cling
Base form
cling
/klɪŋ/
Past simple
clung
/klʌŋ/
Past participle
clung
/klʌŋ/
MeaningC1
to hold on tightly to someone or something
to cling to the past
In use
- Imperative · Form 1Cling to the rope and don’t look down!
- Negative · Form 1Try not to cling to the past.
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday the little boy clung to his mother at the school gate.
- Past simple · Form 2During the storm last night we clung to the side of the boat.
- Present perfect · Form 3Their team has clung to first place all season.
- Past perfect · Form 3Mud had clung to our boots all the way home.
Watch out
Like swing → swung: clung in both forms. Clang is a metal noise, and clinged is wrong.
Same pattern
A — B — BForms two and three are the same
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
Short lessons by frequency or by pattern, audio for every form and daily reviews that bring back exactly the verbs you are about to forget.
Install on your phoneScan with your phone camera to download the app