Irregular verb
The verb to dive
dive → dived → dived
B2Meaning: to jump into water head first; to go down quickly · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they dive·he/she/it dives - Past Simple:
dived(UK) /dove(US) - Past participle:
dived(everywhere) - -ing form:
diving
Conjugation of the verb to dive
Present Simple
| I | dive |
| You | dive |
| He / She / It | dives |
| We | dive |
| You (pl.) | dive |
| They | dive |
Past Simple
| I | dived / dove |
| You | dived / dove |
| He / She / It | dived / dove |
| We | dived / dove |
| You (pl.) | dived / dove |
| They | dived / dove |
All the forms of the verb to dive
Present Simple
Full pagedive / dives
“I dive into the pool.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are diving
“I am diving into the pool right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagedived (UK) / dove (US)
“She dived into the pool.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were diving
“I was diving into the pool when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has dived
“I have already dived into the pool.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad dived
“She had already dived into the pool when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill dive
“I will dive into the pool tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to dive
“I'm going to dive into the pool this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould dive
“I would dive into the pool if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to dive
1. Diving into water
- She dived into the pool.
- Birds dive into the sea.
2. Diving into something (figurative)
Dive into a task, or dive in, means to start it quickly and with energy.
- Let's dive into the project.
3. Diving (the sport)
- I love scuba diving.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Two correct past forms
Dived (UK, regular) and dove (US, irregular) are both correct. Choose one variety of English and use the same form in all your text.
2. Dive in!
Dive in! means go on, start now! We say it to tell someone to begin something without waiting: The food is on the table, so dive in!
What's next?
You can conjugate to dive. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of dive?+
The Past Simple of dive is dived in British English (a regular form) or dove in American English (an irregular form). Both are correct. The past participle is dived everywhere. If you are not sure, use dived.
Is it dived or dove?+
In British English, say dived (the regular form). In American English, dove is very common. People understand both forms everywhere, but each country has its favourite.
What is scuba diving?+
Scuba diving is swimming deep under the water with a tank of air on your back. SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Diving on one breath, with no tank, is free diving. Both are popular sports.
What does dive in mean?+
Dive in can mean to start something quickly and with energy, like a project or a meal. Let's dive in! means let's start now! At the table, Dinner's ready, dive in! means start eating!
Can dive be a noun?+
Yes! A dive is a jump into water, head first: She did a perfect dive into the pool. In informal American English, a dive is also a dirty, cheap café or bar: What a dive!
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/dive
© 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.