![Past tense of teach [e.g., taught] in conversation.](/uploads/63c06a2159796a27700a6fad_teach-1.webp)
Were you ever teached the correct past tense form of teach? If you were indeed teached, you might want to continue reading this article.
The past tense of “teach”
From vowing to bring an umbrella next time, to pouring out spoilt milk—we are all taught little lessons each day.
Teaching is not exclusive to a classroom setting—and neither is learning; so, for anyone that has not been taught the correct conjugations of the verb teach, this article fills in the gaps.
- The past tense and past participle of teach is taught (not to be confused with taut or tot).
- Teached is incorrect, and is not a word in English.
| Sentences with “teach” present tense | Sentences with “taught” past tense |
| I am not qualified to teach this subject. | He taught for several years before becoming a writer. |
| Present | Simple | I teach | I taught | I will teach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous | I am teaching | I was teaching | I will be teaching | ||
| Perfect | I have taught | I had taught | I will have taught | ||
| Perfect Continuous | I have been teaching | I had been teaching | I will have been teaching |
Past tense and past participle of teach
Both the simple past and past participle forms of teach are “taught“. Compare the following sentences:
Past tense: Greg taught me how to swim.
Past participle: I was taught not to interrupt others.
Past participle: She had briefly taught at an elementary school before opening her bakery.
The second and third sentences use taught as a past participle, while the first sentence uses its simple past tense form. When identifying whether it’s the past participle or simple past tense form in use, look for the presence of an auxiliary verb (or, a “helper verb”). The presence of a helper/auxiliary verb, such as have/has/had, is a key marker that the verb form is indeed a participle, and not the past tense.
In the examples above, the auxiliary verbs are was and had, forming the simple past tense in a passive voice and the past perfect tense, respectively. Remember, a participle is not a tense in and of itself—so it follows an auxiliary verb so the tense (points in time) are able to be determined. To help you remember the difference between a participle and a tense, repeat the following: a participle must participate with a partner!
Other augh-/-ough verbs
| Present | Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| teach | taught | taught |
| buy | bought | bought |
| bring | brought | brought |
| catch | caught | caught |
| seek | sought | sought |
Teach/taught, used in sentences
| Examples |
|---|
| We’ll teach you to do it the right way.
He was determined to teach himself. The local guides are going to teach us how to use the blowpipe. She was looking for a photo editor to help her teach a class on photo restoration. The tutor was no more eager to teach than the pupil to learn. |
| Examples |
|---|
| All I know is what mom and dad taught me.
She’s been taught to avoid strangers. You’re the one who taught me not to pull all my eggs in one basket. Anatomy was taught here in the 14th century. |
Idioms with “teach”
| Phrase with “teach” | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to teach an old dog new tricks | It’s hard getting someone settled in their ways to change their habits or behaviours. |
| failure teaches success | Experience is the greatest and hardest teacher. |
| to teach one the tricks of the trade | To introduce someone to the inner-workings of an industry. |
| to teach a man to fish | If you teach someone to do something, they’ll be able to do it on their own. |
| those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. | An insulting idiom meaning that those who are unable do, and those who are unable to do, teach. |
| don’t try to teach Grandma how to suck eggs! | Don’t assume that because someone is old, they do not know or understand how things are. |
Origin of the verb/word, teach
Old English tæcan, “to show, point out, declare, demonstrate,” also “to give instruction, train, assign, direct; warn; persuade,” from Proto-Germanic *taikijan “to show” (source also of Old High German zihan).
Worksheet: “Teach” conjugations
What is the simple past tense of “teach”?
Which sentence uses the correct past participle of “teach”?
Choose the correct form: “Yesterday, I _____ my friend to play chess.”
What is the present participle of “teach”?
Which sentence is correct?
FAQs
What is the past tense of teach?
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Is ‘teached’ a correct past tense word?
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Why is ‘teach’ an irregular verb?
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What other verbs are like teach/taught?
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How is ‘taught’ used in a sentence?
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Sources
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“Teach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teach. Accessed 15 Jan. 2023.
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Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of teach.” Online Etymology Dictionary, Accessed 16 January, 2023.
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“Teach.” TheFreeDictionary.com. 2023. Farlex, Inc. 16 Jan. 2023
Yash, D. "How to Use Teach Past Tense (Irregular Verbs, Explained)." Grammarflex, Aug 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/teach-past-tense/.
