The verb to foretell · Conjugation
Past Simple of foretell
The answer: foretold
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to foretell is foretold.
Example: The oracle foretold his fate.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | foretold |
| You | foretold |
| He / She / It | foretold |
| We | foretold |
| You (pl.) | foretold |
| They | foretold |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Foretell → foretold → foretold
It changes like tell → told → told. Never add -ed.
2. A literary word
People rarely say foretell in conversation: you find it in books and legends. In everyday English, predict is much more common: I predict that we will win.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of foretell?+
The Past Simple of foretell is foretold. It follows tell → told, because foretell = fore + tell.
What is the difference between foretell and predict?+
Foretell is for oracles, prophecies and magic: it is a literary word. Predict is the everyday word, often based on facts or science: They predicted rain for Monday.
What is a foretelling?+
A foretelling is a prophecy: words that say what will happen in the future. It is a very literary word, common in fantasy books.
What does fortune teller mean?+
A fortune teller is a person who says they can see your future, with cards or by reading your hand. A fortune teller tells fortunes.
Is foretelled correct?+
No. Foretell = fore + tell, and it follows the irregular verb tell. The Past Simple is foretold.
Related pages: foretell 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 →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/foretell/past-simple
© 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.
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More forms of the verb to foretell are coming soon.