⏱️ 2 min practice • 🔥 CEFR A2

hold

Irregular Level A2 ⭐ #41 Most Common

English translation: to grasp / to contain / to conduct

Stem Pattern: hold / held / held
💡 Key Usage Note: Used for holding hands, holding meetings ('hold a conference'), or waiting ('hold on').
📘 Linguistic Rule: Irregular verb: present 'hold' (holds), past simple & past participle 'held'.
⚖️ Hold vs Keep (Grasping vs Retaining)
View KEEP →
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Present Simple

Holding.

Subject Pronoun Conjugation Audio
I hold
you hold
he/she/it holds
we hold
they hold
💡 Tip: Click any row's audio button to hear native pronunciation
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AI Smart Tutor: 'HOLD' Insights

Linguistic breakdowns & native shortcuts

Smart Tips
🧠 Memory Trick (Mnemonic)

Think of a 'stronghold' where items are held safely.

⚠️ Most Common Student Mistake
✗ Don't say: She holded the baby gently
✓ Say instead: She held the baby gently

Why: The past of hold is held, not holded.

🗣️ Essential Native Idioms with 'hold'
Hold on

= To wait a moment / persist

"Hold on, let me check the schedule."

Hold your horses

= To slow down / be patient

"Hold your horses, we're not ready yet!"

🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode

Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'hold'

1 / 6
Present Simple
I

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Answer
hold

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Frequently Asked Questions: HOLD

Is "hold" a regular or irregular verb in English? ▾

"hold" is classified as a Irregular verb in English. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "hold / held / held". Irregular verb: present 'hold' (holds), past simple & past participle 'held'. Used for holding hands, holding meetings ('hold a conference'), or waiting ('hold on').

What does "hold" mean in English? ▾

In English, "hold" translates primarily to "to grasp / to contain / to conduct". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.

What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "hold"? ▾

A frequent error is saying "She holded the baby gently" instead of "She held the baby gently". Why? The past of hold is held, not holded.

What are common idioms or expressions with "hold"? ▾

A popular idiom is "Hold on" which means "To wait a moment / persist" (e.g. "Hold on, let me check the schedule.").

How can I practice and memorize "hold" conjugations? ▾

Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.

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Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks

Test your understanding of 'hold' across tenses

Interactive Quiz
Question 1 ()

What is the past tense of hold?

Other Important English Verbs to Study

be Irregular

to exist / to have a state or quality

go Irregular

to move from one place to another

have Irregular

to possess / auxiliary for perfect tenses

see Irregular

to perceive with the eyes / understand

make Irregular

to create, produce, or cause

take Irregular

to grasp, carry, or acquire

get Irregular

to obtain, receive, or become

come Irregular

to move toward a destination / arrive

eat Irregular

to consume food

run Irregular

to run / move rapidly / operate

know Irregular

to be aware of / recognize

choose Irregular (choose / chose / chosen)

to pick / select / elect

speak Strong Verb (Class 4 Ablaut)

to speak / to talk

bring Irregular (bring / brought / brought)

to bring / to carry toward

think Irregular (thought, thought)

to think / to ponder / to believe

give Irregular (gave, given)

to give / to hand over / to grant

find Irregular (found, found)

to find / to discover / to locate

tell Irregular (told, told)

to tell / to narrate / to order

write Irregular

to compose text / mark letters

read Irregular

to comprehend written text

buy Irregular

to purchase with money

build Irregular

to construct or assemble

grow Irregular

to develop, increase in size, or cultivate

stand Irregular

to be on one's feet / to endure

lose Irregular

to misplace / to fail to win

fall Irregular

to fall down / drop

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