verb · irregular · intransitive · rare

shift gears

shift gears · shifts gears · shifted gears · shifting gears

To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another…To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle.

Meaning

2 senses

To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle.
(idiomatic)To change pace or mode of operation.

Translations

2 languages

Forms

shifts gears, shifting gears, shifted gears, shifted gears

Base form	shift gears · to shift gears
3rd person singular	shifts gears
Present participle	shifting gears
Past simple	shifted gears
Past participle	shifted gears

irregular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, they	shift gears
he, she, it	shifts gears

Past simpleLesson

all persons

shifted gears

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, they	have shifted gears
he, she, it	has shifted gears

Future simple (will)Lesson

all persons

will shift gears

Word family

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle