What is the past tense of "change"?

The past simple of "change" is "changed". I changed my shirt because it was dirty.

What is the past participle of "change"?

The past participle of "change" is "changed". Use it after have/has/had: "I have changed".

What is a common mistake with "change"?

Wrong: "He changed his clothes from blue shirt.". Correct: "He changed his clothes into a blue shirt or He changed from a blue shirt.". After change clothes, use 'into' (destination) or 'from' (origin), not bare object.

Conjugation of "Change" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: Is "change" regular or irregular?

"Change" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "change"?

/tʃeɪndʒ/ — Sounds like 'chaynj'. One syllable. The 'ch' is like in 'church', 'a' like in 'make'.

Look up another verb

All 12 Tenses of "Change"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "change" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I change`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I changed`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will change`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am changing`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was changing`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be changing`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have changed`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had changed`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have changed`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been changing`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been changing`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been changing`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Change" — Changed

The past simple of "change" is "changed" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

I changed my shirt because it was dirty. A1
Technology has changed how we communicate. B1

Past Participle of "Change" — Changed

The past participle of "change" is "changed" — the same form as the past simple, since "change" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have changed") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was changed").

I changed my shirt because it was dirty. A1
Technology has changed how we communicate. B1

Is "Change" Regular or Irregular?

"Change" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "changed". The 3rd-person singular present is "changes" and the gerund/present participle is "changing".

Conjugation pattern: regular -ed

How to Pronounce "Change" and Its Forms

Change: /tʃeɪndʒ/ — Stress pattern: O

Sounds like 'chaynj'. One syllable. The 'ch' is like in 'church', 'a' like in 'make'.

Common mispronunciation of "change"

Learners sometimes stress the 'e' as a separate syllable, making it sound like 'chan-uh-j'.

How to Use "Change" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use when something becomes different. Can be transitive (change something) or intransitive (something changes).

S + V + object
S + V + to + noun
S + V + into + noun

Example Sentences with "Change" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: I changed my shirt because it was dirty. A1

Common Collocations with "Change"

change one's mind
change clothes
change the subject
change direction

When to Use "Change" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

alter — when making small or specific adjustments to something
transform — when something changes completely or dramatically
modify — when refining or adjusting the form or function

Antonyms: keep, maintain, preserve

Common Mistakes with "Change"

Wrong: She change often.
Correct: She changes often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Change"

From Old French changer, from Latin cambire, meaning 'to exchange'.

Other Forms of "Change"

Adverb: changingly

Conjugation Tables for "Change"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not change · He does not change
Simple past: I did not change · She did not change
Present perfect: I have not changed · He has not changed

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you change? · Does he change?
Simple past: Did you change?
Present perfect: Have you changed?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is changed
Simple past passive: It was changed
Present perfect passive: It has been changed

Frequently Asked Questions About "Change"

Is "change" regular or irregular?: "change" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "changed".
What is the past tense of "change"?: The simple past of "change" is "changed".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "change"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I change every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am changing right now."