Irregular verb
The verb to catch
catch → caught → caught
B1Meaning: to stop and hold something moving; to get a bus or train in time; to get an illness · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they catch·he/she/it catches - Past Simple:
caught(pronounced /kɔːt/) - Past participle:
caught(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
catching
Conjugation of the verb to catch
Present Simple
| I | catch |
| You | catch |
| He / She / It | catches |
| We | catch |
| You (pl.) | catches |
| They | catch |
Past Simple
| I | caught |
| You | caught |
| He / She / It | caught |
| We | caught |
| You (pl.) | caught |
| They | caught |
All the forms of the verb to catch
Present Simple
Full pagecatch / catches
“I catch the bus at 8.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are catching
“I am catching the bus right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagecaught
“I caught the ball.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were catching
“I was catching the bus when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has caught
“I have already caught the bus.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad caught
“She had already caught the bus when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill catch
“I will catch the bus tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to catch
“I'm going to catch the bus this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould catch
“I would catch the bus if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to catch
1. Catching something (a ball, an animal, a thief)
- I caught the ball.
- The police caught the thief.
2. Taking transport (a bus, a train, a plane)
Catch the bus, the train or the plane means to get it in time, not to miss it.
- I catch the bus at 8.
- We caught the last train.
3. Getting an illness
You can catch a cold or catch the flu.
- I caught a cold.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Catch or take for transport?
Catch means you get the bus in time (it leaves soon). Take is general. Both are correct: I catch the bus to school or I take the bus to school.
2. Catch up is a phrasal verb
Catch up (with someone) means to reach someone, or to talk and share news. Let's catch up next week means let's meet and talk next week.
What's next?
You can conjugate to catch. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of catch?+
The Past Simple of catch is caught, the same for every person. The past participle is also caught. Catch → caught → caught.
How do you pronounce caught?+
Caught is pronounced /kɔːt/, like bought (/bɔːt/), thought (/θɔːt/) and fought (/fɔːt/). The gh is silent, and augh sounds like /ɔː/.
Is it catch the bus or take the bus?+
Both work. Take the bus is general. Catch the bus means you get it in time, before it leaves. I caught the 8 a.m. bus.
What does catch up mean?+
Catch up has two meanings. (1) To reach someone in front of you, or to do work that you are late with: I need to catch up on my homework. (2) To talk with someone and share news: Let's catch up soon!
Is it caught or catched?+
Catch is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is caught, never catched. Learn it with bought, thought and fought: they have the same sound /ɔːt/, but caught is spelt with -aught (like taught).
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/catch
© 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.