Irregular verb
The verb to learn
learn → learned/learnt → learned/learnt
A1Meaning: to get new knowledge or a new skill · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they learn·he/she/it learns - Past Simple:
learned(UK and US) orlearnt(UK, /lɜːnt/) - Past participle:
learnedorlearnt - -ing form:
learning
Conjugation of the verb to learn
Present Simple
| I | learn |
| You | learn |
| He / She / It | learns |
| We | learn |
| You (pl.) | learn |
| They | learn |
Past Simple
| I | learned / learnt |
| You | learned / learnt |
| He / She / It | learned / learnt |
| We | learned / learnt |
| You (pl.) | learned / learnt |
| They | learned / learnt |
All the forms of the verb to learn
Present Simple
Full pagelearn / learns
“I learn English at school.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are learning
“I am learning new words right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagelearned (US) / learnt (UK)
“I learned English at school.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were learning
“I was learning new words when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has learned
“I have already learned new words.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad learned
“She had already learned new words when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill learn
“I will learn new words tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to learn
“I'm going to learn new words this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould learn
“I would learn new words if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to learn
1. Getting knowledge or a skill
- I learn English.
2. Hearing some news
Learn about something can also mean to hear some news for the first time.
- I learnt about your promotion.
3. Learning from your mistakes
Learn from something means to get better because of it.
- Learn from your mistakes.
A common mistake
1. She learns us English ❌
Learn = to get knowledge (the student). Teach = to give knowledge (the teacher). Say She teaches us English. You can learn English, but you can't learn someone.
Going further
Conjugating to learn is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to learn. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
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For teachersReady-made activities to practise to learn in class
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Related pages: learn
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of learn?+
There are two correct forms: learned and learnt. Learned is used everywhere and is the usual form in American English. Learnt (/lɜːnt/) is common in British English. Other verbs work the same way: burned / burnt, dreamed / dreamt.
What is the difference between learn and teach?+
Learn is what the student does: you get new knowledge. Teach is what the teacher does: you give knowledge to someone. So say He taught me English, never He learnt me English. Teach is irregular: teach → taught → taught.
What does learn by heart mean?+
Learn something by heart means to learn it so well that you can say it without reading: We have to learn the poem by heart for Friday. You can also say memorise.
What is the difference between learner and student?+
A learner is anyone who is learning something, at any age: She is a fast learner. A student studies at a school, a college or a university. A lifelong learner is someone who keeps learning all their life.
What does learn the hard way mean?+
Learn the hard way means to learn something because you made a mistake or had a bad experience: I learnt the hard way to always save my work.
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/learn
© 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.