Past Tense of “tell”
The past simple of “tell” is “told” and the past participle is “told”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “tell”
tell – told – told
give information to someone
- Base form
- tell/tel/
- Past simple
- told/toʊld/
- Past participle
- told/toʊld/
- -ing form
- telling
- He / she / it
- tells
Pronunciation (US)
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
She told me the news on the phone.
Past participle
Have you told your boss about the problem?
Passive
We were told to wait outside.
The most common mistake
Wrong
He telled us a funny story.
Correct
He told us a funny story.
“Tell” is irregular: tell – told – told.
Verbs with the same pattern
Past = participle. Learn these together.