Irregular verb
The verb to undertake
undertake → undertook → undertaken
B2Meaning: to start a big task; to promise formally · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they undertake·he/she/it undertakes - Past Simple:
undertook(like take → took) - Past participle:
undertaken - -ing form:
undertaking
Conjugation of the verb to undertake
Present Simple
| I | undertake |
| You | undertake |
| He / She / It | undertakes |
| We | undertake |
| You (pl.) | undertake |
| They | undertake |
Past Simple
| I | undertook |
| You | undertook |
| He / She / It | undertook |
| We | undertook |
| You (pl.) | undertook |
| They | undertook |
All the forms of the verb to undertake
Present Simple
Full pageundertake / undertakes
“He undertakes new projects.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are undertaking
“I am undertaking a new project right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageundertook
“They undertook a major renovation.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were undertaking
“I was undertaking a new project when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has undertaken
“I have already undertaken a new project.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad undertaken
“She had already undertaken a new project when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill undertake
“I will undertake a new project tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to undertake
“I'm going to undertake a new project this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould undertake
“I would undertake a new project if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to undertake
1. Starting a project or a task
- They undertook a renovation.
2. Promising (formal)
Undertake to + verb means to promise formally to do something.
- I undertake to finish on time.
A common mistake
1. Undertaking: a formal word
An undertaking is a formal promise (in law or in a contract). A major undertaking is an ambitious project.
What's next?
You can conjugate to undertake. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of undertake?+
Undertook. The past participle is undertaken. Undertake → undertook → undertaken. It follows take → took → taken, because undertake = under + take.
Is it undertake or take on?+
Undertake is formal and written (contracts, the news). Take on is everyday spoken English. He undertook a major project (formal). He took on a big project (spoken). The meaning is the same: to accept a job or a task.
What is an undertaker?+
An undertaker is a person whose job is to organise funerals. It does not mean a person who undertakes things! A more modern word is funeral director. It is a good word to know.
What does undertaking mean?+
An undertaking can be (1) a big task or project: a major undertaking is an ambitious project, or (2) a formal promise, in law: sign an undertaking. The meaning depends on the context.
Is it undertook or undertaked?+
Undertake is under + take, so it follows take: undertook, undertaken. Never undertaked. It is the same with overtake → overtook, mistake → mistook and retake → retook.
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/undertake
© 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.