The verb to show · Conjugation
Past Simple of show
The answer: showed
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to show is showed.
Example: I showed him my homework.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | showed |
| You | showed |
| He / She / It | showed |
| We | showed |
| You (pl.) | showed |
| They | showed |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She shown me her room ❌
Showed is the Past Simple (with -ed): She showed me her room. Shown is the past participle (no -ed), and it needs have / has: She has shown me her room. Learners often mix them up.
2. I have showed ❌
In standard English, say I have shown. In informal American English, I have showed exists, but shown is better.
3. I showed to her the book ❌
There are two patterns: I showed her the book or I showed the book to her. When the person comes first, there is no to.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of show in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of show when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
Practise the Past Simple of show on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of show, and you follow each student
The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of show?+
The Past Simple of show is showed (regular). The past participle is shown (irregular), or sometimes showed in informal American English. Show → showed → shown.
Is show an irregular verb?+
Only half. The Past Simple is regular: showed. The past participle is irregular: shown. It is the only irregular form of the verb.
What is the difference between showed and shown?+
Showed is the Past Simple: I showed him the way. Shown is the past participle: I have shown him the way. In American English, people sometimes accept showed as the past participle too.
Is it show me or show to me?+
Both patterns exist, but the order changes. Show + person + thing: I showed her my photos. Show + thing + to + person: I showed my photos to her.
What is the difference between show and see?+
Show means to let someone see something. See means to notice something with your eyes. I show you the picture (I hold it up for you). You see the picture (your eyes notice it).
Related pages: show 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/show/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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to show are coming soon.