Basic English

Ogden

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

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Basic English is a simplified version of the English language developed by Charles Kay Ogden between 1926 and 1930. It was intended for use as an international second language.1

Basic English significantly reduces English vocabulary and grammar. It features 850 core vocabulary words, with 600 nouns and 150 adjectives. Only 18 verbs are used, which can replace thousands of standard English verbs through combinations with other words. For example, "put together" can substitute for "assemble" or "combine". The system includes a few rules for forming plurals, comparative adjectives, and using prefixes and suffixes. While it enjoyed some popularity, its use has since declined. Basic English is also referred to as a copyrighted system of simplified English.12

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C.K. Ogden
His Basic Vocabulary (1930) and Basic English (1930) were followed by The System of Basic English (1934). General interest in Basic English did not develop until after 1943, however, when Winston Churchill, with the support of Franklin D. Roosevelt, appointed a committee to study the extension of its use. Ogden’s…
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His Basic Vocabulary (1930) and Basic English (1930) were followed by The System of Basic English (1934). General interest in Basic English did not develop until after 1943, however, when Winston Churchill, with the support of Franklin D. Roosevelt, appointed a committee to study the extension of its use. Ogden’s…
Read More