The verb to catch · Conjugation
Past Simple of catch
The answer: caught
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to catch is caught.
Example: I caught the ball.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | caught |
| You | caught |
| He / She / It | caught |
| We | caught |
| You (pl.) | caught |
| They | caught |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Catched ❌
Catch is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is caught, never catched.
2. Saying the gh in caught ❌
Caught has the same sound /ɔːt/ as bought, thought and fought, but it is spelt with -aught (like taught). The gh is silent.
3. He catchs ❌
Verbs that end in -tch add -es with he, she and it: he catches, she watches, it fetches.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of catch?+
The Past Simple of catch is caught (pronounced /kɔːt/). The past participle is the same: caught. Catch → caught → caught.
Does caught rhyme with bought?+
Yes. Caught is pronounced /kɔːt/, like bought, thought and fought. The gh is silent, and augh sounds like /ɔː/.
Is catched a word?+
No. Catch is an irregular verb: its Past Simple is caught, never catched.
What does catch a cold mean?+
Catch a cold means to become ill with a cold. I caught a cold last week. You can also catch the flu.
Can you say catch the bus?+
Yes: catch the bus, the train or the plane. I catch the 8 a.m. bus. Here catch means to get it in time, not to miss it.
Related pages: catch 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/catch/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 catch are coming soon.