What is the Past Tense of to Teach?

Hello again, fellow word enthusiasts! Let’s chat about a word that’s a cornerstone in the realm of learning and sharing knowledge: “teach.”

It’s a verb that pops up all the time, from classrooms to casual conversations about passing on skills and wisdom.

So, what’s the deal with its past tense?

In English, the past tense of “teach” is “taught.” It’s a neat little word that packs a punch, carrying the weight of imparting knowledge or skills that have already been shared.

Past Tense of “Teach”

When we use “taught,” we’re stepping into the past, looking back at a time when the teaching happened. It’s the word you reach for when you’re reminiscing about lessons given and knowledge shared.

Conjugation Table for “Teach”

Let’s break it down a bit more. Here’s how “teach” hops through different tenses:

Pronoun	Infinitive	Simple Past	Present Perfect	Present Continuous
I	teach	taught	have taught	am teaching
You (singular)	teach	taught	have taught	are teaching
He/She/It	teaches	taught	has taught	is teaching
We	teach	taught	have taught	are teaching
You (plural)	teach	taught	have taught	are teaching
They	teach	taught	have taught	are teaching

Example Sentences

Let’s see “taught” in action, shall we?

1. Simple Past
   • “Last week, I taught my nephew how to ride a bike.”
   • “In college, our professor taught us about Renaissance art.”
   • “He taught music in a small town for several years.”
2. Present Perfect
   • “I have taught in different countries over the past five years.”
   • “She has taught several advanced yoga classes recently.”
   • “They have taught themselves coding through online courses.”
3. Past Continuous
   • “I was teaching English when the power outage happened.”
   • “We were teaching them basic first aid when the ambulance arrived.”
   • “He was teaching piano during the summer of 2010.”
4. Past Perfect
   • “Before moving to New York, she had taught in London for three years.”
   • “They had already taught the course twice before I enrolled.”
   • “I had taught at the university before starting my own business.”

Exploring “Teach”

The verb “teach” comes from the Old English “tǣcan,” meaning to show, instruct, or point out. It’s a verb that’s all about guiding and facilitating learning, whether it’s in an academic setting or teaching someone a new recipe.

Common Mistakes and Tips

Let’s clear up a few common mix-ups:

1. Incorrect: I teach them how to make pottery last year. Correct: I taught them how to make pottery last year.
2. Incorrect: He has teach in various schools across the country. Correct: He has taught in various schools across the country.
3. Incorrect: We were teach them about renewable energy sources. Correct: We were teaching them about renewable energy sources.

A good rule of thumb: use “taught” when referring to any teaching action that has already concluded.

Nuances in Usage

• Teach vs. Taught: While “teach” is used for present and future actions, “taught” is strictly for the past.
• Idiomatic Expressions: Phrases like “teach someone a lesson” (often used metaphorically) rely on the context to determine the tense.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “teach” and “taught” is more than just grammar—it’s about conveying your experiences and stories accurately.

It shows you’re not just adept at sharing knowledge; you’re doing it with linguistic precision.

Remember, every time you use these words correctly, you’re not just teaching English grammar; you’re also celebrating the rich tapestry of the language. Keep the learning (and teaching!) spirit alive!

We also have a full list of irregular verbs from A – Z on the site which you can access from the link here.

You can check other past tense words and our past tense resources by clicking on the links in the table below and in the resource list below that.

Table 2: Table of Links for irregular Past Tense Verbs

bend	meet	copy	beat
lay	draw	buy	Fly
Drink	Think	wear	dive
rise	dream	Speak	bite
bear	begin	freeze	sink
get	give	take	sing
learn	keep	find	be
say	catch	eat	come
go	know	do	cut
drive	fall	let	make
pay	read	build	become
forget	break	bleed	teach

We also have articles and worksheets which we will link examples of below, and if you need more you can try the search box.

• Free Simple Past Tense Worksheets
• irregular verb list
• Simple Present Tense Worksheets
• Regular and irregular past tense worksheets
• Free online past tense games.
• Present perfect tense worksheets
• Simple Future tense worksheets
• irregular Past Tense Verb list
• Simple Past tense ‘ed’ ending rules and handouts