Lean past tense: leant/leaned, leant/leaned
tilt, rest against
Lean is an irregular English verb: the past simple of lean is leant/leaned and the past participle is leant/leaned. Learn the three forms together — lean – leant/leaned – leant/leaned.
Verb forms
Base form
/liːn/
Past Simple
/lent/, /liːnd/
Past Participle
/lent/, /liːnd/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · lean
Don't lean against that freshly painted wall.
Past Simple · leant/leaned
She leant over the fence to greet the neighbour.
Past Participle · leant/leaned
The ladder has leant against the shed all week.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I lean he / she / it leans | I leant | I have leant |
| Present Continuous:I am leaning · he / she / it is leaning | ||
Grammar guide
Lean belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (leant/leaned). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – leant/leaned: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – leant/leaned: 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 lean…? I didn’t lean.
Questions about lean
- What is the past simple of lean?
- The past simple of lean is leant/leaned.
- What is the past participle of lean?
- The past participle of lean is leant/leaned.
- What are the three forms of lean?
- The three forms are lean – leant/leaned – leant/leaned: base form, past simple and past participle.