Cost past tense: cost, cost
have a price
Cost is an irregular English verb: the past simple of cost is cost and the past participle is cost. Learn the three forms together — cost – cost – cost.
Verb forms
Base form
/kɒst/
Past Simple
/kɒst/
Past Participle
/kɒst/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · cost
Good quality shoes cost more but last longer.
Past Simple · cost
The repairs cost twice as much as expected.
Past Participle · cost
The delay has cost the company millions.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I cost he / she / it costs | I cost | I have cost |
| Present Continuous:I am costing · he / she / it is costing | ||
Grammar guide
Cost belongs to the AAA group: all three forms are the same (cost – cost – cost). As the verb never changes, the context shows the tense — an auxiliary such as have or had, or a time expression such as yesterday.
- Past simple – cost: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – cost: after have, has or had (present perfect, past perfect) and after be in the passive voice.
- Questions and negatives in the past simple use did + the base form: Did you cost…? I didn’t cost.
Verbs with the same pattern
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about cost
- What is the past simple of cost?
- The past simple of cost is cost.
- What is the past participle of cost?
- The past participle of cost is cost.
- What are the three forms of cost?
- The three forms are cost – cost – cost: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is cost a regular or an irregular verb?
- Cost is irregular: its past simple is cost, not costed.