You can lose an object or lose a game.

The idea

Use lose for an object you can no longer find or a game you do not win. The past is lost.

Examples

  • I lost my keys at the market.
  • Our team lost the game yesterday.
  • Do you often lose your pens?
  • She lost her ticket on the bus.
  • He never wants to lose a match.
  • We found the bag that they lost.

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Watch out

Do not confuse lose with loose, which means not tight.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word. Yesterday I ___ my wallet. (lost / lose)

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    lost

    lost places the missing wallet in the past.

  2. Choose the correct word. Our team did not win; we ___ the match. (lost / found)

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    lost

    lost means the team did not win the match.

  3. Choose the correct word. Be careful not to ___ your card. (lose / lost)

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    lose

    lose follows to in this sentence.

Use it today

Describe an object you lost and a game someone lost.