Kneel – English Verbs Conjugation

kneel kneels kneeling knelt

Kneel means to rest on your knees. Used in prayer, proposals, and respect. Irregular: kneel-knelt/kneeled-knelt/kneeled.

Meanings

To rest on knees
To go down on knees
To show respect/submission

Common Collocations

kneel down kneel before kneel in prayer kneeling position kneel on one knee

Tip for Learners

Both knelt and kneeled are correct (knelt more common in British). Kneel down = go to kneeling position. Kneel before = show submission. Marriage proposal: kneel on one knee.

Present Simple

I	kneel
you	kneel
he/she/it	kneels
we	kneel
they	kneel

Examples - Present Simple

I kneel in prayer every morning before starting my day.
You kneel down to tie your shoes in the old-fashioned way.
She kneels beside her garden to tend to the flowers.
We kneel at the altar during the communion service.
They kneel before the king according to tradition.

Present Continuous

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

Examples - Present Continuous

I am kneeling down to look under the bed for the cat.
You are kneeling in the garden planting new flowers.
He is kneeling to propose marriage right now.
We are kneeling in prayer during the service.
They are kneeling to help the child tie her shoes.

Present Perfect

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

Examples - Present Perfect

I have knelt at this altar many times over the years.
You have knelt before royalty during your diplomatic career.
She has knelt in gardens tending plants all her life.
We have knelt together in prayer throughout our marriage.
They have knelt to examine artifacts in museums worldwide.

Present Perfect Continuous

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

Examples - Present Perfect Continuous

I have been kneeling for twenty minutes in meditation.
You have been kneeling in the garden all afternoon.
He has been kneeling beside her bed in the hospital.
We have been kneeling in prayer since the service began.
They have been kneeling to examine the evidence for hours.

Past Simple

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

Examples - Past Simple

I knelt beside my grandmother during her final moments.
You knelt down to pet the friendly dog on the street.
She knelt in the mud to help the injured animal.
We knelt at the memorial to pay our respects.
They knelt before the queen as protocol required.

Past Continuous

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

Examples - Past Continuous

I was kneeling in the garden when the rain started.
You were kneeling to tie your shoe when I spotted you.
He was kneeling to propose when the phone rang.
We were kneeling in prayer when the earthquake hit.
They were kneeling to examine the crime scene.

Past Perfect

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

Examples - Past Perfect

I had knelt at the grave before the ceremony began.
You had knelt in prayer before making the decision.
She had knelt in the garden before the storm arrived.
We had knelt together before our wedding vows.
They had knelt before the evidence was discovered.

Past Perfect Continuous

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

Examples - Past Perfect Continuous

I had been kneeling for an hour before my knees ached.
You had been kneeling in the garden all day before the party.
He had been kneeling beside her for hours before she awoke.
We had been kneeling in meditation before the bell rang.
They had been kneeling to search before finding the clue.

Future Simple

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

Examples - Future Simple

I will kneel at the altar during the ceremony.
You will kneel to receive the honor from the queen.
She will kneel beside the patient during the procedure.
We will kneel together in prayer at the retreat.
They will kneel to examine the foundation of the building.

Future Continuous

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

Examples - Future Continuous

I will be kneeling in the garden all morning tomorrow.
You will be kneeling during the knighting ceremony.
He will be kneeling to propose sometime this weekend.
We will be kneeling in prayer throughout the vigil.
They will be kneeling to work on the pipes all day.

Future Perfect

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

Examples - Future Perfect

I will have knelt at every holy site by trip's end.
You will have knelt before many dignitaries by retirement.
She will have knelt in countless gardens by season's end.
We will have knelt together for decades by our anniversary.
They will have knelt to inspect everything by deadline.

Future Perfect Continuous

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

Examples - Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been kneeling for an hour by then.
You will have been kneeling in gardens for fifty years.
He will have been kneeling in prayer for hours by morning.
We will have been kneeling together for thirty years.
They will have been kneeling to work for months by completion.