Light past tense: lit/lighted, lit/lighted
illuminate, ignite
Light is an irregular English verb: the past simple of light is lit/lighted and the past participle is lit/lighted. Learn the three forms together — light – lit/lighted – lit/lighted.
Verb forms
Base form
/laɪt/
Past Simple
/lɪt/, /ˈlaɪtɪd/
Past Participle
/lɪt/, /ˈlaɪtɪd/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · light
We light candles for dinner on special occasions.
Past Simple · lit/lighted
She lit the fire as soon as it got cold.
Past Participle · lit/lighted
The streets are lit until midnight.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I light he / she / it lights | I lit | I have lit |
| Present Continuous:I am lighting · he / she / it is lighting | ||
Grammar guide
Light belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (lit/lighted). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – lit/lighted: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – lit/lighted: 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 light…? I didn’t light.
Questions about light
- What is the past simple of light?
- The past simple of light is lit/lighted.
- What is the past participle of light?
- The past participle of light is lit/lighted.
- What are the three forms of light?
- The three forms are light – lit/lighted – lit/lighted: base form, past simple and past participle.