What is the past tense of "speak"?

The past simple of "speak" is "spoke". She speaks English fluently and can also speak Mandarin.

What is a common mistake with "speak"?

Wrong: "He speak English very well.". Correct: "He speaks English very well.". Third-person singular needs -s: 'he speaks', not 'he speak'

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

Q: What is the past participle of "speak"?

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

Q: Is "speak" regular or irregular?

"Speak" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: speak → spoke → spoken.

Q: How do you pronounce "speak"?

/spik/ — Sounds like 'speek' with long /i/ sound (not 'spek'). Rhymes with 'weak', 'peek'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Speak"

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

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

Past Tense of "Speak" — Spoke

The past simple of "speak" is "spoke". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "speak" is irregular, "spoke" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

The politician spoke about climate change at the conference yesterday. B1

Past Participle of "Speak" — Spoken

The past participle of "speak" is "spoken". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have spoken"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was spoken"). Because "speak" is irregular, "spoken" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

Is "Speak" Regular or Irregular?

"Speak" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "speak", past simple "spoke", and past participle "spoken". The 3rd-person singular present is "speaks" and the present participle/gerund is "speaking". Conjugation pattern: speak → spoke → spoken.

Conjugation pattern: speak → spoke → spoken

How to Pronounce "Speak" and Its Forms

Speak: /spik/ — Stress pattern: O

Sounds like 'speek' with long /i/ sound (not 'spek'). Rhymes with 'weak', 'peek'.

How to Use "Speak" — Common Grammar Patterns

Speak = formal communication or language ability. Speak to/with/about (prepositions vary).

S + speak + (language/topic)
speak + adverb (fluently, clearly)

Example Sentences with "Speak" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: She speaks English fluently and can also speak Mandarin. A1
Simple Past: The politician spoke about climate change at the conference yesterday. B1

Common Collocations with "Speak"

speak English/French — She speaks French very well.
speak up — Can you speak up? I can't hear you.
speak to someone — I need to speak to the manager.
speak about — He spoke about his experiences.
speak out — She spoke out against injustice.

When to Use "Speak" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

talk — For casual conversation; more informal
say — For specific short statements or words

Common Mistakes with "Speak"

Wrong: She speak English.
Correct: She speaks English.
Add "s" for third-person singular.
Wrong: I speak to him about this tomorrow.
Correct: I will speak to him about this tomorrow. / I am speaking to him about this tomorrow.
Use future tense or present continuous, not simple present, for future plans.
Wrong: She is speak now.
Correct: She is speaking now.
Use present participle (speaking), not base form, with "is".

Conjugation Tables for "Speak"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you speak? · Does he speak?
Simple past: Did you speak?
Present perfect: Have you spoken?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Speak"

Is "speak" regular or irregular?: "speak" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "spoke" and past participle is "spoken". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "speak"?: The simple past of "speak" is "spoke".
What's the difference between the past simple and past participle of "speak"?: The past simple is "spoke" and the past participle is "spoken". Use past simple for completed past actions ("I spoke yesterday"). Use past participle with have/has ("I have spoken").
What's a common mistake with "speak"?: Add "s" for third-person singular. Wrong: "She speak English." Correct: "She speaks English."