The verb to lead · Conjugation
Past Simple of lead
The answer: led
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to lead is led.
Example: She led the team to victory.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | led |
| You | led |
| He / She / It | led |
| We | led |
| You (pl.) | led |
| They | led |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. He lead the team yesterday ❌
The past is led (no a), pronounced /led/. The present is lead (with a), pronounced /liːd/. Writing lead for the past is a common spelling mistake.
2. Lead is also a metal
The noun lead (/led/) is a grey metal. It has the same spelling as the verb in the present. Use the context to tell them apart.
3. Leder ❌
The noun leader keeps the a: lead + -er. Don't mix it up with led, the past of the verb.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of lead?+
The Past Simple of lead is led (pronounced /led/). The past participle is also led. Lead → led → led. Be careful with the spelling: there is no a.
How do you pronounce led?+
Led is pronounced /led/, like bed. The present lead is /liːd/, with a long sound. The difference matters when you speak.
Does lead also mean a metal?+
Yes! The verb lead (to guide, to be in charge) is pronounced /liːd/. The noun lead, a grey metal, is pronounced /led/. Same spelling, different sounds, so they are easy to confuse.
Is it led or leaded?+
Lead is irregular. Its Past Simple is led (no a), never leaded.
What does leader mean?+
A leader is a person who leads a group: lead + -er. The team leader is the person in charge of the team. It keeps the long sound of the present: /ˈliːdə/.
Related pages: lead 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/lead/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 lead are coming soon.