What is the past tense of "respond"?

The past simple of "respond" is "responded". When I asked him a question, he didn't respond immediately.

What is the past participle of "respond"?

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

What is a common mistake with "respond"?

Wrong: "He responded the question carefully.". Correct: "He responded to the question carefully.". respond requires the preposition 'to' before its object

How do you pronounce "respond"?

/rɪˈspɑːnd/ — Stress on second syllable: re-SPOND. The final -d is voiced.

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

Q: Is "respond" regular or irregular?

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

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All 12 Tenses of "Respond"

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

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

Past Tense of "Respond" — Responded

The past simple of "respond" is "responded" — 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 government responded quickly to the emergency. B1

Past Participle of "Respond" — Responded

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

The government responded quickly to the emergency. B1

Is "Respond" Regular or Irregular?

"Respond" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "responded". The 3rd-person singular present is "responds" and the gerund/present participle is "responding".

Conjugation pattern: regular

How to Pronounce "Respond" and Its Forms

Respond: /rɪˈspɑːnd/ — Stress pattern: oO

Stress on second syllable: re-SPOND. The final -d is voiced.

Syllable breakdown: re · spond

How to Use "Respond" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'respond to' (not 'respond + direct object'). Example: respond to feedback, respond to a request.

Example Sentences with "Respond" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: When I asked him a question, he didn't respond immediately. A2
Simple Past: The government responded quickly to the emergency. B1

Common Collocations with "Respond"

respond quickly
respond to a call
respond with
fail to respond

When to Use "Respond" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

reply — spoken or written answer to a question
react — immediate emotional or physical action

Antonyms: ignore

Common Mistakes with "Respond"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Respond"

From Latin respondere (to answer back), from re- (back) + spondere (to pledge).

Conjugation Tables for "Respond"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you respond? · Does he respond?
Simple past: Did you respond?
Present perfect: Have you responded?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Respond"

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