What is the past tense of "decline"?

The past simple of "decline" is "declined". She politely declined the job offer because she preferred to continue her studies.

What is the past participle of "decline"?

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

What is a common mistake with "decline"?

Wrong: "She declined to accept the invitation.". Correct: "She declined the invitation. / She declined to attend the event.". Say 'decline the invitation' or 'decline to attend', not 'decline to accept'. 'Accept' is redundant after 'decline'.

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

Q: Is "decline" regular or irregular?

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

Q: How do you pronounce "decline"?

/dɪˈklaɪn/ — Stress the second syllable: dis-KLYN. The 'ine' at the end is one syllable and rhymes with 'mine'.

Look up another verb

All 12 Tenses of "Decline"

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

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

Past Tense of "Decline" — Declined

The past simple of "decline" is "declined" — 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.

She politely declined the job offer because she preferred to continue her studies. B2
The company's profits have declined significantly over the past year. B2
He declined to comment on the controversial issue. B2

Past Participle of "Decline" — Declined

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

She politely declined the job offer because she preferred to continue her studies. B2
The company's profits have declined significantly over the past year. B2
He declined to comment on the controversial issue. B2

Is "Decline" Regular or Irregular?

"Decline" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "declined". The 3rd-person singular present is "declines" and the gerund/present participle is "declining".

Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed for past simple and past participle

How to Pronounce "Decline" and Its Forms

Decline: /dɪˈklaɪn/ — Stress pattern: oO

Stress the second syllable: dis-KLYN. The 'ine' at the end is one syllable and rhymes with 'mine'.

Common mispronunciation of "decline"

Some learners stress the first syllable (DE-cline) instead of the second. Correct: dis-KLYN.

Syllable breakdown: de · cline

How to Use "Decline" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use the refusal sense (+ noun/infinitive) in formal contexts. Use the decrease sense with nouns like profit, value, health, population. Neutral and common in academic and business writing.

decline + noun (e.g., decline an offer)
decline + infinitive (e.g., decline to comment)
decline + in + noun (for trend)

Example Sentences with "Decline" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: She politely declined the job offer because she preferred to continue her studies. B2
Present Perfect: The company's profits have declined significantly over the past year. B2

Common Collocations with "Decline"

decline an offer
decline an invitation
decline in value
decline steadily
decline to comment

When to Use "Decline" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

refuse — More direct; can be less polite
reject — Stronger rejection; suggests clear disapproval
decrease — For trend of reduction over time

Common Mistakes with "Decline"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Decline"

From Latin 'declinare' (to turn away). 'De-' (away) + 'clinare' (to lean). Entered English in 13th century with dual meanings of refusal and decrease.

Conjugation Tables for "Decline"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you decline? · Does he decline?
Simple past: Did you decline?
Present perfect: Have you declined?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Decline"

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