Past Tense of Sell
“Sell” is irregular: sell → sold → sold. The same inflected form serves a finite simple-past clause and a past-participle construction; grammar and surrounding auxiliaries identify the role. This guide concerns the verb paradigm; noun or adjectival expressions built around “sell” or “sold” are separate constructions.
The simple past and past participle of “sell” are both “sold.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| completed action in simple past | sold | Use “sold.” |
| past participle after have/has/had | sold | Use “sold.” |
| present/base-form context | sell | Use “sell” when a past form is not required. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Do you need the simple past or past participle of “sell”?
If yes: Use “sold.”
If no: Use “sell” or the appropriate present form when the sentence is not past.
Caveat: Both simple past and past participle are “sold.” This guide concerns the verb paradigm; noun or adjectival expressions built around “sell” or “sold” are separate constructions.
Examples
They sold the house last year.
“Sold” is the simple past.
The shop has sold every copy.
“Sold” is the past participle after “has.”
They sell fresh bread each morning.
The habitual present uses “sell.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “sold” for both the simple past and the past participle.
Fast Test
If the sentence is past or requires a participle, choose “sold”; use “sell” or its present-tense form when the clause is present.
Usage Boundary
Both simple past and past participle are “sold.” This guide concerns the verb paradigm; noun or adjectival expressions built around “sell” or “sold” are separate constructions.
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.
- SELL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records sold as the inflected past form of sell.
- SOLD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge records sold as both the past tense and past participle of sell.