Past Tense of “sleep”
The past simple of “sleep” is “slept” and the past participle is “slept”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “sleep”
sleep – slept – slept
rest with your eyes closed
- Base form
- sleep/sliːp/
- Past simple
- slept/slept/
- Past participle
- slept/slept/
- -ing form
- sleeping
- He / she / it
- sleeps
Pronunciation (US)
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
I slept for nine hours last night.
Past participle
Have you slept at all?
Past simple
The baby slept through the night.
The most common mistake
Wrong
I sleeped badly.
Correct
I slept badly.
“Sleep” is irregular: sleep – slept – slept.
Verbs with the same pattern
Past = participle. Learn these together.