Catch Past Tense

Catch Past Forms - Exercises

These exercises test different forms of the verb CATCH and IRREGULAR VERBS

The verb "catch" means to capture or grab something, to intercept something in motion, or to understand or notice something.

Example:

• "I catch the ball during the game."

• "She catches the bus every morning."

When referring to past actions, "catch" changes to "caught."

Forms of "Catch"

Examples of "Catch" in Sentences

Past Tense (caught):

1. "She caught the ball just before it hit the ground."

2. "I caught the last train home yesterday."

3. "He caught a glimpse of the deer before it ran away."

Past Participle (caught):

1. "They have caught several fish this morning."

2. "The thief was caught by the police after a long chase."

3. "I had caught the flu before my trip, so I had to cancel it."

Common Mistakes with "Catch"

1. Using "catched" instead of "caught":

A frequent mistake is adding "-ed" to the base verb to form the past tense or past participle, which is incorrect.

• Incorrect: "He catched the ball during the game."

• Correct: "He caught the ball during the game."

• Incorrect: "She has catched a cold from her coworker."

• Correct: "She has caught a cold from her coworker.

2. Confusing "caught" with "caught up":

Learners sometimes misuse "caught" and "caught up." While "caught" means to grab or intercept, "caught up"means being engrossed in or delayed by something.

• Incorrect: "I caught the traffic on my way home."

• Correct: "I got caught up in traffic on my way home."

• Incorrect: "She caught in her favorite TV show and missed my call."

• Correct: "She got caught up in her favorite TV show and missed my call."

3. Forgetting "catch" can be figurative:

Learners may overlook the figurative use of "catch," such as noticing, understanding, or being affected by something.

• Correct: "I caught what you said just now." (understood)

• Correct: "She caught the excitement of the crowd." (felt inspired)

4. Confusing "catch" with "grab" or "hold":

Learners might use "catch" where verbs like "grab" or "hold" would be more appropriate.

• Incorrect: "She caught my hand to keep me from falling."

• Correct: "She grabbed my hand to keep me from falling."

• Incorrect: "The child caught the rope tightly while climbing."

• Correct: "The child held the rope tightly while climbing."

5. Misusing "caught" in expressions involving understanding or realizing:

Learners sometimes fail to recognize idiomatic uses of "caught," such as understanding or noticing something.

• Correct: "I caught what you said about the plan." (understood)

• Correct: "She caught the look of disappointment on his face." (noticed)

Not recognizing these uses may lead to incorrect substitutions like "realized" or "noticed" when "caught" is idiomatic.

6. Overlooking figurative meanings of "catch":

Learners might not realize that "catch" can be used metaphorically, such as catching an illness, catching someone’s attention, or catching an opportunity.

• Correct: "I caught her attention with my question." (gained her focus)

• Correct: "He caught a cold after the camping trip." (became ill)

• Correct: "She caught the last train just in time." (managed to board it)

Misunderstanding these figurative uses may lead to less natural substitutions like "noticed,""got," or "achieved."

Irregular verb are very common in Past Simple. Check out more Grammar Exercises A1. Try verbs like Fly, Lie, Sew.

FAQ

What is the past tense of "catch"?

The past tense of "catch" is "caught."

How do I use "caught" in a sentence?

Use "caught" to describe an action of catching that happened in the past.
Example: "I caught the ball during the match yesterday."

What is the past participle of "catch"?

The past participle of "catch" is also "caught."
Example: "She has caught several mistakes in the report."

Is "catched" correct?

No, "catched" is not correct. Always use "caught" for both the past tense and past participle.

Can "catch" be used figuratively?

Yes! Example: "I caught the meaning of his message," meaning you understood what he meant.