Find past tense: found, found
discover, locate
Find is an irregular English verb: the past simple of find is found and the past participle is found. Learn the three forms together — find – found – found.
Verb forms
Base form
/faɪnd/
Past Simple
/faʊnd/
Past Participle
/faʊnd/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · find
I always find it hard to wake up on Mondays.
Past Simple · found
She found her keys under the sofa.
Past Participle · found
The missing dog has been found safe and well.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I find he / she / it finds | I found | I have found |
| Present Continuous:I am finding · he / she / it is finding | ||
Common collocations
find out
to discover a fact or information
find a way
to discover how to do something
Grammar guide
Find belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (found). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – found: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – found: 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 find…? I didn’t find.
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about find
- What is the past simple of find?
- The past simple of find is found.
- What is the past participle of find?
- The past participle of find is found.
- What are the three forms of find?
- The three forms are find – found – found: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is find a regular or an irregular verb?
- Find is irregular: its past simple is found, not finded.