Past Tense of Forbid
“Forbid” follows the irregular pattern forbid → forbade (also older “forbad”) → forbidden. Use “forbade” for ordinary current simple-past writing and “forbidden” where a past participle is required; preserve “forbad” as a recorded older form rather than presenting it as the default.
The ordinary simple past of “forbid” is “forbade”; “forbad” is also recorded as an older form. The past participle is “forbidden.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary completed action in simple past | forbade | Use “forbade” in ordinary current prose. |
| older recorded simple-past form | forbad | Recognize it as documented older use, not the default. |
| past participle | forbidden | Use “forbidden” after have/has/had or in passive constructions. |
| present/base-form context | forbid | Use “forbid” when a past form is not required. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Does the sentence require an ordinary current simple-past form of “forbid”?
If yes: Use “forbade.”
If no: If the construction requires a past participle, use “forbidden”; recognize “forbad” only as the documented older past form.
Caveat: The simple-past variant and the participle have different roles, and register/history matters for “forbad.”
Examples
The rules forbade outside food in the hall.
“Forbade” is the ordinary simple past.
Photography has been forbidden in this room.
“Forbidden” is the past participle in a passive perfect construction.
The policy forbids personal devices during the test.
The present form is “forbids.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “forbade” for an ordinary simple-past clause and “forbidden” for the participle; recognize “forbad” as a documented older simple-past form.
Fast Test
If the clause itself is in simple past, choose “forbade” in ordinary current prose. If grammar requires a participle after have/has/had or in a passive construction, use “forbidden.”
Usage Boundary
Do not use “forbidden” as the finite simple past, and do not describe the older “forbad” as the ordinary modern default.
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.
- FORBID Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records forbade, also forbad, as past forms and forbidden as the past participle of forbid.
- forbid — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Forbid + person + to-infinitive and be forbidden from + -ing patterns