Lose vs Lost
In English, lose and lost come from the same verb but serve different grammatical roles: lose is the base form and lost is typically the past form or past participle. This short guide shows when to use each word with quick examples.
Lose
Use lose in contexts that require the base form: for the present tense with subjects that need it, for infinitives, and for futures and conditionals. Think of lose as the form you use when the action is general, habitual, or still possible.
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Lost
Use lost as the simple past to describe an action that happened and finished, or as the past participle in perfect tenses. Lost can also function as an adjective meaning "unable to find one's way" or "confused."
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🥲 I always lose my keys when I'm in a hurry. | I frequently misplace my keys when I'm rushed. |
| 🏃 Don't lose the map or we might get lost. | Keep the map safe so we don't become disoriented. |
| 🎲 We don't want to lose the game on the last move. | We hope to win the game, not lose it at the end. |
| 🗺️ After the storm, many travelers were lost. | Many travelers became disoriented after the storm. |
| 🚗 She got lost because the GPS stopped working. | She couldn't find her way when the GPS failed. |
| 🐶 Our dog ran away and now he is lost. | Our dog is missing and we don't know where he is. |
Summary
Lose appears when you need the base form of the verb, while lost is used for past actions or as an adjective. Switching them changes the meaning or results in a grammatical error, so match the form to the time and structure you want.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025