Forgot vs. Forgotten — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023
Forgot is the simple past tense of "forget," indicating a past event, while Forgotten is the past participle used with helping verbs to form verb tenses.
Difference Between Forgot and Forgotten
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Key Differences
Forgot refers to the action of forgetting that occurred at a specific point in the past. It’s a direct statement of a past event without the need for an auxiliary verb. For example, "I forgot my keys at home." On the other hand, Forgotten requires an auxiliary verb like "have" or "had" to indicate a past action that has relevance to the present or another past point.
Using Forgot is a straightforward way to mention a past occurrence. For instance, when recounting a past event, one might say, "I forgot to call him yesterday." In contrast, Forgotten implies an action that happened in the past with current implications. For example, "The legend has been forgotten over time."
The word Forgot stands on its own in sentences, not needing another helping verb. It’s a definitive past action. However, Forgotten is part of a verb phrase and cannot stand alone. One would say, "She has forgotten her password" rather than "She forgotten her password."
To clarify further, Forgot is usually followed directly by the object or action that was forgotten. "He forgot his appointment." Forgotten, being a part of a verb tense, is often found in more complex structures, such as, "The appointment has been forgotten."
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Term
Simple past tense
Past participle
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Use in Sentence
Stands alone
Requires an auxiliary verb
Time Indication
Specific point in the past
Past action with relevance to the present or another past point
Common Usage
"I forgot my wallet."
"My wallet has been forgotten at home."
Associative Structure
Directly followed by object/action
Used in more complex verb tenses and structures
Compare with Definitions
Forgot
Failed to remember in the past.
I forgot her birthday last year.
Forgotten
Neglected over time.
The tradition has been forgotten over the years.
Forgot
Neglected a task or duty previously.
He forgot to lock the door.
Forgotten
Left behind unintentionally.
The book was forgotten on the bus.
Forgot
Left something unintentionally in the past.
She forgot her purse in the car.
Forgotten
Discarded or not considered.
The advice was forgotten and mistakes were made.
Forgot
Overlooked an appointment or event before.
We forgot our anniversary dinner.
Forgotten
Not remembered or brought to mind.
That old song seems to have been forgotten.
Forgot
Didn’t bring to mind a past memory.
He forgot that moment until now.
Forgotten
Previously known but now not remembered.
The recipe was forgotten and had to be relearned.
Forgot
Past tense and a past participle of forget.
Forgotten
A past participle of forget.
Forgot
Simple past tense and past participle of forget
Forgotten
Of which knowledge has been lost; which is no longer remembered.
Forgotten
Inflection of forget
Forgotten
A person or thing that has been forgotten.
Forgotten
Not noticed inadvertently;
Her aching muscles forgotten she danced all night
He was scolded for his forgotten chores
Forgotten
No longer known; irretrievable;
A forgotten art
A lost art
Lost civilizations
Common Curiosities
Can I say, "I forgotten my keys"?
No, the correct form is "I forgot my keys" or "I have forgotten my keys."
Is Forgot the same as Forgotten?
No, "forgot" is the simple past tense while "forgotten" is the past participle.
Can Forgotten stand alone in a sentence?
No, "forgotten" typically requires an auxiliary verb like "have" or "had."
Which one indicates a specific point in the past?
Forgot indicates a specific point in the past.
When do we use Forgot in a sentence?
Use "forgot" to indicate a direct action that occurred in the past.
Is "I had forgot" correct?
No, the correct form is "I had forgotten."
Do both words mean not remembering something?
Yes, both relate to failing to remember, but their grammatical uses differ.
When is Forgotten used?
"Forgotten" is used with auxiliary verbs to show past actions relevant to another time point.
Can I say, "The story is forgot"?
No, the correct form is "The story is forgotten."
Which form is common in perfect tenses?
Forgotten is common in perfect tenses with auxiliary verbs.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
