What is the past tense of "determine"?

The past simple of "determine" is "determined". The doctor will determine what is wrong with the patient.

What is the past participle of "determine"?

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

What is a common mistake with "determine"?

Wrong: "The test determine the student's level.". Correct: "The test determines the student's level.". Third person singular verb needs '-s' ending with 'test' as subject.

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

Q: Is "determine" regular or irregular?

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

Q: How do you pronounce "determine"?

/dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/ — Stress the third syllable: dee-TER-min. The 'e' is long like in 'her'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Determine"

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

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

Past Tense of "Determine" — Determined

The past simple of "determine" is "determined" — 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 determined to study harder after I failed the test. B1
The price is determined by supply and demand in the market. B1

Past Participle of "Determine" — Determined

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

I determined to study harder after I failed the test. B1
The price is determined by supply and demand in the market. B1

Is "Determine" Regular or Irregular?

"Determine" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "determined". The 3rd-person singular present is "determines" and the gerund/present participle is "determining".

Conjugation pattern: regular -ed

How to Pronounce "Determine" and Its Forms

Determine: /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/ — Stress pattern: oOo

Stress the third syllable: dee-TER-min. The 'e' is long like in 'her'.

Common mispronunciation of "determine"

Often mispronounced as DEE-ter-myne with stress on first syllable.

Syllable breakdown: de · ter · mine

How to Use "Determine" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use for both finding out information and making firm decisions. Often used in scientific or formal contexts.

S + V + noun
S + V + that-clause
S + V + to-infinitive

Example Sentences with "Determine" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: I determined to study harder after I failed the test. B1
Simple Future: The doctor will determine what is wrong with the patient. B1

Common Collocations with "Determine"

determine the cause
determine the truth
determine the future
difficult to determine
help determine

When to Use "Determine" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

decide — for making a choice or resolving a question
figure out — for informal discovery through investigation or thinking

Common Mistakes with "Determine"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Determine"

From Latin 'determinare' meaning to set limits or boundaries.

Other Forms of "Determine"

Noun: determination
Adjective: determined

Conjugation Tables for "Determine"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you determine? · Does he determine?
Simple past: Did you determine?
Present perfect: Have you determined?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Determine"

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