The verb to retell · Conjugation
Past Simple of retell
The answer: retold
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to retell is retold.
Example: He retold the legend.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | retold |
| You | retold |
| He / She / It | retold |
| We | retold |
| You (pl.) | retold |
| They | retold |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have retelled ❌
Same pattern as tell → told → told: I have retold the story.
2. A retelling
As a noun, a retelling is a new version, often a modern version of a famous book or film.
Practice quiz
What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of retell?+
Retold. Same pattern as tell → told (retell = re + tell).
What does retelling mean?+
A retelling = a new version of a story. A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
Is it retell or recount?+
Retell = to tell again. Recount = to tell in detail (formal). He recounted the events of the day.
Is it retold or retelled?+
Retell = re + tell. It follows the irregular verb tell: retold.
What does tales retold mean?+
Tales retold = old stories written again. It is often the title of a book of modern fairy tales.
Related pages: retell 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/retell/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 retell are coming soon.