The Verb "Learn" in English

Conjugation of "To Learn"

The verb "learn" is an irregular verb. (This means that "learn" does not form its simple past tense or its past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.)

The Five Forms of "To Learn"

FormlearnAlternative Name
Base FormlearnInfinitive Form
The -S FormlearnsThird Person Singular Form
Past Formlearnt (also learned)Simple Past Tense
The -ING FormlearningPresent Participle Form
The Past Participle Formlearnt (also learned)[no alternative name]

"To Learn" in All the Tenses

The tables below show how "learn" conjugates in the past, present, and future tenses.

Past Tenses

PersonSimple PastPast Progressive TensePast Perfect TensePast Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • learnt (also learned)
  • learnt (also learned)
  • learnt (also learned)
  • learnt (also learned)
  • learnt (also learned)
  • learnt (also learned)
The simple past tense is for a completed activity that happened in the past.
  • was learning
  • were learning
  • was learning
  • were learning
  • were learning
  • were learning
The past progressive tense is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.
  • had learnt (also learned)
  • had learnt (also learned)
  • had learnt (also learned)
  • had learnt (also learned)
  • had learnt (also learned)
  • had learnt (also learned)
The past perfect tense is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.
  • had been learning
  • had been learning
  • had been learning
  • had been learning
  • had been learning
  • had been learning
The past perfect progressive tense is for showing that an ongoing action in the past has ended.

Present Tenses

PersonSimple PresentPresent Progressive TensePresent Perfect TensePresent Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • learn
  • learn
  • learns
  • learn
  • learn
  • learn
The simple present tense is mostly for a fact or a habit.
  • am learning
  • are learning
  • is learning
  • are learning
  • are learning
  • are learning
The present progressive tense is for an ongoing action in the present.
  • have learnt (also learned)
  • have learnt (also learned)
  • has learnt (also learned)
  • have learnt (also learned)
  • have learnt (also learned)
  • have learnt (also learned)
The present perfect tense is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)
  • have been learning
  • have been learning
  • has been learning
  • have been learning
  • have been learning
  • have been learning
The present perfect progressive tense is for a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present (or finished very recently).

Future Tenses

PersonSimple FutureFuture Progressive TenseFuture Perfect TenseFuture Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • will learn
  • will learn
  • will learn
  • will learn
  • will learn
  • will learn
The simple future tense is for an action that will occur in the future.
  • will be learning
  • will be learning
  • will be learning
  • will be learning
  • will be learning
  • will be learning
The future progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.
  • will have learnt (also learned)
  • will have learnt (also learned)
  • will have learnt (also learned)
  • will have learnt (also learned)
  • will have learnt (also learned)
  • will have learnt (also learned)
The future perfect tense is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
  • will have been learning
  • will have been learning
  • will have been learning
  • will have been learning
  • will have been learning
  • will have been learning
The future perfect progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.