VERBONKSPlay freeLean past tense and past participlelean · leaned · leaned
The past participle (the 3rd form) of lean is leaned / leant and the past simple is leaned / leant. The three forms are lean, leaned / leant, leaned / leant.
Lean in a sentence
The dog leaned on me and fell asleep.
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present simple | I lean · she leans |
| Present continuous | I am leaning · they are leaning |
| Past simple | I leaned · she leaned · they leaned |
| Past simple, negative | I didn't lean · she didn't lean |
| Past simple, question | Did you lean? · Did she lean? |
| Present perfect | I have leaned · she has leaned |
| Past perfect | I had leaned |
| Future | I will lean |
Common mistakes with lean
✗ I didn't leaned✓ I didn't lean✗ Did you leaned?✓ Did you lean?✗ I have lean✓ I have leaned
After didn't and in questions with did, use the base form. After have / has / had, use the past participle.
❓ Test yourself: 10-question quizEn español
lean significa apoyarse, inclinarse. Pasado: leaned / leant. Participio: leaned / leant.
🎭 lean runs with The Two-Faced Gang
-ed or -t, both OK
The Two-Faced Gang lives a double life. In the USA they act like good citizens: learned, burned, smelled. Cross the ocean to the UK and they show their other face: learnt, burnt, smelt. Both are correct, so you can't arrest them for either one. light is the master of disguise: lit, or sometimes lighted.
🔎 How to spot one: -ed or -t, both are right. Pick one style and stick with it.
Irregular verbs come in gangs that change the same way. Learn one and you can guess the rest of the gang:
| Base | Past | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| learn | learned / learnt | learned / learnt |
| burn | burned / burnt | burned / burnt |
| smell | smelled / smelt | smelled / smelt |
| spell | spelled / spelt | spelled / spelt |
| spill | spilled / spilt | spilled / spilt |
| lean | leaned / leant | leaned / leant |
| light | lit / lighted | lit / lighted |
Questions about lean
What is the past tense of lean?
The past simple of "lean" is "leaned / leant". Example: The dog leaned on me and fell asleep.
What is the past participle of lean?
The past participle (3rd form, V3) of "lean" is "leaned / leant", as in "I have leaned".
What are the 3 forms of lean?
V1 lean, V2 leaned / leant, V3 leaned / leant.
Is lean a regular or an irregular verb?
"lean" is an irregular verb.
¿Cuál es el pasado y el participio de lean?
"lean" significa "apoyarse, inclinarse". Pasado: leaned / leant. Participio: leaned / leant.