Spoil past tense: spoilt/spoiled, spoilt/spoiled
ruin, indulge
Spoil is an irregular English verb: the past simple of spoil is spoilt/spoiled and the past participle is spoilt/spoiled. Learn the three forms together — spoil – spoilt/spoiled – spoilt/spoiled.
Verb forms
Base form
/spɔɪl/
Past Simple
/spɔɪlt/, /spɔɪld/
Past Participle
/spɔɪlt/, /spɔɪld/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · spoil
Milk spoils quickly in hot weather.
Past Simple · spoilt/spoiled
The rain spoilt our picnic completely.
Past Participle · spoilt/spoiled
The child has been spoilt by his grandparents.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I spoil he / she / it spoils | I spoilt | I have spoilt |
| Present Continuous:I am spoiling · he / she / it is spoiling | ||
Grammar guide
Spoil belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (spoilt/spoiled). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – spoilt/spoiled: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – spoilt/spoiled: 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 spoil…? I didn’t spoil.
Questions about spoil
- What is the past simple of spoil?
- The past simple of spoil is spoilt/spoiled.
- What is the past participle of spoil?
- The past participle of spoil is spoilt/spoiled.
- What are the three forms of spoil?
- The three forms are spoil – spoilt/spoiled – spoilt/spoiled: base form, past simple and past participle.