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The verb to close · Conjugation

Past Simple of close

The answer: closed

A2

A finished action at a definite time in the past.

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Quick answer

The Past Simple of the verb to close is closed.

Example: I closed the window.

Full conjugation in the Past Simple

PronounForm
Iclosed
Youclosed
He / She / Itclosed
Weclosed
You (pl.)closed
Theyclosed

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Close the door said /kləʊs/ ❌

The verb close is said /kləʊz/, with a z sound: Close the door. Only the adjective (near) is said /kləʊs/: My house is close to the school.

2. Closure (a feeling)

Closure can be a feeling of peace after a sad event. Get closure = to accept what happened and start a new chapter.

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank

How do you pronounce “close” (the verb)?

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past tense of close?+

Closed (regular): I closed the window.

How do you pronounce close, the verb and the adjective?+

Close /kləʊz/ = to shut (verb). Close /kləʊs/ = near (adjective). Same spelling, different pronunciation.

What is the difference between close and shut?+

Close = to shut (general). Shut = to close (stronger, more spoken). Close the door, please. Shut up (be quiet) is rude.

What does closed mean?+

Closed is also an adjective: not open. The shop is closed. The opposite is open.

What does closure mean?+

A closure = (1) when a place stops opening (a school, a road); (2) a feeling of peace after a sad event, for example after the death of someone you love.

Related pages: close 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 →

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More forms of the verb to close are coming soon.