earn
earns
earning
earned
Earn means to receive money for work, or to deserve. Regular: earn-earned-earned.
Meanings
- To receive for work
- To deserve
- To gain through effort
Common Collocations
earn money
earn a living
earn respect
earn your keep
hard-earned
Tip for Learners
Earn a living = make enough to live. Hard-earned = gained with difficulty. Earn your keep = work for accommodation/food.
Present Simple
| I | earn |
| you | earn |
| he/she/it | earns |
| we | earn |
| they | earn |
Examples - Present Simple
- I earn a decent salary at my job.
- You earn respect through your actions.
- She earns more than anyone in her department.
- We earn interest on our savings.
- They earn their living through hard work.
Present Continuous
| I | am earning |
| you | are earning |
| he/she/it | is earning |
| we | are earning |
| they | are earning |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am earning extra money this month.
- You are earning trust with your honesty.
- He is earning a reputation as an expert.
- We are earning commissions on every sale.
- They are earning their keep around here.
Present Perfect
| I | have earned |
| you | have earned |
| he/she/it | has earned |
| we | have earned |
| they | have earned |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have earned every penny through hard work.
- You have earned my respect.
- She has earned multiple awards this year.
- We have earned significant profits.
- They have earned a place in history.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been earning |
| you | have been earning |
| he/she/it | has been earning |
| we | have been earning |
| they | have been earning |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been earning my living this way for years.
- You have been earning trust slowly but surely.
- He has been earning praise for his work.
- We have been earning interest on investments.
- They have been earning their reputation for decades.
Past Simple
| I | earned |
| you | earned |
| he/she/it | earned |
| we | earned |
| they | earned |
Examples - Past Simple
- I earned my first paycheck at sixteen.
- You earned that promotion through dedication.
- He earned a fortune in real estate.
- We earned enough to buy a house.
- They earned medals for bravery.
Past Continuous
| I | was earning |
| you | were earning |
| he/she/it | was earning |
| we | were earning |
| they | were earning |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was earning minimum wage back then.
- You were earning respect daily.
- She was earning recognition before the scandal.
- We were earning steady income before the layoffs.
- They were earning awards regularly.
Past Perfect
| I | had earned |
| you | had earned |
| he/she/it | had earned |
| we | had earned |
| they | had earned |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had earned enough before retiring early.
- You had earned respect before the controversy.
- He had earned millions before losing it all.
- We had earned our vacation after the project.
- They had earned their stripes before promotion.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been earning |
| you | had been earning |
| he/she/it | had been earning |
| we | had been earning |
| they | had been earning |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been earning well before the recession.
- You had been earning trust for years.
- She had been earning recognition before retiring.
- We had been earning profits for decades.
- They had been earning their reputation for centuries.
Future Simple
| I | will earn |
| you | will earn |
| he/she/it | will earn |
| we | will earn |
| they | will earn |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will earn more after the promotion.
- You will earn their trust eventually.
- He will earn his degree next year.
- We will earn returns on this investment.
- They will earn recognition for their efforts.
Future Continuous
| I | will be earning |
| you | will be earning |
| he/she/it | will be earning |
| we | will be earning |
| they | will be earning |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be earning royalties for years.
- You will be earning respect throughout your career.
- She will be earning awards for decades.
- We will be earning interest continuously.
- They will be earning their livelihood here.
Future Perfect
| I | will have earned |
| you | will have earned |
| he/she/it | will have earned |
| we | will have earned |
| they | will have earned |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have earned enough for retirement by sixty.
- You will have earned everyone's respect by then.
- He will have earned his doctorate by next year.
- We will have earned significant returns by maturity.
- They will have earned legendary status by then.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been earning |
| you | will have been earning |
| he/she/it | will have been earning |
| we | will have been earning |
| they | will have been earning |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been earning income for forty years by retirement.
- You will have been earning trust throughout your tenure.
- She will have been earning awards for decades.
- We will have been earning returns for years.
- They will have been earning recognition for generations.