Irregular verb across tenses: lose (base), lost (past and past participle). Regular -es ending in third-person singular. Rules for ing and ed endings apply as usual.
Conjugations
| Tense | Example (English) | Example (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|
| Base Form | I lose my keys. | Yo pierdo mis llaves. |
| Third-Person Singular | She loses every time. | Ella pierde siempre. |
| Past Simple | They lost the game. | Ellos perdieron el juego. |
| Present Participle | We are losing hope. | Estamos perdiendo la esperanza. |
| Past Participle | He has lost his wallet. | Él ha perdido su cartera. |
Usage Tips
- to lose something = no encontrar algo (to misplace or fail to keep something)
- to lose a game/match = ser derrotado en un juego o competencia (to be defeated)
- lose + time/hope/patience = expresar frustración o un sentimiento negativo
If someone says they 'lose hope,' what emotion are they expressing?
Frustration or negativity
To 'lose hope' means to become discouraged or pessimistic about a situation.
Common Idioms
- lose track of time — perder la noción del tiempo
- lose your mind — volverse loco o confundirse
- lose face — perder prestigio o respeto
- lose heart — desanimarse
- lose touch with someone — perder contacto con alguien
Practice Examples
| Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|
| I always lose my glasses. | Siempre pierdo mis gafas. |
| We lost the championship last year. | Perdimos el campeonato el año pasado. |
| Don’t lose hope — things will get better. | No pierdas la esperanza — las cosas mejorarán. |
| She lost touch with her childhood friends. | Ella perdió contacto con sus amigos de la infancia. |
| They are losing money on this project. | Están perdiendo dinero en este proyecto. |
Don’t lose hope — things will get better.
Don’t lose hope — things will get better.
The phrase encourages maintaining optimism; 'lose hope' means to become discouraged.
Additional Notes
- Lost* is used for both the simple past and the past participle.
- Be careful: “lose” is about failing to keep or find something, not the opposite of “find.”
Which forms of 'lose' are always 'lost'?
Past simple and past participle
'Lost' is the irregular form used for both the past simple and past participle of 'lose.'
Summary
- Base form lose, past simple and past participle lost.
- Add -es in third-person singular (loses).
- Add -ing for continuous (losing).
- Use lost with “have/has/had” for perfect tenses.
- Common meaning: fail to keep/find, be defeated, or let go of something.
- Usage extends beyond objects: time, patience, hope, contact, etc.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Tense: Base Form
- Example (English): I lose my keys.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
