Past Tense of Teach | Definition & Examples

The past tense of the verb teach, meaning “help someone learn, impart knowledge,” is taught. Teach is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t add “-ed” to form the past tenses.

Taught is both the simple past tense form and past participle of teach.

Past tense of teach in a sentence examples
My grandmother taught me the value of working hard.

It was clear that no one had taught Luke how to ride a bike properly.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been taught by both good and bad teachers.

A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using the past tense of “teach” correctly.

Past tense of teach

The simple past tense form of teach is taught. Taught is one of a number of English verbs with the “-ght” ending, in which everything but the “t” is silent. Taught rhymes with “caught” and “ought.”

Past tense of teach in a sentence examples
Mr. Thomas taught with knowledge and passion, igniting a love of literature in his students.

Marketa taught her children to ski almost before they could walk.

Growing up by the sea taught me to love the sound of the foghorn moaning in the dark.

Past participle of teach

The past participle of teach is also taught. The past participle is used to form the perfect tenses and the passive voice.

Past participle of teach in a sentence examples
Heidi was determined that the miscreants would be taught a lesson!

If nothing else, owning an old car had taught Dominik patience.

Harry had been taught an invaluable lesson about the cost of data roaming that holiday.

Frequently asked questions about the past tense of teach

Is teached a word?

No, “teached” isn’t a word in standard English. The past tense of the verb teach is taught. Teach is an irregular verb, and taught is both the simple past tense form and past participle.

You might occasionally encounter “teached” used humorously or as part of a dialect. But it is incorrect in formal writing.

You can use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to find the correct past tense of teach.

Is taughted a word?

No, “taughted” is not a word in standard English. The simple past tense form and past participle of “teach” is “taught.”

“Teach” is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t add “-ed” to the infinitive to form the past tenses.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you find the correct past tense of teach.

Is it teached or taught?

The past tense of the verb teach is taught. Teach is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t use the “-ed” ending for the past tenses.

Taught is both the simple past tense form and past participle. The past participle is used to form the perfect tenses (e.g., “I have taught English across the whole age range”) and the passive voice (e.g., “I think we have all been taught a lesson today”).

Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you are using the correct past tense of teach.

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Trevor Marshall, MSc

Trevor has a BA in English Literature & Language and an MSc in Applied Social Studies. He has been a teacher for 25 years, with 15 years experience teaching ESL alongside 1st language students.