Conjugation of "Clean" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To remove dirt, dust, or unwanted matter from a surface or object.
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All 12 Tenses of "Clean"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "clean" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I clean |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I cleaned |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will clean |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am cleaning |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was cleaning |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be cleaning |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have cleaned |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had cleaned |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have cleaned |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been cleaning |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been cleaning |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been cleaning |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Clean" — Cleaned
The past simple of "clean" is "cleaned" — 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.
- The staff cleaned the entire office building thoroughly. A2
Past Participle of "Clean" — Cleaned
The past participle of "clean" is "cleaned" — the same form as the past simple, since "clean" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have cleaned") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was cleaned").
- The staff cleaned the entire office building thoroughly. A2
Is "Clean" Regular or Irregular?
"Clean" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "cleaned". The 3rd-person singular present is "cleans" and the gerund/present participle is "cleaning".
Conjugation pattern: regular -ed
How to Pronounce "Clean" and Its Forms
Clean: /kliːn/ — Stress pattern: O
Single long vowel sound /iː/ like in 'green'; the final 'n' is soft but present.
How to Use "Clean" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'clean' as a verb for the action; use 'clean' as adjective to describe the state after cleaning.
S + V + O (clean the room)S + V + up (clean up after yourself)
Example Sentences with "Clean" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: I clean my bedroom every Saturday morning. A1
- Simple Past: The staff cleaned the entire office building thoroughly. A2
Common Collocations with "Clean"
- clean the house — We clean the house on Saturdays.
- clean up — Can you clean up this mess?
- clean the room — She cleaned her room before the guests arrived.
- clean the dishes — I clean the dishes after dinner.
- clean the bathroom — He cleans the bathroom twice a week.
When to Use "Clean" vs Similar Verbs
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- wash — for cleaning with water and soap using hands
- scrub — for vigorous cleaning requiring more force and effort
- tidy — for organizing and removing clutter rather than deep
Antonyms: dirty, mess
Common Mistakes with "Clean"
-
Wrong: I am clean the house.
Correct: I am cleaning the house.
Present continuous requires present participle (-ing). -
Wrong: She cleaned up the mess yesterday, but it is still dirty.
Correct: She cleaned up the mess yesterday, but it's dirty again. / It got messy again.
Use present perfect to show current state from past action, or describe new mess. -
Wrong: They clean the room up.
Correct: They cleaned up the room. / They cleaned the room up.
Phrasal verb "clean up" is flexible with position of object.
Origin and Etymology of "Clean"
Old English claene; originally meant 'free from dirt and stains'.
Other Forms of "Clean"
- Noun: cleanliness
- Adverb: cleanly
Conjugation Tables for "Clean"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not clean · He does not clean
- Simple past: I did not clean · She did not clean
- Present perfect: I have not cleaned · He has not cleaned
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you clean? · Does he clean?
- Simple past: Did you clean?
- Present perfect: Have you cleaned?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is cleaned
- Simple past passive: It was cleaned
- Present perfect passive: It has been cleaned
Frequently Asked Questions About "Clean"
- Is "clean" regular or irregular?
- "clean" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "cleaned".
- What is the past tense of "clean"?
- The simple past of "clean" is "cleaned".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "clean"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I clean every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am cleaning right now."
- What's a common mistake with "clean"?
- Present continuous requires present participle (-ing). Wrong: "I am clean the house." Correct: "I am cleaning the house."