12 Must-Know Irregular Verbs for Lawyers
Legal English depends on accurate verbs. Because many frequently used legal verbs are irregular, their past forms cannot be created simply by adding -ed. This lesson covers 12 essential verbs, their forms, legal meanings and common collocations.
The 12 irregular verbs
| Base form | Past simple | Past participle | Legal meaning and example |
|---|---|---|---|
| arise | arose | arisen | Emerge or come into existence: “A dispute has arisen over the clause.” |
| bind | bound | bound | Impose a legal obligation: “The parties are bound by the contract.” |
| break | broke | broken | Violate a rule or law: “The defendant broke the law.” |
| bring | brought | brought | Start proceedings: “The claimant brought proceedings against the defendant.” |
| find | found | found | Reach a judicial conclusion: “The court found in favour of the claimant.” |
| plead | pleaded / pled (especially US) | pleaded / pled | Admit or deny guilt: “The defendant pleaded guilty.” |
| prove | proved | proved / proven | Establish truth through evidence: “The authorities proved that the companies had fixed prices.” |
| seek | sought | sought | Try to obtain a remedy or result: “The claimant sought damages.” |
| swear | swore | sworn | Make a solemn promise: “The witness swore an oath.” |
| undertake | undertook | undertaken | Commit to or assume responsibility: “The company undertook to provide the services.” |
| win | won | won | Achieve success in a dispute: “The lawyer won the case for her client.” |
| withdraw | withdrew | withdrawn | Remove or take back: “The claimant withdrew the application.” |
High-value legal collocations
| Verb | Common collocations |
|---|---|
| arise | a dispute arises; liability arises; an issue arises |
| bind | bind the parties; be bound by; a binding decision |
| break | break the law; break an agreement; breach a contract |
| bring | bring proceedings; bring a claim; bring an action |
| find | find in favour of/against; find guilty/not guilty; find that… |
| plead | plead guilty/not guilty; plead a case (usage varies) |
| prove | prove a fact; prove liability; prove beyond reasonable doubt |
| seek | seek damages; seek compensation; seek redress; seek an injunction |
| swear | swear an oath; sworn evidence; sworn statement |
| undertake | undertake to do something; give an undertaking |
| win | win a case; win an appeal; win at trial |
| withdraw | withdraw a claim; withdraw an application; withdraw consent |
Important usage notes
Bring, not “open”, proceedings
In English legal usage, a claimant normally brings proceedings, brings a claim or starts proceedings. The past form is brought.
“Find” describes the court’s conclusion
A court may find in favour of or find against a party. In criminal proceedings, a court or jury may find the defendant guilty or not guilty.
“Plead” varies by variety and context
In criminal law, a defendant pleads guilty or pleads not guilty. Pled is common in American English, while pleaded is standard in British English and also used in the US. Civil-procedure terminology varies between jurisdictions.
Proved or proven?
The ordinary British past simple is proved. Both proved and proven occur as past participles, with regional and stylistic variation. Fixed expressions include innocent until proven guilty.
Quiz: Irregular verbs for lawyers
Complete each sentence using the correct verb from the word bank. Each word should be used once.
Word bank: sought • withdrawn • found • undertook • arisen • brought • sworn • bound
- A dispute has __________ regarding interpretation.
- The parties are __________ by the settlement.
- The claimant __________ proceedings last year.
- The court __________ in favour of the defendant.
- The applicant __________ an injunction.
- The witness had __________ an oath.
- The company __________ to deliver by Friday.
- The application was __________.
Answers
- arisen — A dispute has arisen regarding interpretation.
- bound — The parties are bound by the settlement.
- brought — The claimant brought proceedings last year.
- found — The court found in favour of the defendant.
- sought — The applicant sought an injunction.
- sworn — The witness had sworn an oath.
- undertook — The company undertook to deliver by Friday.
- withdrawn — The application was withdrawn.
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