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

TenseExample (English)Example (Spanish)
Base FormI lose my keys.Yo pierdo mis llaves.
Third-Person SingularShe loses every time.Ella pierde siempre.
Past SimpleThey lost the game.Ellos perdieron el juego.
Present ParticipleWe are losing hope.Estamos perdiendo la esperanza.
Past ParticipleHe has lost his wallet.Él ha perdido su cartera.

Complete this sentence with the correct form of 'lose' in the ______ tense: —— She has ____ important documents in her move. (she / lose)


lost

'Lost' is the past participle form used with 'has' to form the present perfect tense, indicating a past action with present relevance.

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

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

SentenceTranslation
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.

They are losing money on this project.


They are losing money on this project.

'Are losing' shows a current, ongoing loss of money related to the project.

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.”

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.

What is the base form, past simple, and past participle of this verb?


lose, lost, lost

The base form is 'lose'; both past simple and past participle are 'lost.'

Flashcards (1 of 5)

  • Tense: Base Form
  • Example (English): I lose my keys.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Loco