Which is Correct: Forget, Forgot, Forgotten – Understanding Verb Tenses

• “Forgot” is the simple past tense, used for actions completed in the past.
• “Forgotten” is the past participle, often utilized in perfect tense constructions.
• Understanding context is crucial in choosing the correct form of “forget”.

The simple past tense of “forget” is “forgot,” employed when referring to an action that occurred at a specific time in the past. On the other hand, “forgotten” is the past participle form of the verb, which is often used in perfect tense constructions to indicate an action that was completed before another occurred. The choice between these forms relies heavily on the context of the sentence and the aspect of time one intends to express.

Unraveling the Past Tense of “Forget”

When discussing the verb “forget,” it is crucial to understand its correct past forms. The verb has various forms for past usage: “forgot” and “forgotten.”

“Forgot” is the simple past tense form:

• Usage: It describes an action that was completed in the past.
• Example: She forgot her wallet at home.

On the other hand, “forgotten” is the past participle form, which pairs with helping verbs to create perfect tenses:

• Usage: It’s used with “have,” “has,” or “had” to form perfect tenses.
• Example: He had forgotten the meeting until he received a reminder.

Past Tense Forms of “Forget”:

Usage Guidelines:

• Simple Past (forgot):

  • Action completed at a definitive time in the past
  • No auxiliary verb needed

• Perfect Tenses (forgotten):

  • A past action with present relevance
  • Requires an auxiliary verb (have/has/had)

Deciding: Forget, Forgot, or Forgotten – Which is Correct?

Forget is the base form or the present tense of the verb:

• I always forget people’s names.

The word “forgot” is the simple past tense of “forget”:

• They forgot to lock the door last night.

Contrarily, “forgotten” is the past participle that is often used with “have” or “has”:

• She has forgotten her friend’s phone number.

Below are two tables that summarize the uses and forms of the verb “forget”:

Simple Past Tense Usage:

Past Participle Usage with “Have”:

Exploring Different Verb Forms of “Forget”

Base Form: Forget

• Usage: It refers to the action of not being able to recall information or to omit something by mistake in the present or future.
  • Example: “They often forget to check their email.”

Past Simple: Forgot

• Usage: This form describes an action that was completed at a specific time in the past.
  • Example: “She forgot the password yesterday.”

Past Participle: Forgotten

• Usage: This form is used with auxiliary verbs for perfect tenses or as an adjective.
  • Example (Present Perfect): “They have forgotten the lyrics.”
  • Example (As Adjective): “The forgotten realm remains undiscovered.”

• Examples of “forget” in different tenses:

  • Present Continuous: “He is forgetting something important.”
  • Past Continuous: “They were forgetting their lines during rehearsal.”

• Present Participle: Forgetting

  • Used for continuous tenses.
  • Example (Present Continuous): “She is forgetting her keys again.”

Differentiating Between “Forgot” and “Forgotten”

“Forgot” is the simple past tense of “to forget” and is used to describe an action that occurred and was completed in the past. For example:

• She forgot her wallet at home yesterday.
• They forgot the answer during the test.

“Forgotten” is the past participle form of the verb and is used in perfect tenses or as an adjective. For example:

• The keys have been forgotten on the table.
• It is a forgotten legend from times past.

To visualize the usage, consider the following tables:

Table 1: “Forgot” in sentences

Table 2: “Forgotten” in sentences

• Use forgot for simple past tense.
• Use forgotten as the past participle in perfect tense constructions.
• Forgotten can also be an adjective describing something overlooked.

Examples of “Forget” in the Present Tense

Here are some examples illustrating the verb “forget” in the present tense:

• Simple Present Tense:

  • He often forgets his keys.
  • She forgets to call her mother every Saturday.

• Present Progressive Tense:

  • They are forgetting the words to the song.
  • She is forgetting where she put her glasses.

Present Simple Usage:

Present Progressive Usage:

Examples of “Forgot” in the Past Tense

• He forgot to lock the door before leaving.

Common usage of “forgot” is observed when speaking about everyday tasks or responsibilities that were not completed.

In narratives or storytelling, “forgot” helps to describe characters’ actions or lapses in memory.

• Despite the urgency, the messenger forgot the crucial message.

To highlight the past simple tense, consider these points:

• “Forgot” indicates a completed action in the past, not extending to the present.
• It’s used without a helper verb like “have” or “had.”
• Frequency of forgetfulness or habitual actions in the past also uses “forgot”:
  • As a child, he forgot his keys often.
• They forgot the way home after the detour.
• I forgot my password and couldn’t log in.
• You forgot to say goodbye before you left.

Examples of “Forgotten” as a Participle (in Sentences)

In Present Perfect Tense

• She has forgotten her keys.
• They have forgotten the password to their account.

In Past Perfect Tense

• He had forgotten the document at home.
• They had forgotten the meeting was today.

• The issue has been forgotten by the community.
• His contributions to the project had been forgotten over time.

Similar Words to “Forget”

Synonyms for Involuntary Forgetfulness:
The following words express different degrees of accidentally failing to remember something:

Synonyms for Intentional Disregard:
These terms often refer to the act of intentionally choosing to ignore or not acknowledge something:

• Ignore: To intentionally pay no attention to.
• Unlearn: To discard the memory of something, often a habit or a learned fact.
• Omit: To leave out or exclude, either deliberately or by oversight.
• Bypass: To avoid something by going around it.

Differences in Usage
Depending on the context, these words carry different implications. “Miss” and “overlook” suggest inadvertence, whereas “ignore” conveys a more deliberate action. To “unlearn” is to make an effort to erase the memory of something from one’s knowledge or habits. When we “omit” something, it can either be a conscious decision or an accidental mistake. “Bypass” indicates an active decision to avoid.

Tracing the Origin of “Forget”

Old English Roots:
forgietan – This is the closest ancestor in Old English, meaning to forget, and was constructed from “for-“, a prefix implying a sense of loss, and “gietan,” meaning to grasp or get.

Proto-Germanic Influence:
vergētaną – The likely source in Proto-Germanic, directly influencing the Old English form. The prefix “ver-” suggested a sense of passing away or mistaken actions.

Ancient Linguistic Relations:

Evolution of Use:

• In Middle English, the form “forgeten” was commonplace, gradually transitioning to “forget” in Modern English.
• The complexity of the word’s sense arose in historical languages, branching out from the notion of something moving forward or away from one’s thoughts.

Sources

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of forget.” Online Etymology Dictionary, 

Khamis Maiouf

My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.