Mastering the Past Tense of ‘Remind’: Forms, Usage & Examples

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In English, the verb ‘remind’ is a common and essential word meaning to cause someone to remember something. Whether you are recalling an appointment, prompting a friend, or discussing past conversations, using the correct past tense form of ‘remind’ is crucial for clear and accurate communication.

Understanding verb tenses—especially the past tense—allows you to narrate experiences, report events, and describe situations that have already happened. Mastering how to use ‘remind’ in the past tense enhances your ability to communicate about previous reminders or memories effectively.

This comprehensive guide is designed for:

  • English language learners at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels seeking clarity and practice
  • Teachers looking for detailed explanations, examples, and classroom materials
  • Writers and professionals aiming to improve grammatical accuracy in their work

In this article, you will find detailed definitions, grammar rules, verb forms, examples, usage guidelines, advanced nuances, common mistakes, practice exercises, and answers to frequently asked questions—all about the past tense of the verb ‘remind’. Let’s begin your journey toward mastering this important grammar point!

Table of Contents

  1. Definition Section
  2. Structural Breakdown
  3. Types or Categories
  4. Examples Section
  5. Usage Rules
  6. Common Mistakes
  7. Practice Exercises
  8. Advanced Topics
  9. FAQ Section
  10. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Does ‘Remind’ Mean?

The verb ‘remind’ means to cause someone to remember something. It is used when one person or thing prompts another person to recall something they might otherwise forget.

Dictionary definitions:

  • Cambridge Dictionary: “To make someone think of something they have forgotten or might have forgotten.”
  • Merriam-Webster: “To cause someone to remember something.”

Example: She reminded me about the meeting.

3.2. Grammatical Classification of ‘Remind’

Verb type: Regular, transitive verb (requires an object)

Verb group: Action verb involving mental processes

Below is the full conjugation of ‘remind’ across various tenses:

Table 1: Verb Forms of ‘Remind’
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle Present Participle / Gerund 3rd Person Singular Present
remind reminded reminded reminding reminds

3.3. The Role of Past Tense in English Grammar

The past tense is used to express actions, events, or states that were completed in the past. Understanding the past tense is vital to describe what happened before the present moment.

There are several past tenses in English:

  • Simple past – completed action in the past (*He reminded me yesterday.*)
  • Past continuous – ongoing past action (*He was reminding me when I arrived.*)
  • Past perfect – action completed before another past action (*He had reminded me before I left.*)
  • Past perfect continuous – ongoing action before another (*He had been reminding me all week.*)

For this article, we focus primarily on the simple past form: reminded.

3.4. When to Use the Past Tense of ‘Remind’

Use ‘reminded’ when the act of reminding happened and finished in the past. This includes:

  • Describing past actions: He reminded us yesterday.
  • Reporting speech or events: The alarm reminded me this morning.
  • Narrating stories or experiences: My teacher reminded me about my homework last week.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. How to Form the Past Tense of ‘Remind’

‘Remind’ is a regular verb. To form the past tense, simply add -ed to the base form:

Rule: Base verb + -ed → remind + ed = reminded

Table 2: Past Tense Formation of ‘Remind’
Base Form Simple Past Past Participle
remind reminded reminded

4.2. Pronunciation of ‘Reminded’

The word ‘reminded’ has three syllables: re-mind-ed.

Stress pattern: The stress falls on the middle syllable: -mind-.

The -ed ending here is pronounced as /ɪd/, because the base form ends with a voiced /d/ sound.

IPA Transcription: /rɪˈmaɪndɪd/

Table 3: Pronunciation Guide for ‘Reminded’
Word Syllables Stress IPA -ed Pronunciation
reminded re-mind-ed (3) on ‘mind’ /rɪˈmaɪndɪd/ /ɪd/

4.3. Sentence Patterns with ‘Reminded’

Here’s how ‘reminded’ is used in different sentence structures:

Table 4: Sentence Structures with ‘Reminded’
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subject + reminded + object + (about/of/to) + noun/verb-ing She reminded me about the appointment.
Negative Subject + did not (didn’t) remind + object + … He didn’t remind us of the deadline.
Interrogative Did + subject + remind + object + …? Did you remind her about the test?

