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. |
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
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. |
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