Conjugation of "Remain" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
Stay in the same place or condition; continue to be.
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All 12 Tenses of "Remain"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "remain" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I remain |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I remained |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will remain |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am remaining |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was remaining |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be remaining |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have remained |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had remained |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have remained |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been remaining |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been remaining |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been remaining |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Remain" — Remained
The past simple of "remain" is "remained" — 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.
- She remained calm during the problem. B1
Past Participle of "Remain" — Remained
The past participle of "remain" is "remained" — the same form as the past simple, since "remain" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have remained") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was remained").
- She remained calm during the problem. B1
Is "Remain" Regular or Irregular?
"Remain" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "remained". The 3rd-person singular present is "remains" and the gerund/present participle is "remaining".
Conjugation pattern: regular -ed
How to Pronounce "Remain" and Its Forms
Remain: /rɪˈmeɪn/ — Stress pattern: oO
Stress second: re-MAIN.
Syllable breakdown: re · main
How to Use "Remain" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use 'remain + adjective' or 'remain + location'.
S + remain + adjectiveS + remain + location
Example Sentences with "Remain" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: His accomplishments remain forever in history. B1
- Simple Past: She remained calm during the problem. B1
- Simple Future: The school will remain open next week. A2
Common Collocations with "Remain"
- remain calm — Remain calm and follow the emergency procedures.
- remain silent — She chose to remain silent about the incident.
- remain committed — He remains committed to his promise.
- remain true — She has remained true to her values.
- remain the same — The rules remain the same as last year.
When to Use "Remain" vs Similar Verbs
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- stay — physical or mental position
- continue — persist in same state
Antonyms: leave, depart
Common Mistakes with "Remain"
-
Wrong: They are remaining silent.
Correct: They remain silent. / They have remained silent.
"Remain" is stative; use simple present or present perfect, not continuous. -
Wrong: It is remaining unclear.
Correct: It remains unclear.
Use simple present with state verbs; "remains" expresses the continuing condition. -
Wrong: She remaining faithful.
Correct: She has remained faithful. / She remains faithful.
Use present perfect or simple present, not present participle alone.
Origin and Etymology of "Remain"
From Latin remanere (to stay behind).
Other Forms of "Remain"
- Noun: remains
- Adjective: remaining
Conjugation Tables for "Remain"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not remain · He does not remain
- Simple past: I did not remain · She did not remain
- Present perfect: I have not remained · He has not remained
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you remain? · Does he remain?
- Simple past: Did you remain?
- Present perfect: Have you remained?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is remained
- Simple past passive: It was remained
- Present perfect passive: It has been remained
Frequently Asked Questions About "Remain"
- Is "remain" regular or irregular?
- "remain" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "remained".
- What is the past tense of "remain"?
- The simple past of "remain" is "remained".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "remain"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I remain every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am remaining right now."
- What's a common mistake with "remain"?
- "Remain" is stative; use simple present or present perfect, not continuous. Wrong: "They are remaining silent." Correct: "They remain silent. / They have remained silent."