English UsageGrammar guide

Past Tense of Cast

The principal forms are cast, cast, cast: the verb keeps the same form in the present base, simple past, and past participle.

Quick answer

The standard simple past and past participle of “cast” are both “cast.”

Key details

Confusion Familyunchanged irregular verb
Rule Familyverb forms
Termscast
Variant ScopeThe base form, simple past, and past participle are all “cast.”

Further guidance

Core difference

“Cast” is an unchanged irregular verb: the simple past and past participle are both “cast.”

Fast Test

Use “cast” for a completed past action and also after have/has/had when the verb means cast.

Usage Boundary

Do not create a regular “casted” form for the ordinary verb paradigm unless a specialized usage explicitly establishes it.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Cast — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence that cast is unchanged in the simple past and past participle.

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