Regular verb
The verb to close
close → closed → closed
A2Meaning: to shut something; to stop being open · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
close / closes - Past Simple:
closed - Past participle:
closed - -ing form:
closing
Conjugation of the verb to close
Present Simple
| I | close |
| You | close |
| He / She / It | closes |
| We | close |
| You (pl.) | close |
| They | close |
Past Simple
| I | closed |
| You | closed |
| He / She / It | closed |
| We | closed |
| You (pl.) | closed |
| They | closed |
All the forms of the verb to close
Present Simple
Full pageclose / closes
“The shop closes at 7.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are closing
“I am closing the window right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageclosed
“I closed the window.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were closing
“I was closing the window when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has closed
“I have already closed the window.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad closed
“She had already closed the window when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill close
“I will close the window tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to close
“I'm going to close the window this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould close
“I would close the window if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to close
1. Closing something
- Close the door.
2. Closing (shops, opening times)
- The shop closes at 7.
A common mistake
1. Shut up! = rude
Shut up means be quiet, but it is rude and aggressive. Avoid it, except as a joke between friends. To be polite, say Could you be quiet, please?
Going further
Conjugating to close is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Related pages: close
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of close?+
Closed: close is regular. It already ends in e, so you only add -d.
How do you pronounce close?+
Close the verb (to shut) is said /kləʊz/, with a z sound. Close the adjective (near) is said /kləʊs/, with an s sound. Same spelling, different pronunciation: these words are homographs.
What is the difference between close and shut?+
Close is neutral: good in formal and in everyday English. Shut is a little stronger and more informal. Shut up (be quiet) is rude. In polite situations, choose close.
What does closure mean?+
Closure has two meanings. (1) When a place stops working or opening: the closure of the factory, a road closure. (2) A feeling of peace after a sad event, when you can start a new chapter: I need closure.
What is closing time?+
Closing time is the time when a shop, a library or a café closes. It's nearly closing time. It is also the title of a famous song (Semisonic, 1998).
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/close
© 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.