"forgot" vs "forgotten"

Question

"forgot" vs "forgotten"

Both 'forgotten' and 'forgot' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Forgotten' is the past participle of 'forget' and is used with auxiliary verbs like 'have' (e.g., 'have forgotten'). 'Forgot' is the simple past tense of 'forget' and is used to describe an action that happened in the past.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

Use 'forgot' when you want to talk about an action that was completed in the past.

Examples:

I forgot to buy milk at the store.
She forgot her umbrella at the restaurant.
He forgot his lines during the play.
We forgot to lock the door before leaving.
They forgot about the appointment.

Alternatives:

did forget
had forgotten
was forgetting
were forgetting
will forget

Use 'forgotten' when you need to form the present perfect or past perfect tenses of the verb 'forget'.

Examples:

I have forgotten my keys at home.
She had forgotten to call her friend.
They have forgotten the meeting time.
Have you forgotten your password?
The book was forgotten on the shelf.

Alternatives:

have forgotten
had forgotten
will have forgotten
has forgotten
having forgotten

Answer 1

forgot

'Forgot' is the simple past tense of 'forget' and is used to describe an action that happened in the past.

Answer 2

forgotten

The word 'forgotten' is the past participle of 'forget' and is used with auxiliary verbs like 'have' (e.g., 'have forgotten').

"forgot" vs "forgotten"

forgot

forgotten

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