How to Use Learned or Learnt

What's the past tense of "learn"?

The past tense of learn can be either learned or learnt. Both forms are correct, with learned being more common in American English and learnt preferred in British English.

Definition of learn

The verb learn, as described by Oxford Dictionary: "To gain knowledge or skill by studying, from experience, from being taught, etc.: she learned to speak French." Also, "To become aware of something by hearing about it from someone else: I learned that he was leaving."

• The past tense of learn is learned or learnt.
• The past participle of learn is learned or learnt.

Verb forms of 'learn'

Is "learn" a regular or irregular verb?

Learn is considered a semi-irregular verb because it has two acceptable past tense and present or past perfect). Both forms are grammatically correct and widely accepted.

When to use learned vs. learnt

• Yesterday, I learned French in college. (US - simple past)

• She has learned a valuable lesson from that experience. (US - present or past perfect)

• Yesterday, I learnt to drive last year. (UK - simple past)

• She has learnt to be more patient over time. (UK - present or past perfect)

The verb learn uses different forms depending on the regional variant. Learned is preferred in American English while learnt is more common in British English. When used as a participle (shown in the second sentence of each example), it requires an auxiliary verb like have, has, or had. The simple past doesn't use a helper verb since it's a complete tense, so both learned and learnt can stand alone in sentences, whereas participles require an auxiliary verb.

Similar irregular verbs

Like learn, several other verbs have both regular (-ed) and irregular (-t) past tense forms. These verbs offer regional variations between American and British English:

Sentence examples: learn, learned/learnt, learned/learnt

Synonyms & nearby words

FAQs

Sources

1. "Learn, V." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, March 2025.