Conjugation of "Love" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To have deep affection and care for someone or something.
Look up another verb
All 12 Tenses of "Love"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "love" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I love |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I loved |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will love |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am loving |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was loving |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be loving |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have loved |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had loved |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have loved |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been loving |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been loving |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been loving |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Love" — Loved
The past simple of "love" is "loved" — 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.
Past Participle of "Love" — Loved
The past participle of "love" is "loved" — the same form as the past simple, since "love" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have loved") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was loved").
Is "Love" Regular or Irregular?
"Love" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "loved". The 3rd-person singular present is "loves" and the gerund/present participle is "loving".
Conjugation pattern: regular
How to Pronounce "Love" and Its Forms
Love: /lʌv/ — Stress pattern: O
The 'o' sounds like the 'u' in 'cup'. The 'v' is voiced softly.
Common mispronunciation of "love"
Some learners pronounce it /loʊv/ (with long 'o') instead of /lʌv/.
How to Use "Love" — Common Grammar Patterns
Love can be followed by a noun or by the gerund (-ing form). 'I love swimming' or 'I love my dog'.
love + nounlove + gerund (verb-ing)love + infinitive (love to do)
Example Sentences with "Love" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: I love my family more than anything in the world. A1
Common Collocations with "Love"
- love to do — I love to play basketball with my friends.
- love + ing — She loves dancing at the club.
- love someone — He loves his wife deeply.
- fall in love — They fell in love at college.
- I'm lovin' it — I'm lovin' this new café! (informal/marketing)
When to Use "Love" vs Similar Verbs
"love" vs "like"
Love is stronger than like; like expresses preference, love expresses deep affection.
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- adore — for deep admiration and romantic devotion
- cherish — for valuing and protecting something dearly
Antonyms: hate, detest, dislike
Common Mistakes with "Love"
-
Wrong: I am loving you.
Correct: I love you.
"Love" is stative; use simple present. Continuous is incorrect in formal/romantic contexts. (Exception: "I'm lovin' it" is informal/colloquial slang.) -
Wrong: She is loving chocolate.
Correct: She loves chocolate.
Use simple present for preference/affection; continuous sounds unnatural. -
Wrong: They are loving this situation.
Correct: They love this situation.
State verbs express deep feelings/preferences, not momentary emotions.
Origin and Etymology of "Love"
From Old English 'lufu', related to Sanskrit 'lubh' (to desire).
Love is expressed differently across cultures; the verb is universal but cultural context matters.
Other Forms of "Love"
- Adjective: loving
Conjugation Tables for "Love"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not love · He does not love
- Simple past: I did not love · She did not love
- Present perfect: I have not loved · He has not loved
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you love? · Does he love?
- Simple past: Did you love?
- Present perfect: Have you loved?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is loved
- Simple past passive: It was loved
- Present perfect passive: It has been loved
Frequently Asked Questions About "Love"
- Is "love" regular or irregular?
- "love" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "loved".
- What is the past tense of "love"?
- The simple past of "love" is "loved".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "love"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I love every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am loving right now."
- What's a common mistake with "love"?
- "Love" is stative; use simple present. Continuous is incorrect in formal/romantic contexts. (Exception: "I'm lovin' it" is informal/colloquial slang.) Wrong: "I am loving you." Correct: "I love you."