Irregular verb
The verb to cast
cast → cast → cast
B1Meaning: to throw; to choose an actor for a role · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they cast·he/she/it casts - Past Simple:
cast(no change) - Past participle:
cast - -ing form:
casting
Conjugation of the verb to cast
Present Simple
| I | cast |
| You | cast |
| He / She / It | casts |
| We | cast |
| You (pl.) | cast |
| They | cast |
Past Simple
| I | cast |
| You | cast |
| He / She / It | cast |
| We | cast |
| You (pl.) | cast |
| They | cast |
All the forms of the verb to cast
Present Simple
Full pagecast / casts
“They cast their votes today.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are casting
“I am casting the fishing line right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagecast
“He cast the line into the river.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were casting
“I was casting the fishing line when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has cast
“I have already cast the fishing line.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad cast
“She had already cast the fishing line when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill cast
“I will cast the fishing line tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to cast
“I'm going to cast the fishing line this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould cast
“I would cast the fishing line if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to cast
1. Throwing
Cast a line means to throw a fishing line into the water.
- Cast your line!
2. Voting
Cast your vote means to vote.
- Cast your vote.
3. Choosing an actor for a role
- She was cast as Juliet.
A common mistake
1. Casting
As a noun, casting is choosing the actors for a film or a play. In English, an audition for a role is usually called an audition: She went to an audition for the school play.
What's next?
You can conjugate to cast. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of cast?+
The Past Simple of cast is cast: it does not change. Cast → cast → cast. It is in the same family as cut, put, hit, let, set and broadcast.
What does cast a spell mean?+
Cast a spell means to use magic words to make something happen. You often read it in fantasy stories, like Harry Potter: The witch cast a spell on the prince.
What is the cast of a film?+
The cast is all the actors in a film, a series or a play: the cast of “Friends”. The verb cast means to choose an actor for a role. A casting director chooses the actors.
What is cast iron?+
Cast iron is a hard metal. It is made by pouring hot liquid iron into a shape. A cast-iron pan is very heavy and strong. As a figurative adjective, a cast-iron promise is a promise that is sure.
Is it cast or casted?+
Say cast. The form casted exists, but most people think it is wrong. Always use cast: He cast his vote yesterday.
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/cast
© 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.