Past Tense of “Read” (Grammar + Examples)

What is the past tense of “read?” Most commonly, the past tense of the word “read” is “read” although the word form will change based on its participle. And the sentence where it’s used. For example, referencing “read” in the present participle form will change it to “reading,” but in the infinitive form, will be “lost.”

Continue reading to learn more about the past tense form of this word.

What is the past tense of “read?”

The past tense (past participle) form of “read” is “read.” The infinitive of the word form is “read.” The present participle form is “reading.” The past tense form is “read” and past participle form is “read.”

To learn how to use these words, refer to the sentence examples provided below.

Sentence examples for past tense of “read”

• Infinitive: I read a book every Saturday.
• Present participle: I am reading a book every Saturday.
• Past tense: I read a book last Saturday.
• Past participle: I had read a book last Saturday.

“Read” verb forms and examples

Example sentences in all verb forms:

Indefinite present tense

I read a book the other week, it was a great book.

Present continuous tense

I am reading a book right now.

Present perfect continuous tense

I have read a book every Saturday.

Present perfect tense

I have been reading a book today.

Simple past tense

I read a book today.

Past continuous tense

I was reading a book before you arrived.

Past perfect tense

I had been reading a book earlier.

Perfect continuous tense

I will be reading a book later.

Simple future tense

I will have been reading a book for a few hours.

Future continuous tense

I will be reading.

Future perfect tense

I will have been reading all day.

Future perfect continuous tense

I will have been reading for a long time today.

Examples in all verb tenses

Sentences examples in all participles and parts of speech: