Irregular verb/ forget

Question

1. Forget/ forgot/ forgot2. Forget/ forgot/ forgottenHi, please..I am not sure with past participle of this verb. Can I use both or just one of them?? Thank u for replied

BillJ · Accepted Answer

Hi

Yes, you can - but it really depends where you live!

In the US it's 'forgot'. In the UK it's forgotten.

If in doubt, use the UK spelling.

Best Wishes

Bill

BarbaraPA · Answer

Huh. The dictionary does list "forgot" as a participle, but only after "forgotten," which is the only form I've ever heard, seen, or used.

BillJ · Answer

Hi Grammar Geek

I too have only ever used 'forgotten', but as the poster had clearly picked up on the posibility of both versions, I thought it wise to check my trusted (2002 edition) Oxford Dictionary. This is the Oxford's exact definition (without examples). The underline is mine:

'forget: v. (forgets, forgetting, forgot; past part. forgotten or US forgot)'

Not being resident in the US, I naturally assumed it was correct and, more importantly, up-to-date. Since reading your post, I've done some research (including looking at some old EF threads on the same subject), and it does seem that 'forgot' as the pp of forget has virtually no currency in the US.

Incidentally, I also looked at the on-line Dictionary.com which, though US based, also gave both versions:

Usage note:

'Both FORGOT and FORGOTTEN are used as the past participle of forget':

I guess that's out of date too!

Best Wishes

Biill J

Anonymous · Answer

Forgotten is more frequently used in the U.S. both verbally and in writing, and forgot is rarely used. The same is true with gotten/got.  E.g.: I have forgotten all about it.

Irregular verb/ forget

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