Send past tense: sent, sent
dispatch
Send is an irregular English verb: the past simple of send is sent and the past participle is sent. Learn the three forms together — send – sent – sent.
Verb forms
Base form
/send/
Past Simple
/sent/
Past Participle
/sent/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · send
I send my grandmother a postcard from every trip.
Past Simple · sent
He sent the email to the wrong address.
Past Participle · sent
The package has been sent and should arrive on Friday.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I send he / she / it sends | I sent | I have sent |
| Present Continuous:I am sending · he / she / it is sending | ||
Common collocations
send a message
to deliver a written note
send regards
to pass on good wishes
Grammar guide
Send belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (sent). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – sent: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – sent: 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 send…? I didn’t send.
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about send
- What is the past simple of send?
- The past simple of send is sent.
- What is the past participle of send?
- The past participle of send is sent.
- What are the three forms of send?
- The three forms are send – sent – sent: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is send a regular or an irregular verb?
- Send is irregular: its past simple is sent, not sended.