Forgot vs He left his phone

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Forgot

Top 1,000 (very common)

He left his phone

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Forgot
 ForgotHe left his phone
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɒt//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɑt//🇬🇧 //hiː lɛft hɪz fəʊn//🇺🇸 //hi lɛft hɪz foʊn//
MeaningTo fail to remember something.He forgot his phone somewhere.
ExampleI forgot my wallet at home.He left his phone at home and couldn't make calls.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationsforget someone's name, forget a lesson, forget an appointmentleave a message, leave behind, leave somewhere
Antonymsremember, recallHe took his phone, He kept his phone, He brought his phone
Common mistakesConfusing 'forgot' with 'forget'. 'Forgot' is past tense., Using 'forgot' without an object when it needs one., Mispronouncing the word, especially the ending.Confused with 'forgot' vs 'left', Using 'leave' incorrectly with the wrong tense, Not using 'his' correctly with pronouns
Usage notesCommonly used in everyday conversation. Avoid using in very formal writing. More often used in past tense.Use 'left' when something is forgotten or not taken along. Avoid in overly formal contexts.

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Forgot
He left his phone

Frequently asked questions: Forgot vs He left his phone

What's the difference between Forgot and He left his phone?

Forgot: To fail to remember something. He left his phone: He forgot his phone somewhere.

Which is more common: Forgot and He left his phone?

Forgot is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Forgot: I forgot my wallet at home. He left his phone: He left his phone at home and couldn't make calls.

Can I use Forgot and He left his phone interchangeably?

Not always. Forgot and He left his phone are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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