Conjugation of "Retire" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
"Retire" is a regular English verb. This page lists every conjugated form of "retire" — past, present, future, and all perfect/continuous tenses — with example sentences and grammar notes useful for ESL students, writers, and language teachers.
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All 12 Tenses of "Retire"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "retire" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I retire |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I retired |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will retire |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am retiring |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was retiring |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be retiring |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have retired |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had retired |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have retired |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been retiring |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been retiring |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been retiring |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Retire" — Retired
The past simple of "retire" is "retired" — 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 "Retire" — Retired
The past participle of "retire" is "retired" — the same form as the past simple, since "retire" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have retired") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was retired").
Is "Retire" Regular or Irregular?
"Retire" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "retired". The 3rd-person singular present is "retires" and the gerund/present participle is "retiring".
Conjugation pattern: regular: add -ed for past simple and past participle
Common Mistakes with "Retire"
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Wrong: She retire often.
Correct: She retires often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Conjugation Tables for "Retire"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not retire · He does not retire
- Simple past: I did not retire · She did not retire
- Present perfect: I have not retired · He has not retired
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you retire? · Does he retire?
- Simple past: Did you retire?
- Present perfect: Have you retired?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is retired
- Simple past passive: It was retired
- Present perfect passive: It has been retired
Frequently Asked Questions About "Retire"
- Is "retire" regular or irregular?
- "retire" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "retired".
- What is the past tense of "retire"?
- The simple past of "retire" is "retired".
- When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "retire"?
- Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I retire every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am retiring right now."