The verb to ride · Conjugation
Past Simple of ride
The answer: rode
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to ride is rode.
Example: I rode my bike to school yesterday.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | rode |
| You | rode |
| He / She / It | rode |
| We | rode |
| You (pl.) | rode |
| They | rode |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have rode ❌
I rode yesterday. ✓ I have ridden many horses. ✓ After have or has, always use ridden, never rode.
2. Rided ❌
Ride is irregular. Its Past Simple is rode, never rided.
3. Ride or drive?
Ride = a bike, a motorbike, a horse (no steering wheel). Drive = a car, a lorry (with a steering wheel). You ride a bus as a passenger, but you drive a bus as the driver.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of ride?+
The Past Simple of ride is rode. The past participle is ridden. Ride → rode → ridden.
What is the difference between rode and ridden?+
Rode is the Past Simple: I rode a horse last week. Ridden is the past participle: I have ridden a horse. Don't mix them up.
Why is it not rided?+
Ride is irregular. Its Past Simple is rode and its past participle is ridden. Never rided.
What is the difference between ride and drive?+
Ride = to be on a bike, a motorbike or a horse (no steering wheel). Drive = to control a car or a lorry (with a steering wheel). I ride a bike. I drive a car.
Is it ride a bike or go cycling?+
Both are correct. Ride a bike is the action: I ride my bike every day. Go cycling is for a free-time activity: We went cycling in the mountains.
Related pages: ride 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/ride/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 ride are coming soon.