Conjugation of "Forgive" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To stop being angry with someone and accept what they did.
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All 12 Tenses of "Forgive"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "forgive" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I forgive |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I forgived |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will forgive |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am forgiving |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was forgiving |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be forgiving |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have forgived |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had forgived |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have forgived |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been forgiving |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been forgiving |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been forgiving |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Forgive" — Forgave
The past simple of "forgive" is "forgave". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "forgive" is irregular, "forgave" 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 "Forgive" — Forgiven
The past participle of "forgive" is "forgiven". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have forgiven"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was forgiven"). Because "forgive" is irregular, "forgiven" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Forgive" Regular or Irregular?
"Forgive" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "forgive", past simple "forgave", and past participle "forgiven". The 3rd-person singular present is "forgives" and the present participle/gerund is "forgiving". Conjugation pattern: ablaut: ive-ave-iven.
Conjugation pattern: ablaut: ive-ave-iven
How to Pronounce "Forgive" and Its Forms
Forgive: /fərˈɡɪv/ — Stress pattern: oO
Stress second syllable: for-GIVE. The 'i' in give sounds like short 'i' in 'sit'.
Common mispronunciation of "forgive"
Stress second syllable for-GIVE not FOR-give. Many learners stress first syllable incorrectly.
Syllable breakdown: for · give
How to Use "Forgive" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use when discussing accepting apologies, overcoming anger, or showing compassion. Important for relationships and emotional contexts.
V + object + for (forgiving someone for their action)V + object (direct forgiveness)
Example Sentences with "Forgive" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: He apologized and asked her to forgive him. A2
Common Collocations with "Forgive"
- forgive someone for
- ask forgiveness
- forgive and forget
- hard to forgive
When to Use "Forgive" vs Similar Verbs
"forgive" vs "forget"
Similar pronunciation but opposite meaning: forget means lose memory; forgive means pardon/accept apology.
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- pardon — when using formal or official context of forgiveness
- excuse — when person accepts apology and removes blame lightly
- absolve — when formally or ceremonially declaring someone innocent or
Antonyms: blame, resent, punish
Common Mistakes with "Forgive"
-
Wrong: She forgive often.
Correct: She forgives often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Forgive"
From Old English 'forgiefan' meaning to give up or yield completely.
Other Forms of "Forgive"
- Noun: forgiveness
- Adjective: forgiving
Conjugation Tables for "Forgive"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not forgive · He does not forgive
- Simple past: I did not forgive · She did not forgive
- Present perfect: I have not forgiven · He has not forgiven
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you forgive? · Does he forgive?
- Simple past: Did you forgive?
- Present perfect: Have you forgiven?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is forgiven
- Simple past passive: It was forgiven
- Present perfect passive: It has been forgiven
Frequently Asked Questions About "Forgive"
- Is "forgive" regular or irregular?
- "forgive" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "forgived" and past participle is "forgived". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "forgive"?
- The simple past of "forgive" is "forgived".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "forgive"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "forgived".