before i forget vs before i forgot

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Before I forget' is used when someone wants to mention or do something before they forget to do it in the future. 'Before I forgot' is used when someone is referring to a specific point in the past when they forgot something.

Last updated: April 06, 2024 • 1084 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"before i forget"

This phrase is used when someone wants to mention or do something before they forget to do it in the future.

Examples:

Let me write down your phone number before I forget.
I need to buy milk before I forget.
Please remind me to call my mom before I forget.
I have to send that email before I forget.
Before I forget, did you pick up the dry cleaning?

Show examples from the web [+]

Before I forget, Simon called.
Before I forget... thanks for the loaner.
Before I forget, a package came for you yesterday.
Before I forget, thanks for bringing me in on this, man.
Before I forget that I am married.
Please go away from here before I forget my limits.
Before I forget, I need to ask a favour.
I'll give you some advice, before I forget.
Listen, before I forget, that side is still wet.
Before I forget... I owe you cab fare for today.
Before I forget, I want you to meet Dominika.
Take it before I forget how much money you make me.
Now get out of here before I forget we are brothers.
Before I forget, sign this.
I've been looking for you to tell you something before I forget.
Before i forget, I'm Pavel.
Before I forget, is there someplace I can plug in my...
Now, get out of here before I forget.
Before I forget, thanks for taking my things to the hospital.
Before I forget... write down your address.

Alternatives:

Before I lose track
Before it slips my mind
Before it escapes me
Before it fades from memory
Before it goes out of my head

This phrase is correct but used in a different context.

"before i forgot"

This phrase is used when someone is referring to a specific point in the past when they forgot something.

Examples:

Before I forgot, I had already made dinner plans.
Before I forgot, I had written down the address.
Before I forgot, I had scheduled the meeting.
Before I forgot, I had packed my suitcase.
Before I forgot, I had completed the assignment.

Show examples from the web [+]

Before I forgot all about it.
It's a gift. I... I wanted to give it to you before I forgot.
About before, what I forgot to tell you is...
But, before reinstalling, I forgot to backup recent data from hard drive.
3 Is it or is it not The dream that I forgot Before the dawn? 4 The cords are silent.
But before deleting accounts, I forgot to maintain backup of files saved on it.
Yes, you can see preview of Contacts, Messages, Call history, Calendar, Notes, Reminders and Safari Bookmarks before recovering them. I forgot the passcode of my iPhone.
[Lzzie] I reminded you before you went. I forgot when I got there.
By the time I died, I couldn't remember what I had for dinner the night before, but I never forgot those five names.
Before he forgot my name, Me and Darren did a robbery.
The man who had the room before me forgot to pack everything.
Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time before you forgot where we lived.
The night before last she even forgot it was our wedding anniversary.
Before or after you forgot it?
115 And certainly We gave a commandment to Adam before, but he forgot; and We did not find in him any determination.
You and Lloyd, how long, even in the theatre, before people forgot what happened and trusted you again?
No, I forgot to check in before I went to the printer.
Just a little something I forgot to wrap up before I left, and now it's bugging me.
Just a little something I forgot to wrap up before I left, and now it's bugging me.
I forgot to put on the stamp before I mailed the letter.

Alternatives:

Before I had forgotten
Before I lost track
Before it slipped my mind
Before it escaped me
Before it faded from memory

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