Class: [repeats]
…and so on.
Keep the rhythm natural. Use contractions. No text yet, just ears and mouths!
✍️ 2. Write It Down
Now challenge them to write the chant from memory, working in pairs.
Keep repeating it as they write, and when they finish, they join back in the chanting.
📖 3. Check and Analyse
Show the full chant on the board or slide. Let them check their version.
Then, together:
– Identify the tenses
– Match them to their time references
– Compare to other tenses like past continuous or present continuous—and explore why those aren’t used here
Variations: Manipulate the Chant
Once they’ve met the chant, it’s time to play with it!
🍉 Swap the Verb
Yesterday I drank some water
I’ve drunk some water today
Tomorrow I’m going to drink some water
I drink it every day
Choose other irregular verbs, or brainstorm them together as a class.
👤 Change the Subject
Yesterday he took a photo
He’s taken one today
Tomorrow he’s going to take one
He takes them every day
Great for practising pronouns and subject–verb agreement.
👩🌾 Link to Occupations
Yesterday he sowed some seeds
He’s sown some today
Tomorrow he’s going to sow more
He sows them every day
➡️ He’s a gardener.
This works brilliantly with thematic units (jobs, daily routines, healthy living, etc.).
❌ Flip It into the Negative
Want to practise didn’t, haven’t, not going to, and don’t? Just flip the chant!
Yesterday I didn’t eat an apple
I haven’t eaten one today
Tomorrow I’m not going to eat an apple
I don’t eat them every day
You can:
Ask learners to rewrite the original as a negative
Mix positive and negative versions in pairs
Use contrast to explore meaning and frequency
❓ Ask the Question
Want to push it even further? Turn the chant into questions:
Yesterday, did you eat an apple?
Have you eaten one today?
Are you going to eat one tomorrow?
Do you eat them every day?
Use this:
For dialogue-building
As listening comprehension (match questions to answers)
To support speaking practice in pairs
🧠 Extend It Further
Use the chant as a springboard into:
Mini-presentations: Learners write their own versions and present
Class performances: Add actions or beats to keep rhythm
Grammar notebooks: Students record personalised examples
Writing tasks: Turn the chant into a short paragraph about habits or routines
✨ Final Thoughts
Irregular verbs don’t need to be painful or dull. When taught in real sentences with real rhythm, they’re not just easier to remember—they’re more useful.
So ditch the verb tables. Grab this chant. Let your learners hear, speak, play, and own the language.
Watch the full video here, and let me know in the comments or on social media how you’ve used it with your class.
Let’s make grammar memorable.
🧠 Extend It Further
Use the chant as a springboard into:
Mini-presentations: Learners write their own versions and present
Class performances: Add actions or beats to keep rhythm
Grammar notebooks: Students record personalised examples
Writing tasks: Turn the chant into a short paragraph about habits or routines
✨ Final Thoughts
Irregular verbs don’t need to be painful or dull. When taught in real sentences with real rhythm, they’re not just easier to remember—they’re more useful.
So ditch the verb tables. Grab this chant. Let your learners hear, speak, play, and own the language.
Watch the full video here, and let me know in the comments or on social media how you’ve used it with your class.
Let’s make grammar memorable.