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I had forgotten vs I have forgotten

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I had forgotten' is used to talk about something that was forgotten in the past. 'I have forgotten' is used to talk about something that was forgotten in the past but it still has relevance to the present.

Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: August 07, 2024

I had forgotten

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about something that was forgotten in the past.

This phrase is used to refer to an action of forgetting that occurred before a certain point in the past. It is often followed by another action or event that happened after the forgetting.

Examples:

I had forgotten my keys at home when I arrived at the office.
She had forgotten to turn off the stove before leaving the house.
He had forgotten his umbrella, so he got wet in the rain.
We had forgotten about the meeting, so we missed it.
They had forgotten to buy milk, so they had to go back to the store.

Show examples from the web [+]

Aug 28, 2010 ... "I had forgotten" is is the simple past perfect, used to express an action taking place before a certain time in the past. This tense emphasizes ...
Jun 8, 2011 ... Dear experts, Which one of the two is correct? i realized i had forgotten or i realized i have forgotten or are they both correct depending on the ...
If I already knew I had forgotten them. (Something like "Hope he won't meet me, I don't have the photos on me. Oops, here he comes.") b) "I've forgotten.
But the fact remains that Miss Canby's story was read to me once, and that long after I had forgotten it, it came back to me so naturally that I never suspected that ...

Alternatives:

I forgot
I had forgotten about that
I had forgotten until you mentioned it
I had forgotten all about it
I had forgotten where I put it

I have forgotten

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about something that was forgotten in the past and still has relevance to the present.

This phrase is used to indicate that the action of forgetting happened at an unspecified time in the past and that the consequences of that forgetting are still relevant in the present.

Examples:

I have forgotten my password, so I can't log in.
She has forgotten to call her friend back.
He has forgotten where he parked his car.
We have forgotten to buy groceries, so we have nothing to eat.
They have forgotten about the deadline, so they need to hurry.

Show examples from the web [+]

I have forgotten places the importance and relevance of the past act of forgetting in the present. A common situation in which I'd say it is if I only realized 'in the ...
Dec 19, 2008 ... It depends on where you are. In the U.S., it would be "I have forgotten"; "forgot" would make you sound like you had not learned the difference ...
Aug 13, 2010 ... on a website I always answer in my head: "No, I have not forgot my password, I have forgotten my password" – Phil Peace Aug 13 '10 at 14:53 ...
Dec 19, 2014 ... I have forgotten my password or my username. How can I retrieve them? In most cases, you should be able to reset your password and be ...

Alternatives:

I forgot
I've forgotten
I have no recollection of that
I can't remember
I don't recall

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