Drift – English Verbs Conjugation

drift drifts drifting drifted

Drift means to move slowly without control. Regular: drift-drifted-drifted.

Meanings

To move slowly
To be carried by current
To move aimlessly
To accumulate (snow)

Common Collocations

drift apart drift off drift away catch my drift drift into

Tip for Learners

Drift apart = gradually become distant. Drift off = fall asleep. Catch my drift = understand what I mean.

Present Simple

I	drift
you	drift
he/she/it	drifts
we	drift
they	drift

Examples - Present Simple

I drift off to sleep easily at night.
You drift through life without direction.
She drifts between topics in conversation.
We drift apart over time.
They drift across the ocean currents.

Present Continuous

I	am drifting
you	are drifting
he/she/it	is drifting
we	are drifting
they	are drifting

Examples - Present Continuous

I am drifting away from my old friends.
You are drifting off topic again.
He is drifting on the raft in the lake.
We are drifting closer to the shore.
They are drifting apart after years together.

Present Perfect

I	have drifted
you	have drifted
he/she/it	has drifted
we	have drifted
they	have drifted

Examples - Present Perfect

I have drifted away from my hometown.
You have drifted into a dangerous area.
She has drifted between many careers.
We have drifted apart over the years.
They have drifted across the entire ocean.

Present Perfect Continuous

I	have been drifting
you	have been drifting
he/she/it	has been drifting
we	have been drifting
they	have been drifting

Examples - Present Perfect Continuous

I have been drifting without purpose lately.
You have been drifting away from your goals.
He has been drifting on the boat for hours.
We have been drifting apart for years.
They have been drifting across the sea for days.

Past Simple

I	drifted
you	drifted
he/she/it	drifted
we	drifted
they	drifted

Examples - Past Simple

I drifted off to sleep during the movie.
You drifted away from the group.
He drifted into a life of crime.
We drifted apart after college.
They drifted across the Pacific for weeks.

Past Continuous

I	was drifting
you	were drifting
he/she/it	was drifting
we	were drifting
they	were drifting

Examples - Past Continuous

I was drifting asleep when the phone rang.
You were drifting off topic before I interrupted.
She was drifting on the water when rescued.
We were drifting toward the rocks before turning.
They were drifting apart before the reconciliation.

Past Perfect

I	had drifted
you	had drifted
he/she/it	had drifted
we	had drifted
they	had drifted

Examples - Past Perfect

I had drifted off before the movie ended.
You had drifted away before I noticed.
He had drifted into depression before getting help.
We had drifted apart before reconnecting.
They had drifted for days before rescue.

Past Perfect Continuous

I	had been drifting
you	had been drifting
he/she/it	had been drifting
we	had been drifting
they	had been drifting

Examples - Past Perfect Continuous

I had been drifting aimlessly for years before finding purpose.
You had been drifting away for months before confrontation.
She had been drifting on the ocean for days before rescue.
We had been drifting apart for years before divorce.
They had been drifting at sea for weeks before landfall.

Future Simple

I	will drift
you	will drift
he/she/it	will drift
we	will drift
they	will drift

Examples - Future Simple

I will drift off to sleep soon.
You will drift away if you don't stay focused.
He will drift into trouble without guidance.
We will drift apart if we don't stay in touch.
They will drift with the current to shore.

Future Continuous

I	will be drifting
you	will be drifting
he/she/it	will be drifting
we	will be drifting
they	will be drifting

Examples - Future Continuous

I will be drifting on the lake all afternoon.
You will be drifting between jobs for a while.
She will be drifting peacefully on the raft.
We will be drifting apart unless we make effort.
They will be drifting across the ocean for months.

Future Perfect

I	will have drifted
you	will have drifted
he/she/it	will have drifted
we	will have drifted
they	will have drifted

Examples - Future Perfect

I will have drifted off by the time you return.
You will have drifted far from your goals by then.
He will have drifted into obscurity by retirement.
We will have drifted apart by that time.
They will have drifted across the ocean by spring.

Future Perfect Continuous

I	will have been drifting
you	will have been drifting
he/she/it	will have been drifting
we	will have been drifting
they	will have been drifting

Examples - Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been drifting through life for decades.
You will have been drifting without purpose for years.
She will have been drifting on the water for hours.
We will have been drifting apart for too long.
They will have been drifting at sea for months.