Conjugation of "Laugh" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To make sounds and facial movements that show you find something funny or amusing.
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All 12 Tenses of "Laugh"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "laugh" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I laugh |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I laughed |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will laugh |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am laughing |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was laughing |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be laughing |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have laughed |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had laughed |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have laughed |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been laughing |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been laughing |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been laughing |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Laugh" — Laughed
The past simple of "laugh" is "laughed" — 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 children laughed when they saw the funny cartoon. A1
- She laughed at the joke during the party. A1
- The audience laughed throughout the comedy show. A2
Past Participle of "Laugh" — Laughed
The past participle of "laugh" is "laughed" — the same form as the past simple, since "laugh" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have laughed") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was laughed").
- The children laughed when they saw the funny cartoon. A1
- She laughed at the joke during the party. A1
- The audience laughed throughout the comedy show. A2
Is "Laugh" Regular or Irregular?
"Laugh" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "laughed". The 3rd-person singular present is "laughs" and the gerund/present participle is "laughing".
Conjugation pattern: regular -ed
How to Pronounce "Laugh" and Its Forms
Laugh: /læf/ — Stress pattern: O
/læf/ rhymes with 'half' and 'staff'. The 'gh' is silent. One syllable with short /æ/ vowel.
Common mispronunciation of "laugh"
Some learners pronounce it /lɔːf/ like 'law'; it should be /læf/ with short 'a'.
How to Use "Laugh" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'laugh at' when finding someone or something funny; 'laugh with' means sharing laughter together.
S + V + at + objectS + V + at + personS + V + about + noun
Example Sentences with "Laugh" in Different Tenses
- Simple Past: The children laughed when they saw the funny cartoon. A1
Common Collocations with "Laugh"
- laugh at
- laugh with
- laugh out loud
- laugh together
- make someone laugh
When to Use "Laugh" vs Similar Verbs
"laugh" vs "laughter"
Laugh is the verb (action); laughter is the noun (the sound/response).
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- chuckle — for quiet, gentle, restrained laughter
- giggle — for light, nervous, or nervous high-pitched laughter
- guffaw — for loud, hearty, uncontrolled laughter
Antonyms: cry, weep, frown
Common Mistakes with "Laugh"
-
Wrong: She laugh often.
Correct: She laughs often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Laugh"
From Old English 'hlæhhan'; originally imitative of laughter sounds.
Laughter is valued differently across cultures; in some formal contexts, loud laughter may be considered rude.
Other Forms of "Laugh"
- Noun: laughter
Conjugation Tables for "Laugh"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not laugh · He does not laugh
- Simple past: I did not laugh · She did not laugh
- Present perfect: I have not laughed · He has not laughed
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you laugh? · Does he laugh?
- Simple past: Did you laugh?
- Present perfect: Have you laughed?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is laughed
- Simple past passive: It was laughed
- Present perfect passive: It has been laughed
Frequently Asked Questions About "Laugh"
- Is "laugh" regular or irregular?
- "laugh" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "laughed".
- What is the past tense of "laugh"?
- The simple past of "laugh" is "laughed".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "laugh"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I laugh every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am laughing right now."