Conjugation of "Drown" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
to die in water by inhaling it into the lungs; to submerge
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All 12 Tenses of "Drown"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "drown" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I drown |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I drowned |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will drown |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am drowning |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was drowning |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be drowning |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have drowned |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had drowned |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have drowned |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been drowning |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been drowning |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been drowning |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Drown" — Drowned
The past simple of "drown" is "drowned" — 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 child almost drowned in the pool. B1
- Music from the bar drowned out our conversation. B2
Past Participle of "Drown" — Drowned
The past participle of "drown" is "drowned" — the same form as the past simple, since "drown" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have drowned") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was drowned").
- The child almost drowned in the pool. B1
- Music from the bar drowned out our conversation. B2
Is "Drown" Regular or Irregular?
"Drown" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "drowned". The 3rd-person singular present is "drowns" and the gerund/present participle is "drowning".
Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed
How to Pronounce "Drown" and Its Forms
Drown: /draʊn/ — Stress pattern: O
The 'ow' sounds like the vowel in 'now' or 'cow'. Do not pronounce it like 'drone'.
Common mispronunciation of "drown"
Some learners say 'drown' like 'drone' with long o.
How to Use "Drown" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'drown' for fatal water incidents. Use 'drown out' for covered sound.
drown in [substance]drown out [noise][subject] drowned [object]
Example Sentences with "Drown" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: Many people drown every year. A2
- Simple Past: The child almost drowned in the pool. B1
Common Collocations with "Drown"
- drown in debt
- drown out noise
- drown one's sorrows
When to Use "Drown" vs Similar Verbs
"drown" vs "sink"
Sink = go down; drown = die in water from oxygen lack
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- sink — emphasizing descent below the surface
- drown out — when noise covers other sounds
Antonyms: surface, emerge
Common Mistakes with "Drown"
-
Wrong: She drown often.
Correct: She drowns often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Drown"
Old English druncnian; related to drink and Germanic roots
Conjugation Tables for "Drown"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not drown · He does not drown
- Simple past: I did not drown · She did not drown
- Present perfect: I have not drowned · He has not drowned
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you drown? · Does he drown?
- Simple past: Did you drown?
- Present perfect: Have you drowned?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is drowned
- Simple past passive: It was drowned
- Present perfect passive: It has been drowned
Frequently Asked Questions About "Drown"
- Is "drown" regular or irregular?
- "drown" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "drowned".
- What is the past tense of "drown"?
- The simple past of "drown" is "drowned".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "drown"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I drown every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am drowning right now."