4.4. Use of Prepositions After ‘Reminded’

‘Reminded’ is often followed by prepositions. The most common are:

  • about – concerning a topic or event
    She reminded me about the party.
  • of – causes a memory or resemblance
    This picture reminded me of my childhood.
  • to + verb – prompts someone to do something
    He reminded me to lock the door.

Selecting the right preposition depends on what you want to express.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Regular vs. Irregular Verbs (Contextualization)

‘Remind’ is a regular verb, so its past tense adds -ed. Irregular verbs, by contrast, change form unpredictably.

Table 5: ‘Remind’ (Regular) vs. Irregular Verbs
Verb Base Form Simple Past Past Participle Type
remind remind reminded reminded Regular
find find found found Irregular
go go went gone Irregular
take take took taken Irregular

5.2. Past Simple vs. Past Participle of ‘Remind’

For ‘remind’, both the simple past and past participle forms are reminded.

Usage difference:

  • Simple past: completed past action
    She reminded me yesterday.
  • Past participle: used with auxiliary verbs
    I have been reminded.

Notice how past participles often appear in passive voice and perfect tenses.

5.3. Active vs. Passive Voice with ‘Reminded’

‘Reminded’ can be used in both active and passive voice:

Table 6: Active vs. Passive Voice with ‘Reminded’
Voice Structure Example
Active Subject + reminded + object + (about/of/to) She reminded Tom about the event.
Passive Subject + was/were reminded + (by agent) Tom was reminded about the event (by her).

6. Examples Section

6.1. Basic Past Tense Examples

Here are 10 basic sentences using ‘reminded’ in the simple past tense:

  1. My phone reminded me of the appointment.
  2. The teacher reminded the students about the exam.
  3. She reminded her brother to clean his room.
  4. He reminded me that the store closes early.
  5. They reminded us to bring our tickets.
  6. I reminded him about his promise.
  7. The notice reminded everyone of the new policy.
  8. Our guide reminded us to stay together.
  9. The alarm reminded me to take my medicine.
  10. Sarah reminded John about the dinner reservation.

6.2. Examples with Prepositions

Here are 10 example sentences organized by preposition:

Table 7: Examples with ‘Reminded’ + Prepositions
Preposition Example
about She reminded me about the party.
about He reminded us about the meeting time.
of This song reminded me of my childhood.
of The smell reminded her of home.
to + verb He reminded me to call my mother.
to + verb She reminded him to lock the door.
about They reminded the team about the new rules.
of The movie reminded me of my favorite book.
to + verb My friend reminded me to bring a jacket.
about The email reminded us about the deadline.

6.3. Complex Sentence Examples

Here are 10 complex sentences using ‘reminded’:

  1. He reminded me that I needed to submit the report by Friday.
  2. She reminded the students that the test would start at 9 a.m.
  3. My colleague reminded me to double-check the figures before the presentation.
  4. This photograph reminded her of the summer they spent in Italy.
  5. The manager reminded everyone to sign the attendance sheet before leaving.
  6. He reminded me not to forget my umbrella because it might rain.
  7. They reminded us that the museum closes early on Sundays.
  8. My mother reminded me that my grandmother’s birthday was next week.
  9. The message reminded me to confirm my flight reservation.
  10. She reminded him that they had agreed to meet at noon.

6.4. Formal vs. Informal Contexts

Formal examples:

  1. The notice reminded employees of the updated safety protocols.
  2. The professor reminded students to submit their assignments by the deadline.
  3. The director reminded the team about the importance of punctuality.
  4. The memo reminded staff to attend the mandatory training session.
  5. The letter reminded residents to pay their utility bills promptly.

Informal examples:

  1. Hey, you reminded me about that funny story!
  2. My friend reminded me to grab some snacks.
  3. She reminded me to bring my charger.
  4. He reminded me of that crazy night we had last summer.
  5. Mom reminded me to call grandma tonight.

6.5. Example Tables Summary

  • Table 1: Verb forms of ‘remind’
  • Table 2: Past tense formation rules
  • Table 3: Pronunciation guide
  • Table 4: Sentence structures
  • Table 5: Regular vs. irregular comparison
  • Table 6: Active vs. passive voice
  • Table 7: Prepositional usage examples

Altogether, these sections give you over 40 examples covering different contexts and structures.

7. Usage Rules

7.1. Using ‘Reminded’ Correctly in Past Contexts

  • Use ‘reminded’ to describe an action of reminding that was completed in the past.
  • Do not mix tenses incorrectly:
    Incorrect: *She remind me yesterday.*
    Correct: She reminded me yesterday.

