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Remember this!

The past tense form of 'derail' is derailed. Example: The heavy rain derailed the train. (The heavy rain derailed the train.)

Definition of “derail”

to cause a train to leave its tracks accidentally
to cause something to fail or go off course

Tense sentence structure and examples:

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

Here are the general structures of a present and past participle. Remember, some verbs have an irregular form and may not follow this structure: Present Participle: [Verb] -ing Past Participle: [Verb] -ed

Past Simple	derailed
Past Continuous	derailing
Past Perfect	derailed

Past Simple

The simple past tense is used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past.

Subject + Past Simple Verb + (Object)

Example

The accident derailed the train.

Example

He derailed the discussion with his inappropriate comment.

Past Continuous

The past continuous tense is used to indicate actions or events that were in progress or happening at a specific point in the past.

Subject + was/were + Present Participle + (Object)

Example

The ongoing investigation was derailing the company's progress.

Example

She was derailing her own success with her negative attitude.

Past Perfect

The past perfect tense is used to show that one past action or event occurred before another past action or event, emphasizing the order of events in the past.

Subject + had + Past Participle + (Object)

Example

By the time they realized their mistake, the project had derailed.

Example

He had derailed his career with his reckless behavior.

Is derailed an irregular verb in the past?

No, "derailed" is not an irregular past tense verb.

Learn More About Tenses

Discover the present tense of derail!

Discover the future tense of derail!