Explanation at your level:
When you don't remember something, it is forgotten. If you leave your bag on the bus, it is a forgotten bag. You can use it to talk about things you lost in your mind.
Forgotten is used when you cannot remember a person, place, or thing. It is the past participle of 'forget'. For example, 'I have forgotten your name.' It can also describe things that are old and left alone, like a 'forgotten toy' in a box.
This word is often used as an adjective to describe things that have been neglected. It carries a sense of time passing. You might hear 'forgotten corners of the world' or 'a forgotten promise'. It helps to describe a state of being ignored or left behind by memory or by people.
At this level, you can use forgotten to add emotional weight to your writing. It suggests a sense of loss or abandonment. It is common in phrases like 'forgotten history' or 'forgotten potential'. It functions as a powerful descriptor for things that have faded from public consciousness.
In advanced English, forgotten is used to discuss abstract concepts like 'forgotten ideologies' or 'forgotten narratives'. It implies that something was once important but has now been discarded or overlooked by society. It is a staple in literary analysis and historical discourse.
Mastery of this word involves understanding its nuance in poetic and existential contexts. It can describe the 'forgotten self' or 'forgotten truths', suggesting a philosophical depth. Historically, it links back to the Germanic 'for-' prefix, and its usage in high-register literature often evokes a sense of tragic finality or the inevitable erosion of time.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Forgotten is the past participle of forget.
- It describes things lost to memory.
- It can be an adjective or a verb.
- It often carries a sense of neglect.
Hey there! Think of forgotten as the state of being lost to memory. It's that feeling when you know you had a thought, but it just vanished into thin air. It’s not just about memory, though; it can also describe things that are neglected, like an old bike sitting in the rain.
When we use it as an adjective, we are describing a status. A 'forgotten hero' is someone whose deeds aren't remembered anymore. As a verb, it's the action of losing that memory. It’s a powerful word because it carries a bit of sadness or mystery with it.
The word forgotten comes from the Old English word forgietan. The prefix for- often implies a negative or 'away' meaning, while gietan meant to get or grasp. So, literally, it meant to 'lose one's grasp' on something.
Over centuries, it evolved through Middle English as forgeten. It shares roots with the German vergessen and the Dutch vergeten. It’s fascinating how these Germanic roots have stuck together for over a thousand years, all describing that same human experience of letting go of information.
You'll see forgotten used everywhere from casual conversation to dramatic literature. It often pairs with nouns to create a melancholy tone, such as 'forgotten dreams' or 'forgotten memories'.
In a formal register, it can describe places or items left behind, like 'forgotten luggage' at an airport. It is a very versatile word that sits comfortably in both daily life and creative writing. Just be careful not to use it when you simply mean 'misplaced'—it implies a deeper loss of memory.
1. Best forgotten: Something that is better left out of mind. Example: That argument is best forgotten.
2. Forgotten man/woman: Someone ignored by society. Example: The policy ignored the forgotten man in the city.
3. A forgotten art: A skill no longer practiced. Example: Hand-writing letters is becoming a forgotten art.
4. Long forgotten: Something that hasn't been thought of for ages. Example: We found a long forgotten box of photos.
5. Forgotten but not gone: Still present despite being ignored. Example: That old rule is forgotten but not gone.
Forgotten is the past participle of the irregular verb 'forget'. The pattern is: forget (present), forgot (past), forgotten (past participle). It is used in perfect tenses, like 'I have forgotten my keys.'
Pronunciation-wise, it's /fərˈɡɒt.ən/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with 'rotten' and 'cotton'. It’s a three-syllable word that flows quickly in speech.
Fun Fact
The 'for-' prefix in Old English often meant 'away' or 'completely'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'o' sound as in 'hot'
Slightly longer 'a' sound
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 't' as a 'd'
- Stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the 'en' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Commonly used
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Present Perfect Tense
I have forgotten.
Passive Voice
It was forgotten.
Irregular Verbs
forget-forgot-forgotten
Examples by Level
I have forgotten my book.
I don't have my book.
Present perfect tense
The key is forgotten.
I can't find the key.
Passive voice
She forgotten her hat.
Her hat is not with her.
Past participle
Is it forgotten?
Do you remember it?
Interrogative
He has forgotten me.
He doesn't know me.
Perfect tense
A forgotten song.
An old song.
Adjective usage
Don't be forgotten.
Stay in my mind.
Imperative
It is a forgotten place.
A place no one visits.
Adjective
I have forgotten where I put my keys.
That old house looks forgotten.
He felt like a forgotten friend.
The instructions were forgotten by the team.
She had forgotten to call him.
It is a forgotten tradition.
Many stories are forgotten over time.
I hope I am not forgotten.
The forgotten village was hidden in the mountains.
She realized she had forgotten her passport at home.
The forgotten files were buried under papers.
It is easy to be forgotten in a big city.
He spoke about the forgotten heroes of the war.
The forgotten promise haunted him for years.
