The verb to undertake · Conjugation
Past Simple of undertake
The answer: undertook
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to undertake is undertook.
Example: They undertook a major renovation.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | undertook |
| You | undertook |
| He / She / It | undertook |
| We | undertook |
| You (pl.) | undertook |
| They | undertook |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Undertaked ❌
Undertake → undertook → undertaken, like take → took → taken: three different forms, and no -ed.
2. Undertaker ≠ a person who undertakes
An undertaker is not a person who undertakes things. It is a person whose job is to organise funerals.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of undertake?+
Undertook. The past participle is undertaken. It follows take → took → taken (undertake = under + take).
What is the difference between undertake and take on?+
Undertake is formal and written. Take on is everyday spoken English. Both mean to accept a project or a task.
What is an undertaking?+
An undertaking can be (1) a task or a project, or (2) a formal promise. A major undertaking is a big project.
What does undertaker mean?+
An undertaker is a person whose job is to organise funerals. A more modern word is funeral director.
Why is it undertook and not undertaked?+
Undertake = under + take, so it follows the forms of take. Never undertaked.
Related pages: undertake 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/undertake/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 undertake are coming soon.