The verb to teach · Conjugation
Past Simple of teach
The answer: taught
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to teach is taught.
Example: He taught me how to swim.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | taught |
| You | taught |
| He / She / It | taught |
| We | taught |
| You (pl.) | taught |
| They | taught |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Teached ❌
Teach is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is taught, never teached.
2. I learned my brother ❌
Teach is what the teacher does, and learn is what the student does. In English, the two verbs are always different: I taught my brother, not I learned my brother.
3. Taught or thought?
Same sound /ɔːt/: taught and caught (spelt -aught), bought, thought and fought (spelt -ought). The gh is silent. Don't mix up taught (from teach) and thought (from think).
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of teach 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 teach 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 teach on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of teach, 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 teach?+
The Past Simple of teach is taught (pronounced /tɔːt/). The past participle is the same: taught. Teach → taught → taught.
Does taught rhyme with bought?+
Yes. Taught is pronounced /tɔːt/, like bought, fought and caught. The gh is silent, and augh sounds like /ɔː/.
Is teached a word?+
No. Teach is an irregular verb: its Past Simple is taught, never teached.
Teach or learn: which one do I use?+
Teach = what the teacher does. Learn = what the student does. The teacher teaches and the students learn. Many learners mix them up.
How do you use taught me how to?+
Use teach + person + how to + verb: He taught me how to swim. This pattern is very common.
Related pages: teach 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/teach/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 teach are coming soon.