Leap past tense: leapt/leaped, leapt/leaped
jump
Leap is an irregular English verb: the past simple of leap is leapt/leaped and the past participle is leapt/leaped. Learn the three forms together — leap – leapt/leaped – leapt/leaped.
Verb forms
Base form
/liːp/
Past Simple
/lept/, /liːpt/
Past Participle
/lept/, /liːpt/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · leap
Salmon leap up waterfalls to reach their spawning grounds.
Past Simple · leapt/leaped
The cat leapt onto the kitchen counter.
Past Participle · leapt/leaped
Technology has leapt forward in the last decade.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I leap he / she / it leaps | I leapt | I have leapt |
| Present Continuous:I am leaping · he / she / it is leaping | ||
Grammar guide
Leap belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (leapt/leaped). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – leapt/leaped: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – leapt/leaped: 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 leap…? I didn’t leap.
Questions about leap
- What is the past simple of leap?
- The past simple of leap is leapt/leaped.
- What is the past participle of leap?
- The past participle of leap is leapt/leaped.
- What are the three forms of leap?
- The three forms are leap – leapt/leaped – leapt/leaped: base form, past simple and past participle.