investigate
investigates
investigating
investigated
Investigate means to examine thoroughly. Regular: investigate-investigated-investigated.
Meanings
- To examine thoroughly
- To research
- To look into
Common Collocations
investigate a crime
under investigation
investigate further
investigator
investigation into
Tip for Learners
Under investigation = being examined. Investigator = person who investigates. Investigation = thorough examination.
Present Simple
| I | investigate |
| you | investigate |
| he/she/it | investigates |
| we | investigate |
| they | investigate |
Examples - Present Simple
- I investigate fraud cases for the agency.
- You investigate every detail thoroughly.
- She investigates crimes for the police.
- We investigate complaints from customers.
- They investigate corruption allegations.
Present Continuous
| I | am investigating |
| you | are investigating |
| he/she/it | is investigating |
| we | are investigating |
| they | are investigating |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am investigating the matter now.
- You are investigating the wrong lead.
- He is investigating the crime scene.
- We are investigating the allegations.
- They are investigating the accident.
Present Perfect
| I | have investigated |
| you | have investigated |
| he/she/it | has investigated |
| we | have investigated |
| they | have investigated |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have investigated hundreds of cases.
- You have investigated this thoroughly.
- She has investigated the matter extensively.
- We have investigated all complaints.
- They have investigated for months.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been investigating |
| you | have been investigating |
| he/she/it | has been investigating |
| we | have been investigating |
| they | have been investigating |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been investigating this case for weeks.
- You have been investigating diligently.
- He has been investigating since January.
- We have been investigating nonstop.
- They have been investigating for years.
Past Simple
| I | investigated |
| you | investigated |
| he/she/it | investigated |
| we | investigated |
| they | investigated |
Examples - Past Simple
- I investigated the incident last week.
- You investigated all the evidence.
- She investigated the scene thoroughly.
- We investigated every lead.
- They investigated the company's finances.
Past Continuous
| I | was investigating |
| you | were investigating |
| he/she/it | was investigating |
| we | were investigating |
| they | were investigating |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was investigating when new evidence appeared.
- You were investigating the wrong suspect.
- He was investigating all night.
- We were investigating during the trial.
- They were investigating for months.
Past Perfect
| I | had investigated |
| you | had investigated |
| he/she/it | had investigated |
| we | had investigated |
| they | had investigated |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had investigated before making accusations.
- You had investigated before the report.
- She had investigated thoroughly before concluding.
- We had investigated before the hearing.
- They had investigated before arrests were made.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been investigating |
| you | had been investigating |
| he/she/it | had been investigating |
| we | had been investigating |
| they | had been investigating |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been investigating for weeks before the break.
- You had been investigating diligently.
- He had been investigating for years.
- We had been investigating before the closure.
- They had been investigating for decades.
Future Simple
| I | will investigate |
| you | will investigate |
| he/she/it | will investigate |
| we | will investigate |
| they | will investigate |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will investigate the matter immediately.
- You will investigate all angles.
- She will investigate the allegations.
- We will investigate thoroughly.
- They will investigate the incident.
Future Continuous
| I | will be investigating |
| you | will be investigating |
| he/she/it | will be investigating |
| we | will be investigating |
| they | will be investigating |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be investigating this all week.
- You will be investigating multiple cases.
- He will be investigating for months.
- We will be investigating throughout.
- They will be investigating for years.
Future Perfect
| I | will have investigated |
| you | will have investigated |
| he/she/it | will have investigated |
| we | will have investigated |
| they | will have investigated |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have investigated everything by then.
- You will have investigated all leads.
- She will have investigated fully.
- We will have investigated every claim.
- They will have investigated the entire organization.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been investigating |
| you | will have been investigating |
| he/she/it | will have been investigating |
| we | will have been investigating |
| they | will have been investigating |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been investigating for months.
- You will have been investigating for weeks.
- He will have been investigating for years.
- We will have been investigating nonstop.
- They will have been investigating for decades.