7.2. Choosing the Right Preposition

about: when referring to a general topic or event
She reminded me about the appointment.

of: when referring to a memory or resemblance
This song reminded me of my childhood.

to + verb: when prompting someone to do something
He reminded me to call my mother.

Remember these common collocations to avoid confusion.

7.3. Passive Voice Usage

Use passive voice when the focus is on the person being reminded, not who gave the reminder:

  • I was reminded about the meeting.
  • We were reminded to submit the forms.

Structure: was/were + reminded + (by…)

7.4. Past Simple vs. Present Perfect with ‘Remind’

Table 8: Past Simple vs. Present Perfect with ‘Remind’
Tense Usage Example
Past Simple Specific time in the past He reminded me yesterday.
Present Perfect Unspecified time / repeated actions with present relevance He has reminded me several times.

7.5. Reported Speech with ‘Reminded’

When reporting what someone said as a reminder:

  • Direct speech: “Remember your keys.”
  • Reported speech: She reminded me to bring my keys.

Use reminded + object + to + base verb for reported reminders.

7.6. Exceptions and Variations

  • In idioms: That reminded me, I have something to tell you.
  • Occasional regional differences in preposition choice, but standard usage is widely accepted in all varieties of English.

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Using Wrong Verb Form

Incorrect: He remind me yesterday.

Correct: He reminded me yesterday.

8.2. Mixing Up Prepositions

Incorrect: She reminded me for the meeting.

Correct: She reminded me about the meeting.

8.3. Confusing ‘Reminded’ with ‘Remembered’

Reminded: someone else causes you to remember.
She reminded me to call you.

Remembered: you recall something yourself.
I remembered to call you.

8.4. Incorrect Passive Construction

Incorrect: I reminded by her.

Correct: I was reminded by her.

8.5. Omitting ‘to’ Before Verb

Incorrect: He reminded me call her.

Correct: He reminded me to call her.

8.6. Summary Table of Mistakes

Table 9: Common Mistakes and Corrections with ‘Reminded’
Mistake Correction
He remind me yesterday. He reminded me yesterday.
She reminded me for the meeting. She reminded me about the meeting.
I reminded by him. I was reminded by him.
He reminded me call her. He reminded me to call her.
I reminded to bring my keys. I remembered to bring my keys.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

Complete each sentence with the correct past tense form and preposition:

  1. She ___ me ___ the appointment. (reminded, about)
  2. My friend ___ me ___ lock the door. (reminded, to)
  3. The photo ___ her ___ her childhood. (reminded, of)
  4. They ___ us ___ the new schedule. (reminded, about)
  5. He ___ me ___ bring my passport. (reminded, to)
  6. The teacher ___ the students ___ the homework. (reminded, about)
  7. The smell ___ me ___ home. (reminded, of)
  8. Mom ___ me ___ call grandma. (reminded, to)
  9. The alarm ___ me ___ take my medicine. (reminded, to)
  10. The notice ___ staff ___ the meeting. (reminded, about)

9.2. Error Correction

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence:

  1. He remind me about the test.
  2. She reminded me for the party.
  3. I reminded by her yesterday.
  4. They didn’t reminded us.
  5. She reminded me call him.
  6. The song reminded me about my childhood.
  7. My boss reminded to submit the report.
  8. I was remind by the alarm.
  9. You remind me last week.
  10. He reminded me bring my ID.

9.3. Identify Tense and Voice

State whether ‘reminded’ in each sentence is in active or passive voice:

  1. She reminded me about the appointment.
  2. I was reminded to submit the form.
  3. They reminded us of the rules.
  4. He was reminded of his duties.
  5. My manager reminded the team about the deadline.

9.4. Sentence Construction

Create sentences using ‘reminded’ (simple past) with these prompts:

  1. remind / me / to / buy groceries
  2. remind / her / about / the interview
  3. remind / us / of / childhood
  4. remind / him / to / send the email
  5. remind / students / about / the test

9.5. Answers and Explanations

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:

  1. reminded, about
  2. reminded, to
  3. reminded, of
  4. reminded, about
  5. reminded, to
  6. reminded, about
  7. reminded, of
  8. reminded, to
  9. reminded, to
  10. reminded, about

9.2. Error Correction Answers:

  1. He reminded me about the test.
  2. She reminded me about the party.
  3. I was reminded by her yesterday.
  4. They didn’t remind us.
  5. She reminded me to call him.
  6. The song reminded me of my childhood.
  7. My boss reminded me to submit the report.
  8. I was reminded by the alarm.
  9. You reminded me last week.
  10. He reminded me to bring my ID.

