The past tense of ‘cast’ is ‘cast’, same as ‘broadcast’ and ‘forecast’

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

When learning English, verbs and their past tenses can sometimes be confusing. Some verbs follow regular rules, while others are irregular and don’t change in the typical way.

In today’s NRTC English, I explained how to use the past tense of three common verbs: cast, broadcast, and forecast. These verbs are important, but they don’t all follow the same pattern.

1. ‘Cast’ in the Present and Past Tense

The verb cast means to throw something with force, or to choose actors for a role in a movie or play. Interestingly, cast is an irregular verb, which means its past tense form does not change.

• Present tense: I cast the fishing net into the water.
• Past tense: Yesterday, I cast the fishing net into the water.

As you can see, the word cast stays the same in both the present and past tense. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, cast is one of the verbs that does not change form in the past tense. So, you don’t say “casted” in the past tense — it remains cast.

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2. ‘Broadcast’ in the Present and Past Tense

The verb broadcast means to transmit information, like a radio or TV program. Like cast, the past tense of broadcast remains the same.

• Present tense: They broadcast the news every evening.
• Past tense: Last night, they broadcast an important announcement.

Here too, you do not add “-ed” to make the past tense. Whether you’re talking about something happening now or in the past, broadcast stays the same. Again, dictionaries like Merriam-Webster confirm that broadcast does not change in its past form.

3. ‘Forecast’ in the Present and Past Tense

The verb forecast means to predict what will happen in the future, especially related to weather. This is where things get a little different. Forecast has both regular and irregular forms, which means you can use either forecast or forecasted as the past tense. However, forecast is more commonly used.

• Present tense: They forecast rain for tomorrow.
• Past tense (irregular): Yesterday, they forecast a storm.
• Past tense (regular): Yesterday, they forecasted a storm.

Though both forms are acceptable, forecast is preferred in most cases, especially in formal writing. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, forecasted is less common but still grammatically correct.

Summary

• The past tense of cast is cast (not casted).
• The past tense of broadcast is broadcast (not broadcasted).
• The past tense of forecast can be either forecast or forecasted, but forecast is more common.

Are you looking for a list of irregular verbs that have the same form for the base, past tense, and past participle? I have curated them here just for you.

1. Cost
2. Hit
3. Put
4. Set
5. Shut
6. Spread
7. Cut
8. Burst
9. Let
10. Bet
11. Split
12. Quit
13. Hurt
14. Fit (in some dialects)
15. Rid