Many ancient languages are now forgotten.
They visited the forgotten ruins of the temple.
The forgotten art of letter writing is making a comeback.
He felt like a forgotten soul in the crowd.
The forgotten details of the crime were finally revealed.
She was a forgotten figure in the history of science.
The forgotten potential of the project was immense.
It was a forgotten chapter in their long history.
The town felt forgotten by the rest of the world.
He rediscovered a forgotten passion for painting.
The forgotten narrative of the marginalized needs to be heard.
His contribution was long forgotten by the academic community.
The forgotten legacy of the dynasty remains a mystery.
She explored the forgotten corners of the library.
The forgotten wisdom of the elders was lost.
It was a forgotten era of peace and prosperity.
The forgotten nuances of the language are difficult to master.
He felt like a forgotten ghost of his former self.
The forgotten ethos of the movement was rediscovered.
Her work remains a forgotten masterpiece of the period.
The forgotten depths of the human psyche are vast.
He lamented the forgotten values of a simpler time.
The forgotten resonance of the music filled the hall.
She unearthed a forgotten truth about her family.
The forgotten intricacies of the law were debated.
It was a forgotten relic of a bygone civilization.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"best forgotten"
should not be remembered
That incident is best forgotten.
neutral"forgotten man"
someone overlooked by society
He spoke for the forgotten man.
formal"a forgotten art"
a skill no longer used
Repairing watches is a forgotten art.
neutral"long forgotten"
not thought of for a long time
She found a long forgotten toy.
neutral"forgotten but not gone"
still present despite being ignored
The issue is forgotten but not gone.
casual"slip into the forgotten"
to be lost to memory
Many names slip into the forgotten.
literaryEasily Confused
Simple past vs participle
Forgot is simple past; forgotten is participle.
I forgot (past) vs I have forgotten (participle).
Adjective vs participle
Forgetful describes a person; forgotten describes a thing.
He is forgetful (person) vs The book is forgotten (thing).
Opposite meaning
Unforgettable means you cannot forget it.
An unforgettable trip.
Similar meaning
Lost means missing; forgotten means not remembered.
I lost my key vs I forgot my key.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + has + forgotten + object
He has forgotten the plan.
The + forgotten + noun
The forgotten city was found.
Forgotten + by + agent
The rules were forgotten by everyone.
It + is + forgotten + that
It is forgotten that he helped.
Long + forgotten + noun
A long forgotten dream.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
It is an irregular verb, no -ed needed.
Use the participle form after 'have'.
Use 'has' for perfect tense.
The participle is 'forgotten', the gerund is 'forgetting'.
Use past tense for the action, not participle.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place a 'forgotten' object in a room in your mind.
Native usage
Use it to describe old, dusty things.
Cultural insight
Often used in history books.
Shortcut
Always use 'have/has' with 'forgotten'.
Say it right
Don't skip the middle 't'.
Mistake
Don't say 'forgottened'.
Did you know?
It comes from Old English.
Study smart
Use it in a sentence every day.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
FOR-GOT-TEN: For (the) Got (the) Ten (things).
Visual Association
A dusty old book on a shelf.
Word Web
Défi
Write down 3 things you have forgotten to do today.
Origine du mot
Old English
Original meaning: To lose one's grasp
Contexte culturel
None, but can be used to describe sensitive social issues.
Often used in literature to describe the passage of time.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- I have forgotten my homework
- The lesson is forgotten
history
- Forgotten history
- Forgotten heroes
daily life
- I have forgotten my keys
- Forgotten appointment
literature
- A forgotten world
- Forgotten love
Conversation Starters
"What is something you have forgotten recently?"
"Do you think it is easy to be forgotten?"
"What is a forgotten skill you want to learn?"
"Have you ever visited a forgotten place?"
"Why do we forget things?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a memory you had forgotten.
Describe a place that feels forgotten.
What is a 'forgotten art' you admire?
How does it feel to be forgotten?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsUse 'forgot' for simple past, 'forgotten' for perfect tense.
Yes, 'a forgotten person'.
It often carries a sad or neutral tone.
fər-GOT-en.
Forgetfulness.
Yes, as a participle.
It is used in all registers.
Rotten, cotton.
Teste-toi
I have ___ my keys.
Past participle needed.
What does 'forgotten' mean?
It means lost to memory.
Can 'forgotten' be an adjective?
Yes, e.g., 'a forgotten toy'.
Word
Signification
Matching phrase to meaning.
Subject-verb-object order.
Score : /5
Summary
Forgotten describes something that has left our memory or been left behind by time.
- Forgotten is the past participle of forget.
- It describes things lost to memory.
- It can be an adjective or a verb.
- It often carries a sense of neglect.
Memory Palace
Place a 'forgotten' object in a room in your mind.
Native usage
Use it to describe old, dusty things.
Cultural insight
Often used in history books.
Shortcut
Always use 'have/has' with 'forgotten'.
