The verb to kneel · Conjugation
Past Simple of kneel
The answer: knelt (UK) / kneeled (US)
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to kneel is knelt (UK) / kneeled (US).
Example: She knelt down to tie her shoes.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | knelt / kneeled |
| You | knelt / kneeled |
| He / She / It | knelt / kneeled |
| We | knelt / kneeled |
| You (pl.) | knelt / kneeled |
| They | knelt / kneeled |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. The k is silent
Kneel is /niːl/. You don't say the first k, as in know, knife, knock and knee.
2. Knelt (UK) or kneeled (US)
British English almost always uses knelt (irregular). American English accepts both: kneeled (regular) is much more common there than in the UK.
3. He knelt the floor ❌
Kneel needs a preposition: kneel on the floor, kneel before someone (in front of them). Never kneel the floor.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of kneel?+
There are two forms: knelt (irregular, the most common, especially in the UK) and kneeled (regular, especially in the US). The past participle is the same. Kneel → knelt/kneeled → knelt/kneeled.
Do you pronounce the k in kneel?+
No! The first k in kneel is silent. Say /niːl/: it starts like knee. It is the same in know /nəʊ/, knife /naɪf/ and knock /nɒk/.
What does kneel down mean?+
Kneel down means to go down on your knees: She knelt down to look at the flower. People often add down to show the movement.
Is it didn't kneel or didn't knelt?+
Say didn't kneel: He didn't kneel during the song. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (kneel, not knelt).
Is take a knee a protest?+
Yes. Take a knee means to put one knee on the ground. In the USA, it became a political gesture against racism (Colin Kaepernick, NFL, 2016).
Related pages: kneel 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/kneel/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 kneel are coming soon.