Irregular verb
The verb to deal
deal → dealt → dealt
B1Meaning: to take care of a problem; to give out cards · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they deal·he/she/it deals - Past Simple:
dealt(said /delt/, not /diːlt/) - Past participle:
dealt(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
dealing
Conjugation of the verb to deal
Present Simple
| I | deal |
| You | deal |
| He / She / It | deals |
| We | deal |
| You (pl.) | deal |
| They | deal |
Past Simple
| I | dealt |
| You | dealt |
| He / She / It | dealt |
| We | dealt |
| You (pl.) | dealt |
| They | dealt |
All the forms of the verb to deal
Present Simple
Full pagedeal / deals
“I deal with clients every day.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are dealing
“I am dealing with the problem right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagedealt
“She dealt with the problem quickly.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were dealing
“I was dealing with the problem when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has dealt
“I have already dealt with the problem.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad dealt
“She had already dealt with the problem when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill deal
“I will deal with the problem tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to deal
“I'm going to deal with the problem this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould deal
“I would deal with the problem if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to deal
1. Dealing with a problem
Deal with + something or someone. I'll deal with it means I will take care of it.
- I'll deal with it.
- How do you deal with stress?
2. Dealing cards
Deal also means to give cards to each player in a game.
- Deal the cards.
3. Doing business
Deal in something means to buy and sell it as a job. It's a deal! means we agree!
- They deal in antiques.
- It's a deal!
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Dealt said /diːlt/ ❌
Dealt is not said like deal + t. The vowel becomes a short /e/: /delt/. It is the same for mean /miːn/ → meant /ment/.
2. I'll deal it ❌
To talk about a problem, you need with: I'll deal with it. Without with, deal means to give out cards: Deal the cards. Deal is also a noun: a deal is an agreement. It's a deal! means we agree! A good deal is a good price.
What's next?
You can conjugate to deal. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of deal?+
The Past Simple of deal is dealt (said /delt/). The past participle is the same: dealt. Deal → dealt → dealt. It works like feel → felt and mean → meant.
How do you pronounce dealt?+
Dealt is said /delt/, with a short ea, like in bread and head. The vowel is not the same as in deal (/diːl/). This happens often in English: the past form has a shorter vowel.
What does deal with mean?+
Deal with means to take care of something, or to manage a problem. I'll deal with it means I will take care of it. How do you deal with stress? It is a very useful expression, at school, at home and at work.
What is the difference between deal with and handle?+
They often mean the same. Deal with means to take care of a problem, a situation or a person. Handle means to manage something, and it can also mean to hold something in your hands. I dealt with the problem. I handled the situation.
Is it dealed or dealt?+
Say dealt. Deal is an irregular verb: its Past Simple ends in -t, never dealed. Other verbs work in the same way: feel → felt, keep → kept, sleep → slept, mean → meant.
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/deal
© 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.