The verb to strive · Conjugation
Past Simple of strive
The answer: strove
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to strive is strove.
Example: She strove to succeed.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | strove |
| You | strove |
| He / She / It | strove |
| We | strove |
| You (pl.) | strove |
| They | strove |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Strive → strove → striven
This is the classic pattern, like drive → drove → driven. Strived is also accepted, especially in the US.
2. Strive is formal
Strive is literary. In speech, say try or work hard: I'm working hard for my exams.
Practice quiz
What's next?
Master the Past Simple of strive 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 strive on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of strive, 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
English contestThe English contest tests the Past Simple of strive 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
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of strive?+
The classic Past Simple is strove (UK). Strived (regular) is accepted in the US. The past participle is striven (classic) or strived.
Is it strive or try?+
Strive = to try very hard (formal, strong). Try = the everyday word. Strive is more literary.
Is it strive for or strive to?+
Strive for + noun: strive for excellence. Strive to + verb: strive to succeed. These are two patterns.
What does striving mean?+
As an adjective, striving means ambitious: a striving entrepreneur is always trying to do better. It sounds positive.
Is it strove or strived?+
Strived exists, especially in the US, but strove is more classic. It follows drive → drove.
Related pages: strive 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/strive/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 strive are coming soon.