Regular verb
The verb to stop
stop → stopped → stopped
A1Meaning: to end an action; to stop moving · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
stop / stops - Past Simple:
stopped(double p) - Past participle:
stopped - -ing form:
stopping
Conjugation of the verb to stop
Present Simple
| I | stop |
| You | stop |
| He / She / It | stops |
| We | stop |
| You (pl.) | stop |
| They | stop |
Past Simple
| I | stopped |
| You | stopped |
| He / She / It | stopped |
| We | stopped |
| You (pl.) | stopped |
| They | stopped |
All the forms of the verb to stop
Present Simple
Full pagestop / stops
“The bus stops here.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are stopping
“I am stopping the music right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagestopped
“I stopped smoking.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were stopping
“I was stopping the music when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has stopped
“I have already stopped the music.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad stopped
“She had already stopped the music when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill stop
“I will stop the music tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to stop
“I'm going to stop the music this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould stop
“I would stop the music if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to stop
1. Stopping someone or something
- Stop the car!
2. Stopping (not moving any more)
- The bus stops here.
3. Stopping an activity
To say that an activity has ended, use stop + -ing: stop talking, stop playing.
- I stopped smoking.
A common mistake
1. Stoped ❌
Double the p before -ed and -ing: stopped, stopping. When a stressed syllable ends in one vowel + one consonant, the consonant doubles (plan → planned).
Going further
Conjugating to stop is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to stop. Now say it out loud.
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For teachersReady-made activities to practise to stop in class
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Related pages: stop
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of stop?+
The Past Simple of stop is stopped, with a double p. The rule: a short verb that ends in one vowel + one consonant doubles the consonant before -ed and -ing. It is the same for plan → planned and sit → sitting.
Is it stop doing or stop to do?+
Both are correct, but the meaning is very different. Stop + -ing means you end an activity: I stopped eating sweets (I don't eat them any more). Stop + to + verb means you stop what you are doing in order to do something else: I stopped to buy a drink (I stopped walking, then I bought a drink).
What is the difference between a bus stop and a bus station?+
A bus stop is a place in the street where a bus stops to let people get on and off: Wait for me at the bus stop. A bus station is a big building where many buses start and end their journeys.
What does stop it mean?+
Stop it! is a common way to tell someone to stop doing something annoying: Stop it! You're hurting my arm. Stop that! means the same. In informal English, you can also hear Cut it out!
Is stop also a noun?+
Yes. A stop is a place where a bus or a train stops: Get off at the next stop. It can also mean a short break in a journey: We made a stop for lunch.
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/stop
© 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.