Irregular verb
The verb to lead
lead → led → led
B1Meaning: to show the way; to be in charge of a group · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they lead·he/she/it leads - Past Simple:
led(pronounced /led/, with no a!) - Past participle:
led(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
leading
Conjugation of the verb to lead
Present Simple
| I | lead |
| You | lead |
| He / She / It | leads |
| We | lead |
| You (pl.) | lead |
| They | lead |
Past Simple
| I | led |
| You | led |
| He / She / It | led |
| We | led |
| You (pl.) | led |
| They | led |
All the forms of the verb to lead
Present Simple
Full pagelead / leads
“She leads the team.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are leading
“I am leading the team right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageled
“She led the team to victory.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were leading
“I was leading the team when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has led
“I have already led the team.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad led
“She had already led the team when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill lead
“I will lead the team tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to lead
“I'm going to lead the team this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould lead
“I would lead the team if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to lead
1. Leading a team or a group
- She leads the team.
- He led the country for 10 years.
2. Going to a place (a road, a path)
Lead to + place: a road or a path goes there. All roads lead to Rome means there are many ways to get the same result.
- This road leads to Paris.
- All roads lead to Rome.
3. Causing something: lead to
Lead to can also mean to cause something: one thing makes another thing happen.
- This decision led to problems.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She lead the team yesterday ❌
A common mistake is to write lead in the past, like the base form. The past is led. Compare read → read: there, the spelling stays the same and only the sound changes.
2. Lead is also a noun
Take the lead means to go into first place. In the lead means in first place, for example in a race: She was in the lead after ten minutes.
What's next?
You can conjugate to lead. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of lead?+
The Past Simple of lead is led, with no a, pronounced /led/. The past participle is also led. Lead → led → led. Be careful with the spelling!
How do you pronounce led?+
Led is pronounced /led/, like bed. The present lead is pronounced /liːd/, with a long sound, like need. This difference is important when you speak.
Does lead also mean a metal?+
Yes! The noun lead is a grey metal, pronounced /led/. It has the same spelling as the verb in the present, but a different sound. The context tells you which one. Also, a pencil lead is the part of a pencil that writes.
How do you use lead with a team?+
Say lead a team: She leads the team. The person in charge is the team leader. Take the lead means to go into first place, or to take control.
Is it led or leaded?+
Lead is irregular. Its Past Simple is led (no a), not leaded. Native speakers often make a different mistake: they write lead for the past. This is because the metal lead sounds like led.
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/lead
© 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.