Base
They build houses near the river.
A regular job or activity in the present uses build.
Past Tense of Build: Built
Build is an irregular verb. The past simple and the past participle are the same form: built. Use built for a finished action, and after have or has.
Base
build
Past
built
Past participle
built
Third person: builds · -ing form: building
ABB: form patternExamples
Base
Birds build their homes in trees.
A general fact in the present uses build.
Past
My grandfather built this table.
Built is the past simple; the action is finished.
Past
The children built a small house yesterday.
Yesterday points to a finished past action.
Past participle
The city has built a new bridge.
Has built is present perfect.
Past participle
We have built a small garden at home.
After have, the participle is also built.
Usage notes
Built in the passive
Built is common in passive sentences: The school was built in 1990. The church is built of stone. The same form works in both active and passive.
Build and building
A building is a noun, such as a house or an office. The -ing form of the verb, building, looks the same: They are building a house now. The sentence shows which one you mean.
Common mistakes
We builded a sandcastle.
We built a sandcastle.
Build is irregular. The past is built, not builded.
They have build a new school.
They have built a new school.
After have, use the past participle built, not the base form.
The bridge was build in 1950.
The bridge was built in 1950.
A passive sentence needs the past participle: was built.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.My uncle ___ our garage last summer.
2.They have ___ a new library in town.
3.Ants ___ their homes under the ground every day.
4.This house was ___ in 1960.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of build in each sentence.
Correct the mistake
Rewrite the English sentence with the correct verb form.
8.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Answer key
1. My uncle ___ our garage last summer.
Answer: built
Last summer is finished, so use built.
2. They have ___ a new library in town.
Answer: built
Have takes the past participle built.
3. Ants ___ their homes under the ground every day.
Answer: build
A general fact with ants (they) uses build.
4. This house was ___ in 1960.
Answer: built
A passive sentence uses the past participle: was built.
5. Our town has ___ a new park.
Answer: built
Has plus the past participle is has built.
6. Yesterday, we ___ a small boat.
Answer: built
Yesterday takes the past simple built.
7. Now my father ___ tables and chairs in his shop.
Answer: builds
A present job with my father (he) needs builds.
8. They builded a house by the sea.
Answer: They built a house by the sea.
The past of build is built, not builded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of build?
The past tense of build is built: They built a house last year.
What is the past participle of build?
The past participle is also built: They have built a house.
Is builded correct?
No. Build is irregular, so builded is not a word. Use built for the past and the past participle.