Base
I lead the group in English class.
Present lead is pronounced like leed.
Past Tense of Lead: Led and Led
Lead is an irregular verb. The past tense and the past participle are the same form: led. Present lead sounds like leed; led sounds like red.
Base
lead
Past
led
Past participle
led
Third person: leads · -ing form: leading
ABB: form patternExamples
Base
Please lead the way to the station.
Lead the way means go first so others can follow.
Past
A guide led the tourists through the old town.
Led is the past form; it does not need have.
Past
He led us to the station yesterday.
Yesterday points to a finished past action.
Past participle
My brother has led the team since January.
After has, the participle is led.
Past participle
She has led the school band for three years.
The participle has the same form as the past.
Usage notes
Lead and led
The verb lead is pronounced /liːd/. Its past and participle led is pronounced /lɛd/, like red. Write led for the past, never lead.
Lead, the metal
Lead can also be a heavy gray metal, pronounced /lɛd/, like led. Context shows the meaning: a lead pipe is made of metal, but lead the way is a verb.
Lead to
Lead to means go to or cause: This road leads to the beach. Too much sun can lead to a headache.
Common mistakes
She lead the team yesterday.
She led the team yesterday.
The past of lead is led, spelled with e and pronounced like red.
They have leaded us here.
They have led us here.
Lead is irregular. The participle is led, not leaded.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.Maria ___ the team last year.
2.He has ___ the class since June.
3.I ___ a small group every Friday.
4.This road always ___ to the beach.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of lead 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. Maria ___ the team last year.
Answer: led
Last year is finished, so use led.
2. He has ___ the class since June.
Answer: led
Has takes the past participle led.
3. I ___ a small group every Friday.
Answer: lead
Every Friday describes a present routine: I lead.
4. This road always ___ to the beach.
Answer: leads
Always shows a present fact, and This road takes leads.
5. A guide ___ us through the town yesterday.
Answer: led
Yesterday is finished, so the past is led.
6. She has ___ the club for two years.
Answer: led
Has plus the participle is has led.
7. He is ___ the group today.
Answer: leading
Today with is needs the -ing form: leading.
8. The teacher leaded us to the room.
Answer: The teacher led us to the room.
The past of lead is led, not leaded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of lead?
The past tense of lead is led: She led the team last year.
How do you pronounce led?
Led is pronounced /lɛd/, like red. The verb lead is pronounced /liːd/, like need.
Is leaded a word?
Not as the past of lead. Use led. Leaded describes things with lead metal in them, as in leaded glass.