Principal Parts means chief forms. The root form, or the infinitive, the past form, and the past participle are called the three principal parts of verbs. They are given this name because, if these forms of a verb are known, the whole conjugation can be made.

The principal parts of the verb speak are, (1) speak, (2) spoke, (3) spoken; of praise are (1) praise, (2) praised, (3) praised.

Exercise 257

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Write the principal parts of these verbs: play, give, slay, ride, drop, ring, dig, mean, photograph, sat. (The past participle form is the form that may be used in a verb phrase with have; for example, have played, have given,)

Try to put these verbs into two groups according to the way they form their principal parts.

Exercise 258

What two classifications of verbs have you already made? (§§ 55-58). Be able to explain each of the four classes that you have studied.