The verb to forgive · Conjugation
Past Simple of forgive
The answer: forgave
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to forgive is forgave.
Example: She forgave him.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | forgave |
| You | forgave |
| He / She / It | forgave |
| We | forgave |
| You (pl.) | forgave |
| They | forgave |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Forgived ❌
Forgive follows give → gave → given: forgive → forgave → forgiven. Three different forms.
2. I forgive you about it ❌
The reason goes after for: I forgive you for what you said. The pattern is forgive + person + for + thing.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of forgive?+
The Past Simple is forgave, and the past participle is forgiven. Forgive → forgave → forgiven, like give → gave → given.
Forgive me or pardon me: which one is stronger?+
Forgive me is stronger and more serious. Pardon me is light, like excuse me (more common in the US). I beg your pardon is very formal.
Is forgive and forget an idiom?+
Yes. Forgive and forget means to forgive someone and stop thinking about what happened. It is a very common expression.
Is forgived a word?+
No. Forgive is irregular: forgave in the Past Simple, forgiven as the past participle. Forgived does not exist.
What does forgiving mean?+
Forgiving (adjective) describes someone who forgives easily. She's a forgiving person means she doesn't stay angry for long.
Related pages: forgive 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/forgive/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 forgive are coming soon.