What is the past tense of "pursue"?

The past simple of "pursue" is "pursued". The dog chased and pursued the cat around the house.

What is the past participle of "pursue"?

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

What is a common mistake with "pursue"?

Wrong: "She is pursuing her dream to become a teacher.". Correct: "She is pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.". Use 'dream of + gerund' not 'dream to + infinitive' in standard English.

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

Q: Is "pursue" regular or irregular?

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

Q: How do you pronounce "pursue"?

/pərˈsuː/ — Two syllables: pur-SUE. Stress on second syllable. The final /uː/ sounds like 'oo' in 'boot'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Pursue"

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

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

Past Tense of "Pursue" — Pursued

The past simple of "pursue" is "pursued" — 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 dog chased and pursued the cat around the house. B1
Police officers pursued the suspect down the street. B1

Past Participle of "Pursue" — Pursued

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

The dog chased and pursued the cat around the house. B1
Police officers pursued the suspect down the street. B1

Is "Pursue" Regular or Irregular?

"Pursue" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "pursued". The 3rd-person singular present is "pursues" and the gerund/present participle is "pursuing".

Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed

How to Pronounce "Pursue" and Its Forms

Pursue: /pərˈsuː/ — Stress pattern: oO

Two syllables: pur-SUE. Stress on second syllable. The final /uː/ sounds like 'oo' in 'boot'.

Common mispronunciation of "pursue"

Sometimes pronounced /ˈpɝsuː/ with stress on first syllable instead of second.

Syllable breakdown: pur · sue

How to Use "Pursue" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'pursue' with objects like 'chase', 'follow', or metaphorical goals: pursue happiness, pursue a degree.

pursue + noun
pursue + gerund
be pursuing

Example Sentences with "Pursue" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Many graduates pursue advanced degrees at prestigious universities. B1
Simple Past: The dog chased and pursued the cat around the house. B1

Common Collocations with "Pursue"

pursue a goal
pursue a career
pursue your dreams
pursue charges
pursue knowledge

When to Use "Pursue" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

chase — for physically running after someone
follow — for going after in general
seek — for trying to find or achieve goals

Antonyms: flee, escape, avoid

Common Mistakes with "Pursue"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Pursue"

From Latin 'prosequi' meaning to follow after; from 'pro-' (forward) + 'sequi' (to follow).

Common in news: 'police pursue suspects'; metaphorically used for goals: 'pursue your dreams', 'pursue a career in medicine'.

Other Forms of "Pursue"

Noun: pursuit

Conjugation Tables for "Pursue"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you pursue? · Does he pursue?
Simple past: Did you pursue?
Present perfect: Have you pursued?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Pursue"

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