Irregular verb
The verb to cost
cost → cost → cost
B1Meaning: to have a price; to make someone lose something · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they cost·he/she/it costs - Past Simple:
cost(the same as the base form!) - Past participle:
cost(all three forms are the same) - -ing form:
costing
Conjugation of the verb to cost
Present Simple
| I | cost |
| You | cost |
| He / She / It | costs |
| We | cost |
| You (pl.) | cost |
| They | cost |
Past Simple
| I | cost |
| You | cost |
| He / She / It | cost |
| We | cost |
| You (pl.) | cost |
| They | cost |
All the forms of the verb to cost
Present Simple
Full pagecost / costs
“It costs £20.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are costing
“I am costing a lot of money right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagecost
“The book cost £15.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were costing
“I was costing a lot of money when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has cost
“I have already cost a lot of money.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad cost
“She had already cost a lot of money when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill cost
“I will cost a lot of money tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to cost
“I'm going to cost a lot of money this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould cost
“I would cost a lot of money if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to cost
1. Costing money (price)
- It costs £20.
- How much did it cost?
2. Costing more than money
Cost someone something means to make someone lose something, or need a lot of effort.
- The mistake cost him his job.
- It cost me a lot of effort.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. It costed £10 ❌
Cost does not change in the Past Simple: It cost £10. Other verbs like this: cut, hit, hurt, let, put, set, shut.
2. Cost is also a noun
As a noun, cost means the money you need to pay: the cost of living (how much money you need for everyday life). At any cost means whatever happens, even if it is difficult.
What's next?
You can conjugate to cost. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of cost?+
The Past Simple of cost is cost, the same as the base form! The past participle is also cost. Cost → cost → cost. Other verbs like this: cut, hit, hurt.
How do you ask how much something costs?+
Ask How much does it cost? In the past: How much did it cost? Answers: It costs £20 (now) or It cost £20 (in the past).
What is the difference between cost and price?+
Price is a noun: the amount written on the label. Cost can be a verb or a noun: the money you really pay. The price is £20 → it costs £20. In everyday English, they often mean the same.
Can cost mean more than money?+
Yes. Cost someone something means to make someone lose something important. The mistake cost him his job (he lost his job because of it). It cost me a lot of effort (it was very hard).
Is it cost or costed?+
For prices, say cost: It cost £10. Costed exists only in business English, with a different meaning (to calculate how much something will cost): The project was costed at £1M.
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/cost
© 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.