The verb to arrive · Conjugation
Past Simple of arrive
The answer: arrived
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to arrive is arrived.
Example: I arrived early.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | arrived |
| You | arrived |
| He / She / It | arrived |
| We | arrived |
| You (pl.) | arrived |
| They | arrived |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I arrived at London ❌
At + a small place (a station, a building). In + a big place (a city, a country): I arrived in London.
2. Arrive to ❌
Never arrive to. Always at or in, depending on the place: We arrived at school. They arrived in Spain.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of arrive?+
Arrived (regular): I arrived early.
When do you use arrive at and arrive in?+
Arrive at + a small place (a station, an airport, a school). Arrive in + a big place (a city, a country). We arrived at the station. We arrived in Rome.
What is the difference between arrive and reach?+
Arrive has no direct object (use at or in). Reach has a direct object. I arrived at the station. I reached the station.
What does arrival mean?+
An arrival = the moment when you arrive. Arrivals (plural) is the sign for the arrival area at an airport.
What is a newcomer?+
A newcomer is a person who has just arrived in a place or a group: She is a newcomer to the school.
Related pages: arrive Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/arrive/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to arrive are coming soon.