Forget vs. Forgot: Know the Difference

By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023

Forget is the present tense verb meaning to fail to remember, while forgot is the simple past tense, indicating forgetting happened in the past.

Key Differences

Forget is used in present tense contexts, indicating an ongoing or habitual action of failing to remember. Forgot, on the other hand, is the simple past tense form, used to describe a specific instance of forgetting that occurred in the past.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

When using forget in a sentence, it often refers to a current state or a future possibility of not remembering something. In contrast, forgot implies that the act of forgetting has already taken place at a definite point in the past.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget can also be used in imperative sentences, giving commands or requests, such as "Don't forget to call me." Forgot is used to recount past experiences or actions, as in "I forgot to call you yesterday."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

In terms of conjugation, forget follows a pattern where it can be modified into various forms like forgetting, forgets, or forget. Forgot is the unchangeable past form, with no variations.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget is often used in conditional or hypothetical statements, for instance, "If you forget, let me know." Forgot is used to state facts or events that have already happened, such as "I forgot it was your birthday."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Comparison Chart

Tense

Present tense

Simple past tense

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Usage in Time

Ongoing or habitual action

Completed action in the past

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Sentence Examples

"Don't forget to call."

"I forgot to call yesterday."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Conjugation

Can be modified (forgetting, forgets)

Fixed form with no variations

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Use in Sentences

Commands, future possibilities, conditions

Recounting past experiences or actions

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget and Forgot Definitions

Forget

To leave behind unintentionally

She forgets her keys frequently.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forgot

Failed to remember

Yesterday, I forgot my password.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To omit unintentionally

Did you forget to lock the door?

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forgot

Left behind unintentionally

He forgot his bag at home.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To be unable to remember (something).

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forgot

Failed to think of

I forgot about the meeting last week.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To treat with thoughtless inattention; neglect

Forget one's family.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forgot

Omitted unintentionally

I forgot to add sugar to the cake.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To leave behind unintentionally.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forgot

Neglected unintentionally

She forgot to water the plants.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To fail to mention.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forgot

Past tense and a past participle of forget.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To banish from one's thoughts

Forget a disgrace.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forgot

Simple past tense and past participle of forget

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(Informal) To disregard on purpose. Usually used in the imperative

Oh, forget it. I refuse to go!.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To cease remembering

Let's forgive and forget.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To fail or neglect to become aware at the proper or specified moment

Forgot about my dental appointment.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(transitive) To lose remembrance of.

I have forgotten most of the things I learned in school.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(transitive) To unintentionally not do, neglect.

I forgot to buy flowers for my wife at our 14th wedding anniversary.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(transitive) To unintentionally leave something behind.

I forgot my car keys in the living room.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(intransitive) To cease remembering.

Let's just forget about it.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

(slang) Euphemism for fuck, screw a mild oath.

Forget you!

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To lose the remembrance of; to let go from the memory; to cease to have in mind; not to think of; also, to lose the power of; to cease from doing.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Let my right hand forget her cunning.

Hath thy knee forget to bow?

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To treat with inattention or disregard; to slight; to neglect.

Can a woman forget her sucking child? . . . Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

Dismiss from the mind; stop remembering;

I tried to bury these unpleasant memories

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

Be unable to remember;

I'm drawing a blank

You are blocking the name of your first wife!

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

Forget to do something;

Don't forget to call the chairman of the board to the meeting!

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

Leave behind unintentionally;

I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant

I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors

Shumaila Saeed

Oct 19, 2023

Forget

To fail to remember

I often forget names quickly.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To fail to think of

I forget to consider other options.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Forget

To neglect unintentionally

Sometimes I forget to eat breakfast.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

What is forgot?

Forgot is the past tense of forget, used for past instances of forgetting.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

How do I use forget in a sentence?

Example: "Please don't forget to turn off the lights."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can forget be used for something happening now?

Yes, forget is used for current or habitual forgetting.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

When do I use forget?

Use forget for current or future instances of failing to remember.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

What is the past participle of forget?

The past participle is forgotten.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Is forgot used in present tense?

No, forgot is exclusively used for past tense.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can you give an example of forgot in a sentence?

Example: "I forgot where I placed my keys."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can forgot be used for future actions?

No, forgot cannot be used for future actions.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Is forget ever used in past tense?

No, for past tense, the correct form is forgot.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

What is the negative form of "forget"?

The negative form of "forget" is "do not forget" or its contraction "don't forget."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Do other languages have similar irregularities with these words?

Yes, irregular verb forms exist in many languages, causing variations in past tenses.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

What is the present tense of "forget"?

The present tense of "forget" is "forget."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can you provide an example sentence using "forget"?

Certainly! "I always forget my keys when I leave the house."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can "forgot" be used in the present tense?

No, "forgot" is specifically the past tense form of "forget."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

What is the past participle form of "forget"?

The past participle form of "forget" is "forgotten."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

When should I use "forgot" in a sentence?

Use "forgot" when discussing something that happened in the past, like "I forgot my anniversary last year."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can "forgot" be used with auxiliary verbs like "have" or "had"?

Yes, you can say "I had forgotten" to indicate that you forgot something in the past.

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can "forget" be used in the past tense?

Yes, it can be used in the past tense as "forgot."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can you provide an example sentence using "forgot"?

Of course! "I forgot to pick up groceries on my way home yesterday."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Can you provide an example using "forgot" and "forgotten" in the same sentence?

Certainly! "I forgot my friend's birthday, and I had also forgotten to buy a gift."

Shumaila Saeed

Nov 28, 2023

Share this page

Link for your blog / website

HTML

Link to share via messenger

↩ Previous

Urea vs. Urine

Next ↪

Detective vs. Inspector

About Author

Written by

Shumaila Saeed

Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.