The verb to spend · Conjugation
Past Simple of spend
The answer: spent
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to spend is spent.
Example: I spent £50 yesterday.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | spent |
| You | spent |
| He / She / It | spent |
| We | spent |
| You (pl.) | spent |
| They | spent |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Spended ❌
Spend is irregular. Its Past Simple is spent (d → t), never spended.
2. I passed two hours on my homework ❌
For time, say spend time: I spent two hours on my homework. Pass the time has a different meaning: to keep busy while you wait.
3. I spent £20 for a book ❌
I spent £20 on a book ✓. I spent £20 for a book ✗. With spend, the preposition is always on.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of spend in real sentences
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of spend?+
The Past Simple of spend is spent. The past participle is spent too. Spend → spent → spent.
Is it spent or spended?+
Spend is irregular. Its Past Simple is spent (d → t), never spended. It is the same with send → sent and lend → lent.
How do you use spend time?+
Spend + time + with someone, or spend + time + -ing: I spend time with my family. She spends hours reading.
What is the difference between spend time and pass the time?+
To talk about your time in general, say spend time: We spent two days in London. Pass the time exists, but it means to do something so that time seems to go faster, for example while you wait: We played cards to pass the time.
Is it spend on or spend for?+
Spend money on something: I spent £20 on books. The preposition is on, not for.
Related pages: spend 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/spend/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 spend are coming soon.