Past Tense of “teach”
The past simple of “teach” is “taught” and the past participle is “taught”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “teach”
teach – taught – taught
help someone learn
- Base form
- teach/tiːtʃ/
- Past simple
- taught/tɔːt/
- Past participle
- taught/tɔːt/
- -ing form
- teaching
- He / she / it
- teaches
Pronunciation (US)
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
My mother taught me how to swim.
Past participle
She has taught English for ten years.
Passive
We were taught by a native speaker.
The most common mistake
Wrong
He teached me to drive.
Correct
He taught me to drive.
“Teach” is irregular: teach – taught – taught.
Verbs with the same pattern
Past = participle. Learn these together.