What is the past tense of "free"?

The past simple of "free" is "freed". The firefighters worked to free the trapped miners from the collapsed shaft.

What is the past participle of "free"?

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

What is a common mistake with "free"?

Wrong: "We need to free up for the new office.". Correct: "We need to free up space for the new office.". Phrasal verb 'free up' requires a direct object; add 'space' or similar noun after it.

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

Q: Is "free" regular or irregular?

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

Q: How do you pronounce "free"?

/friː/ — Same /friː/ as the adjective. The verb and adjective are pronounced identically.

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All 12 Tenses of "Free"

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

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

Past Tense of "Free" — Freed

The past simple of "free" is "freed" — 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 freed the bird from the cage by opening the door carefully. B1

Past Participle of "Free" — Freed

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

She freed the bird from the cage by opening the door carefully. B1

Is "Free" Regular or Irregular?

"Free" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "freed". The 3rd-person singular present is "frees" and the gerund/present participle is "freeing".

Conjugation pattern: regular -ed

How to Pronounce "Free" and Its Forms

Free: /friː/ — Stress pattern: O

Same /friː/ as the adjective. The verb and adjective are pronounced identically.

Common mispronunciation of "free"

Same mispronunciation risk as adjective: avoid /frɛ/; use long /iː/.

How to Use "Free" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use with 'from' to indicate what constraint is being removed: 'free someone from danger'. Or use 'up' to mean 'make available': 'free up time'.

S + V + O: She freed the bird
S + V + O + from + N: Free them from fear

Example Sentences with "Free" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: The firefighters worked to free the trapped miners from the collapsed shaft. B1
Simple Past: She freed the bird from the cage by opening the door carefully. B1

Common Collocations with "Free"

free from
free up
free the hostages
free the animal
set free

When to Use "Free" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

liberate — emphasizes setting free from oppression or political control
release — more general term used for any removal from

Antonyms: imprison, capture, trap, confine, enslave

Common Mistakes with "Free"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Free"

From Old English 'freoan'; related to the adjective 'free', originally meaning 'to make someone of one's own people'.

Other Forms of "Free"

Noun: freedom
Adverb: freely

Conjugation Tables for "Free"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you free? · Does he free?
Simple past: Did you free?
Present perfect: Have you freed?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Free"

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