Conjugation of "Leave" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To depart from a place or to stop being in a location.
Look up another verb
All 12 Tenses of "Leave"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "leave" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I leave |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I left |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will leave |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am leaving |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was leaving |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be leaving |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have left |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had left |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have left |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been leaving |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been leaving |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been leaving |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Leave" — Left
The past simple of "leave" is "left". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "leave" is irregular, "left" 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.
- She left the office early yesterday to catch her flight. A2
Past Participle of "Leave" — Left
The past participle of "leave" is "left". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have left"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was left"). Because "leave" is irregular, "left" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
- She left the office early yesterday to catch her flight. A2
Is "Leave" Regular or Irregular?
"Leave" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "leave", past simple "left", and past participle "left". The 3rd-person singular present is "leaves" and the present participle/gerund is "leaving". Conjugation pattern: leave-left-left (irregular, no -ed ending).
Conjugation pattern: leave-left-left (irregular, no -ed ending)
How to Pronounce "Leave" and Its Forms
Leave: /liːv/ — Stress pattern: O
One syllable with the long 'ee' vowel /iː/, followed by /v/ sound. Rhymes with 'believe' and 'receive'.
Common mispronunciation of "leave"
Sometimes pronounced with short vowel /lɛv/ instead of long /liːv/; make sure vowel is long.
How to Use "Leave" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'leave' for departure: 'I'm leaving.' Use 'leave + object' for abandonment: 'I left my keys at home.'
S + V (depart)S + V + object (abandon)S + V + for + destination
Example Sentences with "Leave" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: I leave for school at 7:30 every morning. A1
- Simple Past: She left the office early yesterday to catch her flight. A2
- Simple Future: The conference attendees will leave the venue once all sessions have concluded. B1
Common Collocations with "Leave"
- leave home
- leave work
- leave a message
- leave school
- leave the office
When to Use "Leave" vs Similar Verbs
"leave" vs "let"
'Leave' means to depart; 'let' means to permit or allow. 'Leave me alone' vs. 'Let me go.'
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- depart — for formal or scheduled departure from a place
- exit — for leaving a building or enclosed space
- abandon — for leaving something behind permanently
Antonyms: arrive, stay, come
Common Mistakes with "Leave"
-
Wrong: She leave often.
Correct: She leaves often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Leave"
From Old English 'leofan', originally meaning 'to remain' but semantically shifted to 'to depart'.
Core verb in daily life: 'leave home', 'leave work', 'leave school'. Common in instructions ('leave it there'), farewells ('I'm leaving'), and decisions ('leave a job').
Other Forms of "Leave"
- Noun: leaver
Conjugation Tables for "Leave"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not leave · He does not leave
- Simple past: I did not leave · She did not leave
- Present perfect: I have not left · He has not left
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you leave? · Does he leave?
- Simple past: Did you leave?
- Present perfect: Have you left?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is left
- Simple past passive: It was left
- Present perfect passive: It has been left
Frequently Asked Questions About "Leave"
- Is "leave" regular or irregular?
- "leave" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "left" and past participle is "left". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "leave"?
- The simple past of "leave" is "left".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "leave"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "left".