Conjugation of "Feel" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To experience an emotion or physical sensation.
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All 12 Tenses of "Feel"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "feel" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I feel |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I felt |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will feel |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am feeling |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was feeling |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be feeling |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have felt |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had felt |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have felt |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been feeling |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been feeling |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been feeling |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Feel" — Felt
The past simple of "feel" is "felt". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "feel" is irregular, "felt" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.
Past Participle of "Feel" — Felt
The past participle of "feel" is "felt". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have felt"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was felt"). Because "feel" is irregular, "felt" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Feel" Regular or Irregular?
"Feel" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "feel", past simple "felt", and past participle "felt". The 3rd-person singular present is "feels" and the present participle/gerund is "feeling". Conjugation pattern: ablaut: feel-felt-felt.
Conjugation pattern: ablaut: feel-felt-felt
How to Pronounce "Feel" and Its Forms
Feel: /fiːl/ — Stress pattern: O
The 'ee' sound is long like in 'tree'; don't shorten it to 'fill'.
Common mispronunciation of "feel"
Pronounced as 'fil' instead of 'feel'; the vowel must be long /iː/.
How to Use "Feel" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'feel' with adjectives (happy, sad) or nouns (pain, cold) to describe emotions or sensations.
S + V + Adj (feel happy)S + V + Noun (feel pain)S + V + that-clause (feel that)
Example Sentences with "Feel" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: I feel happy when I'm with my friends. A1
Common Collocations with "Feel"
- feel happy — I feel happy about this decision.
- feel tired — She feels tired all the time.
- feel sick — He feels sick today.
- feel better — You will feel better soon.
- feel like — Do you feel like going out?
When to Use "Feel" vs Similar Verbs
"feel" vs "touch"
Touch is physical contact; feel is sensation
"feel" vs "find"
Similar pronunciation but find means locate or discover
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- sense — when detecting physical sensations through touch or intuition
- experience — when describing emotional or memorable encounters
Common Mistakes with "Feel"
-
Wrong: She feel good.
Correct: She feels good.
Add "s" for third-person singular. -
Wrong: I am feeling good since yesterday.
Correct: I have felt good since yesterday. / I feel good.
Use present perfect for duration with "feel", not continuous. -
Wrong: They feeling sad.
Correct: They are feeling sad. / They feel sad.
Use "are" for continuous or simple present.
Origin and Etymology of "Feel"
From Old English felan, related to Old Saxon folan (to perceive).
Other Forms of "Feel"
- Noun: feeling
Conjugation Tables for "Feel"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not feel · He does not feel
- Simple past: I did not feel · She did not feel
- Present perfect: I have not felt · He has not felt
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you feel? · Does he feel?
- Simple past: Did you feel?
- Present perfect: Have you felt?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is felt
- Simple past passive: It was felt
- Present perfect passive: It has been felt
Frequently Asked Questions About "Feel"
- Is "feel" regular or irregular?
- "feel" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "felt" and past participle is "felt". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "feel"?
- The simple past of "feel" is "felt".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "feel"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "felt".
- What's a common mistake with "feel"?
- Add "s" for third-person singular. Wrong: "She feel good." Correct: "She feels good."