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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.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: August 07, 2024 • 32167 views

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.
  • Dec 2, 2022 ... "I had forgotten my lunch; I needed to go to the store." You can also use the present perfect tense. That refers to acts in the past that are ...
  • Dec 16, 2022 ... Last night i went to restaurant but couldn't eat anything because I had forgotten ... I had forgotten my wallet at home or last night i ...
  • Feb 13, 2018 ... For example, "By the time the game was about to start, I (realized that I) had forgotten to explain the rules." The forgetting takes place ...
  • I Had Forgotten About The Thoroughbred. PUBLISHED. December 7, 2017; 11:27 am. WORDS BY. Blogger Chanda Boylen. ADVERTISEMENT. We have forgotten.
  • Sep 3, 2024 ... No microtransactions is such a breath of fresh air, I had forgotten how nice it feels to just play and slowly unlock cosmetics! Discussion.
  • Nov 1, 2012 ... 2-I had forgotten to copy you yesterday. On a side note: can you recommend a helpful grammar handbook? Which book is considered the perfect ...
  • Aug 28, 2010 ... "I forgot" is the simple past, expressing an action which took place once. "I had forgotten" is is the simple past perfect, used to express ...
  • Jul 17, 2023 ... I had forgotten about Sessions at the Presidio, but I was invited there for a monthly Skywalker Vineyards wine dinner last weekend.
  • Laura Letinsky: I Did Not Remember I Had Forgotten solo exhibition at monique meloche gallery.
  • Jun 9, 2024 ... I had forgotten how much I dislike Los Angeles Dodgers. ; Linda Rosse Underwood. I haven't like them since they moved out of Brooklyn. ; Veronica ...

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.
  • Jun 22, 2017 ... The Present Perfect Tense (I have forgotten) is formed with a present tense form of "to have" (I have) plus the past participle of the verb, ...
  • Apr 15, 2023 ...I have forgotten more than you will ever know. “.
  • Jan 10, 2019 ... It's either “I have forgotten” or “I forgot”, which don't quite mean the same thing.
  • Feb 9, 2018 ... So, it's been unnerving to realize: I have forgotten how to read – really read – and I've been refusing to talk about it out of pride. Books ...
  • Jan 3, 2012 ... i have forgotten my password to and my security questions is there any way i can access that account. leepaul. New Community Member.
  • Feb 9, 2016 ... I have forgotten the password for a OneNote section i created a while back - any way i can recover the password.
  • Mar 14, 2017 ... The phrase is generally fine, however, "he olvidado mucho" sounds like a literal translation from "I have forgotten most of it".
  • Feb 26, 2024 ... Duplicate of: I have forgotten my password as well as my backup email account password. Please help! I have a personal email which I have ...
  • Dec 13, 2012 ... That is why I am not sure between "I forgot" and "I have forgotten". And also why is it the first one or the second one. Thanks! D ...
  • Feb 27, 2024 ... I have forgotten a previous email address name, when I used the sign in options and checked using my current email as the recovery email, ...

Alternatives:

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

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