The verb to spoil · Conjugation
Past Simple of spoil
The answer: spoiled (US) / spoilt (UK)
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to spoil is spoiled (US) / spoilt (UK).
Example: The rain spoiled our picnic.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | spoiled / spoilt |
| You | spoiled / spoilt |
| He / She / It | spoiled / spoilt |
| We | spoiled / spoilt |
| You (pl.) | spoiled / spoilt |
| They | spoiled / spoilt |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Spoiled (US) vs spoilt (UK)
Both forms are correct. American English prefers spoiled; British English uses both. As an adjective, a spoilt child sounds more British and a spoiled child more American.
2. Don't give me spoils! ❌
When someone tells you the end of a film, those are spoilers: Don't give me spoilers! Spoils is a different word: it means the things that winners take after a war.
3. Spoil: to ruin OR to give too much
Spoil has two very different meanings. (1) To ruin something: The rain spoiled our picnic. (2) To give a child, or yourself, too much: Grandparents spoil their grandkids. The context tells you which one it is.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of spoil?+
There are two forms: spoiled (American English) and spoilt (British English). The past participle is the same. Spoil → spoiled/spoilt → spoiled/spoilt.
What is a spoiled brat?+
A spoiled brat (or a spoilt brat) is a child who gets everything they want and behaves badly. It is not a nice thing to say about someone. American English prefers spoiled; British English uses both.
What does no spoilers mean?+
No spoilers! means don't tell me what happens! A spoiler tells you the ending, or a big surprise, of a film, a series or a book. No spoilers, please: I haven't seen the last episode.
Is it didn't spoil or didn't spoiled?+
Say didn't spoil: The rain didn't spoil our day. After didn't, use the base form → spoil.
Is it spoiled milk or spoilt milk?+
Both are correct: spoilt milk is more British and spoiled milk is more American. It is milk that is not good to drink any more. In British English, you can also say The milk has gone off.
Related pages: spoil 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/spoil/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 spoil are coming soon.