Drink, Drank, Drunk: The i-a-u Verb Pattern
Quick Answer
A group of verbs changes its vowel in the same order every time: i in the present, a in the past, u with have. I drink → I drank → I have drunk.
See the Pattern First
Say these out loud. The vowel walks the same path each time.
- I drink tea. Yesterday I drank tea. I have drunk three cups.
- They sing well. Last night they sang well. They have sung here before.
- The bell rings. It rang at noon. It has rung twice.
- I begin now. I began yesterday. I have begun already.
i → a → u. It never runs backwards. Once you notice this, four or five verbs stop being separate things to memorise and become one shape.
The Full List
Cover the last two columns and test yourself — the pattern will carry you.
| Verb | Past | With have/has/had |
|---|---|---|
| drink | drank | drunk |
| sing | sang | sung |
| ring | rang | rung |
| begin | began | begun |
| swim | swam | swum |
| sink | sank | sunk |
| shrink | shrank | shrunk |
| swing | swung | swung |
These come up often, so they have their own full lesson with more practice: swang, swung or swinged?.
When to Use Which Form
Use the a form (drank, sang) for a finished action at a known time: “I drank it an hour ago.”
Use the u form (drunk, sung) only after have, has or had: “I have drunk it.” Never on its own — “I drunk it” is the single most common error with these verbs.
i today, a yesterday, u after have.
The Odd One Out
Swing looks like it belongs but breaks the pattern:
- swing → swung → swung — it skips the “a” step entirely. There is no “swang” in standard English.
- bring also looks similar but is completely different: brought. Do not let the -ing ending fool you.
Rhyming endings do not guarantee matching patterns. Sing/sang but bring/brought.
Mistakes Learners Make (You Are Not Alone)
Almost every error with these verbs is the same one — using the u form without “have”:
- ✗ I drunk the water → ✓ I drank the water (no “have”, so use drank)
- ✗ she sung beautifully → ✓ she sang beautifully
- ✗ the bell has rang → ✓ the bell has rung (after “has”, use rung)
Check for have, has or had. If it is there, use the u form. If not, use the a form. That single check fixes all three.
Your Turn — Quick Quiz
Five questions. Take your time — the table above is still there if you need it.
1. 1. Yesterday I ____ two cups of coffee.
2. 2. She has ____ in this hall many times.
3. 3. The alarm ____ at six this morning.
4. 4. What is the past tense of “swing”?
5. 5. Which sentence is CORRECT?
Keep Going
One pattern, eight verbs, and a check that stops the most common mistake.
Another family works the same way but ends differently: draw becomes drew, then drawn. Fly becomes flew, then flown. Where does that -n come from?
Next lesson: Verbs ending in -ew and -own: draw, fly, know
Sources
I’m Khamis Maiouf. English is not my first language – I learned it as an adult in the UK, passed Functional Skills Level 2 in English, qualified in Hairdressing at Level 3, and I’m now studying Business at university. For over five years I’ve taught ESOL classes in my community and tutored students through GCSE English. I write every lesson on this site myself, for the learner I used to be.
