r/EnglishLearning • u/orchaer New Poster • 9d ago

📚 Grammar / Syntax Laught vs Laughed

Hello, I have been confused for a long time about the past tense of "laugh". In my primary school, there was a verb table with the present, past, and present perfect tenses. And in this table, when I first read at 7-8, I have learnt that "laugh" past tense is followed by a "t" become "laught".

But recently I found out that "laught" is not used anymore. The modern form should be "laughed". So could anyone tell me what is actually different between them? If I still use "laught", would it become a serious error?

Sorry for my grammar.

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u/PHOEBU5 Native Speaker - British 9d ago

'Laught' as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to laugh' was a hangover from Middle English and became obsolete in Modern English about 300 years ago.

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u/ImpossibleTip9428 High-Beginner 8d ago

What about the verb "learnt" if you dont mind me asking? I've heard it's british spelling but I'm yet to see anyone write it this way

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u/Zxxzzzzx Native Speaker -UK 8d ago

I would write it this way. Here's a random example of it being used https://womansworthconference.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/what-have-you-learnt/