Why do we write "read" instead of "readed" and pronounce it "red"?

Question

Why do we write read unchanged for present and past, while study changes; we have studied.

The present form of read is read, pronounced as "reed". The past form of read is also read but it is pronounced as "red".

Is it a regular verb or an irregular verb?

Irregular in the sense that it doesn't follow the pattern of present -> past = X -> Xed. — Matt E. Эллен, Jan 11 '14 at 10:21
I'm not sure I understand your confusion. There are lots of verbs in English that don't follow the X -> Xed pattern. Why is read troubling you? — Matt E. Эллен, Jan 11 '14 at 10:32
“Why” questions are nearly impossible to answer without writing a PhD thesis–length reply full of research and conflicting theories. — tchrist, Jan 11 '14 at 14:34
@tchrist: I thought the same at first look. But the OP was more likely asking about the technical reasoning, like "what are the rules behind this situation?" — DarkWingDuck, May 13 '18 at 23:31

score -6 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 11 '14 at 08:50

-6

This is largely because that's what M-W.com says, observe.

read,

read verb \ˈrēd\
: to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.

: to read the words of (a book, magazine, etc.)

: to speak aloud the words of (something written)

However, readed just shows,

Readed

answered Jan 11 '14 at 08:50

Evan Carroll

1,410

12

I think it's the other way around. We don't say it because M-W tells us to, M-W says this because that's what we say. – StoneyB on hiatus Jan 11 '14 at 12:30

Why do we write "read" instead of "readed" and pronounce it "red"?

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