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The Verb "Forbid" in English

Conjugation of "To Forbid"

The verb "forbid" is an irregular verb. (This means that "forbid" 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 Forbid"

FormforbidAlternative Name
Base FormforbidInfinitive Form
The -S FormforbidsThird Person Singular Form
Past Formforbade (also forbad)Simple Past Tense
The -ING FormforbiddingPresent Participle Form
The Past Participle Formforbidden[no alternative name]

"To Forbid" in All the Tenses

The tables below show how "forbid" 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
  • forbade (also forbad)
  • forbade (also forbad)
  • forbade (also forbad)
  • forbade (also forbad)
  • forbade (also forbad)
  • forbade (also forbad)
The simple past tense is for a completed activity that happened in the past.
  • was forbidding
  • were forbidding
  • was forbidding
  • were forbidding
  • were forbidding
  • were forbidding
The past progressive tense is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.
  • had forbidden
  • had forbidden
  • had forbidden
  • had forbidden
  • had forbidden
  • had forbidden
The past perfect tense is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.
  • had been forbidding
  • had been forbidding
  • had been forbidding
  • had been forbidding
  • had been forbidding
  • had been forbidding
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
  • forbid
  • forbid
  • forbids
  • forbid
  • forbid
  • forbid
The simple present tense is mostly for a fact or a habit.
  • am forbidding
  • are forbidding
  • is forbidding
  • are forbidding
  • are forbidding
  • are forbidding
The present progressive tense is for an ongoing action in the present.
  • have forbidden
  • have forbidden
  • has forbidden
  • have forbidden
  • have forbidden
  • have forbidden
The present perfect tense is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)
  • have been forbidding
  • have been forbidding
  • has been forbidding
  • have been forbidding
  • have been forbidding
  • have been forbidding
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 forbid
  • will forbid
  • will forbid
  • will forbid
  • will forbid
  • will forbid
The simple future tense is for an action that will occur in the future.
  • will be forbidding
  • will be forbidding
  • will be forbidding
  • will be forbidding
  • will be forbidding
  • will be forbidding
The future progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.
  • will have forbidden
  • will have forbidden
  • will have forbidden
  • will have forbidden
  • will have forbidden
  • will have forbidden
The future perfect tense is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
  • will have been forbidding
  • will have been forbidding
  • will have been forbidding
  • will have been forbidding
  • will have been forbidding
  • will have been forbidding
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.

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