9.3. Identify Tense and Voice Answers:

  1. Active
  2. Passive
  3. Active
  4. Passive
  5. Active

9.4. Sample Sentences:

  1. She reminded me to buy groceries.
  2. I reminded her about the interview.
  3. That story reminded us of our childhood.
  4. My colleague reminded him to send the email.
  5. The teacher reminded the students about the test.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Perfect Tenses Involving ‘Remind’

  • Present Perfect: She has reminded me to call. (action with present relevance)
  • Past Perfect: He had reminded me before the meeting. (action completed before another past event)
  • Future Perfect: By tomorrow, they will have reminded everyone. (action completed before a future time)
  • Could have reminded: You could have reminded me earlier.
  • Should have reminded: I should have reminded her about the deadline.
  • Would have reminded: He would have reminded us if he had known.

These express possibility, obligation, or hypothetical situations in the past.

10.3. Subjunctive and Conditional Forms

For expressing regrets or hypotheticals:

  • If he had reminded me, I wouldn’t have forgotten.
  • Had she reminded us, we would have arrived on time.

10.4. Causative Constructions

Occasionally used to indicate that someone arranged for a reminder to be given:

  • She had him reminded about the meeting. (formal/rare)

10.5. Idiomatic and Figurative Uses

  • The smell reminded him of home.
  • This experience reminded me that life is precious.
  • That song reminded me of my first love.

Here, ‘reminded’ triggers mental associations or emotions beyond a literal reminder.

11. FAQ Section

  1. What is the past tense of ‘remind’?
    The past tense of ‘remind’ is ‘reminded’.
  2. Is ‘reminded’ a regular or irregular verb?
    ‘Reminded’ is a regular verb formed by adding -ed to ‘remind’.
  3. How do you pronounce ‘reminded’?
    It is pronounced /rɪˈmaɪndɪd/, stressed on the middle syllable, with the ‘-ed’ pronounced as /ɪd/.
  4. What prepositions are used after ‘reminded’?
    Common prepositions include about (topic), of (memory), and to + verb (action reminder).
  5. Can ‘reminded’ be used in passive voice?
    Yes, e.g., I was reminded about the appointment.
  6. What is the difference between ‘reminded’ and ‘remembered’?
    ‘Reminded’ means someone caused you to recall something; ‘remembered’ means you recalled it yourself.
  7. When do you use ‘reminded’ vs. ‘have reminded’?
    ‘Reminded’ for a specific past time; ‘have reminded’ for actions relevant to the present or repeated actions.
  8. How do I report speech with ‘reminded’?
    Use ‘reminded’ + object + to + base verb:
    “Remember your keys.” → She reminded me to bring my keys.
  9. Are there idiomatic uses of ‘reminded’?
    Yes, to express associations triggered by sensory input or thoughts, e.g., The song reminded me of summer.
  10. What are common mistakes with ‘reminded’?
    Using wrong prepositions, wrong verb form, confusing with ‘remembered’, or omitting ‘to’ before verbs.
  11. What is the difference between ‘remind about’ and ‘remind of’?
    ‘Remind about’ relates to an event or topic; ‘remind of’ relates to a memory or resemblance.
  12. How can I practice using ‘reminded’ effectively?
    By doing fill-in-the-blank exercises, correcting errors, creating sentences, and using it in conversations and writing.

12. Conclusion

In summary, ‘remind’ is a regular verb with the past tense and past participle form ‘reminded’. Using the correct past tense helps you clearly describe actions of reminding that happened in the past.

Remember to:

  • Use ‘reminded’ for completed past reminders.
  • Choose the correct preposition: about, of, or to + verb.
  • Recognize when to use active or passive voice.
  • Avoid common errors such as incorrect verb forms or prepositions.

Practice regularly with the exercises in this article, review the examples, and pay attention to context and structure in your own language use. Mastering this verb will improve your ability to narrate past events and communicate with clarity and accuracy.

Keep learning, explore more advanced grammar topics, and continue honing your English skills for success in writing, speaking, and comprehension!

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