Base
I write a short email every morning.
Every morning describes a routine, so use write.
Past Tense of Write: Wrote and Written
Write is an irregular verb. Use wrote for a finished action in the past. Use written after have or has, as in I have written an email.
Base
write
Past
wrote
Past participle
written
Third person: writes · -ing form: writing
ABC: form patternExamples
Base
We write our names at the top of the page.
Write is the base form with we, you, they and I.
Past
She wrote a letter to her grandmother.
Wrote is a finished action; it does not need have.
Past
He wrote down my phone number.
Write down means to put something on paper so you remember it.
Past participle
I have written three messages today.
After have, the participle is written, with two t letters.
Past participle
The teacher has written the date on the board.
Has written links the action to now: the date is there.
Usage notes
Wrote or written?
Wrote stands alone: She wrote a note. Written needs have, has or had: She has written a note. The same pattern works for drive, ride and take.
Write to, write down
In American English you can write a friend, but write to a friend is also correct and is the only form in British English. Write down means put on paper.
Common mistakes
I have wrote a postcard.
I have written a postcard.
After have, use the past participle written, not the past form wrote.
She writed a song last night.
She wrote a song last night.
Write is irregular; its past form is wrote, never writed.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.Yesterday I ___ a note to my teacher.
2.He has ___ his name on the form.
3.They ___ emails at work every day.
4.She ___ a story last night.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of write 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. Yesterday I ___ a note to my teacher.
Answer: wrote
Yesterday is a finished past time, so use wrote.
2. He has ___ his name on the form.
Answer: written
Has takes the past participle written.
3. They ___ emails at work every day.
Answer: write
Every day describes a present routine: they write.
4. She ___ a story last night.
Answer: wrote
Last night is finished, so use wrote; written needs have or has.
5. We have ___ all the answers.
Answer: written
Have plus the past participle is have written.
6. My sister ___ me a long letter last week.
Answer: wrote
Last week takes the past simple wrote.
7. I ___ a short story every night.
Answer: write
A regular habit in the present uses write.
8. He has wrote a long story.
Answer: He has written a long story.
After has, use written, not wrote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of write?
The past tense of write is wrote: She wrote a letter yesterday.
Is it have wrote or have written?
Say have written. After have or has you need the past participle written: I have written an email.
What is the past participle of write?
The past participle of write is written. Use it after have, has or had: He has written his name.