Irregular verb
The verb to retell
retell → retold → retold
B2Meaning: to tell a story again, often in a new way · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they retell - Past Simple:
retold(like tell → told) - Past participle:
retold - -ing form:
retelling
Conjugation of the verb to retell
Present Simple
| I | retell |
| You | retell |
| He / She / It | retells |
| We | retell |
| You (pl.) | retell |
| They | retell |
Past Simple
| I | retold |
| You | retold |
| He / She / It | retold |
| We | retold |
| You (pl.) | retold |
| They | retold |
All the forms of the verb to retell
Present Simple
Full pageretell / retells
“She retells her stories often.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are retelling
“I am retelling the story right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageretold
“He retold the legend.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were retelling
“I was retelling the story when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has retold
“I have already retold the story.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad retold
“She had already retold the story when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill retell
“I will retell the story tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to retell
“I'm going to retell the story this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould retell
“I would retell the story if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to retell
1. Telling a story again
- He retold the story.
2. Retelling (noun)
A retelling is a new version of a story.
- A modern retelling.
A common mistake
1. Retelled ❌
The prefix re- means again: redo, retell, rebuild. The new verb keeps the forms of the base verb: tell → told, so retell → retold.
What's next?
You can conjugate to retell. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of retell?+
Retold. It works like tell → told, because retell = re + tell. Retell → retold → retold.
What is a retelling?+
A retelling is a new version of an old story, in a book or a film. A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The word is very common in literature and cinema.
What is the difference between retell and recount?+
Retell = to tell again (general, often spoken). Recount = to tell in detail (formal: in newspapers, or when a witness speaks). She retold the joke. The witness recounted the events.
What does tales retold mean?+
Tales retold means old stories told again in a new way. You often see it in the title of a book that tells classic fairy tales in a modern style.
Is it retold or retelled?+
Retell = re + tell, so it follows the irregular verb tell: retold. Never retelled. Other verbs with tell do the same: foretell → foretold.
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/retell
© 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.