What is the past tense of "prevent"?

The past simple of "prevent" is "prevented". Regular exercise can prevent illness.

What is the past participle of "prevent"?

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

What is a common mistake with "prevent"?

Wrong: "We prevent the problem to happen.". Correct: "We prevent the problem from happening.". After 'prevent', use 'from' + gerund, not infinitive (to + verb).

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

Q: Is "prevent" regular or irregular?

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

Q: How do you pronounce "prevent"?

/prɪˈvɛnt/ — Stress on second syllable. The 'e' in first syllable is a schwa sound.

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All 12 Tenses of "Prevent"

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

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

Past Tense of "Prevent" — Prevented

The past simple of "prevent" is "prevented" — 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.

Good planning prevented the disaster from occurring. B1

Past Participle of "Prevent" — Prevented

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

Good planning prevented the disaster from occurring. B1

Is "Prevent" Regular or Irregular?

"Prevent" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "prevented". The 3rd-person singular present is "prevents" and the gerund/present participle is "preventing".

Conjugation pattern: regular (-ed ending)

How to Pronounce "Prevent" and Its Forms

Prevent: /prɪˈvɛnt/ — Stress pattern: oO

Stress on second syllable. The 'e' in first syllable is a schwa sound.

Syllable breakdown: pre · vent

How to Use "Prevent" — Common Grammar Patterns

Usually followed by a noun or the structure 'prevent + object + from + verb-ing'.

VERB + NOUN
VERB + OBJ + FROM + GERUND

Example Sentences with "Prevent" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Regular exercise can prevent illness. A2
Simple Past: Good planning prevented the disaster from occurring. B1

Common Collocations with "Prevent"

prevent disease
prevent an accident
prevent crime
prevent damage
prevent someone from

When to Use "Prevent" vs Similar Verbs

"prevent" vs "preserve"

Preserve means to keep safe; prevent means to stop something from occurring.

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

stop — more general; broader meaning of halting action
avoid — for passive prevention or evasion strategies
hinder — when something slows or impedes progress

Antonyms: allow, permit

Common Mistakes with "Prevent"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Prevent"

From Latin 'praevenire' (prae- before + venire to come), meaning to come before or anticipate.

Other Forms of "Prevent"

Noun: prevention
Adjective: preventable

Conjugation Tables for "Prevent"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you prevent? · Does he prevent?
Simple past: Did you prevent?
Present perfect: Have you prevented?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Prevent"

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