Base
I often win when we play cards.
Often shows a present habit.
Past Tense of Win: Won and Won
Win is an irregular verb. The past tense and the past participle are the same form: won. It sounds just like the number one.
Base
win
Past
won
Past participle
won
Third person: wins · -ing form: winning
ABB: form patternExamples
Base
We win a prize if we answer every question.
This describes something that is true in general.
Past
Our team won the match last Saturday.
Last Saturday points to a finished past action.
Past
She won a small prize last month.
Won is the past form; it does not need have.
Past participle
We have won three games this season.
After have, the participle is won.
Past participle
He has won first prize in the race.
The participle has the same form as the past.
Usage notes
Win or beat?
You win a game, a race or a prize. You beat a person or a team. We won the game. We beat them 3 to 1.
Won sounds like one
Won and one are pronounced the same, /wʌn/, but spelled differently. Won is the verb: We won. One is the number: one game.
Winning has two n's
The -ing form doubles the n: winning. The past form stays won.
Common mistakes
We winned the game.
We won the game.
Win is irregular. Its past form is won, not winned.
I won him at tennis.
I beat him at tennis.
Win goes with a game or prize. For a person or team, use beat.
She has win a prize.
She has won a prize.
After has, use the past participle won.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.Our team ___ the game yesterday.
2.She has ___ a prize.
3.We usually ___ when we play at home.
4.I want to ___ you at tennis.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of win 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. Our team ___ the game yesterday.
Answer: won
Yesterday is a finished past time, so use won.
2. She has ___ a prize.
Answer: won
Has takes the past participle won.
3. We usually ___ when we play at home.
Answer: win
Usually marks a present habit: we win.
4. I want to ___ you at tennis.
Answer: beat
Beat goes with a person; win goes with a game.
5. They ___ the race last week.
Answer: won
Last week is finished, so the past is won.
6. He has ___ every game this year.
Answer: won
Have plus the participle is have won.
7. Our team is ___ now.
Answer: winning
Winning has two n's.
8. My brother winned the race.
Answer: My brother won the race.
The past of win is won, not winned.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of win?
The past tense of win is won: We won the game last Saturday.
What is the difference between win and beat?
You win a game or a prize. You beat a person or a team: We won the match, and we beat them.
Is won the same as one?
They sound the same, /wʌn/, but won is the past of win and one is the number.