Past Tense of “read”
The past simple of “read” is “read” and the past participle is “read”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “read”
read – read – read
look at and understand written words
- Base form
- read/riːd/
- Past simple
- read/red/
- Past participle
- read/red/
- -ing form
- reading
- He / she / it
- reads
Pronunciation (US)
Same spelling in all three forms, but the past and past participle are pronounced /red/, like the color red.
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
I read the whole book last weekend.
Past participle
Have you read the instructions?
Passive
The poem was read aloud at the wedding.
The most common mistake
Wrong
I readed the email twice.
Correct
I read the email twice.
“Read” never changes its spelling. Only the sound changes: /riːd/ now, /red/ in the past.
Verbs with the same pattern
Same in all 3 forms. Learn these together.
- put – put – put
- let – let – let
- set – set – set
- cut – cut – cut
- hit – hit – hit
- hurt – hurt – hurt
- cost – cost – cost
- shut – shut – shut