sting
Base form
sting
/stɪŋ/
Past simple
stung
/stʌŋ/
Past participle
stung
/stʌŋ/
MeaningB2
to hurt with a sharp pain, as an insect or plant does
to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1Wasps can sting more than once.
- Question · Form 1Does this cream sting when you put it on?
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday a bee stung me on the arm.
- Past simple · Form 2Last night the smoke stung my eyes at the bonfire.
- Passive · Form 3Ben was stung by a jellyfish on holiday.
- Present perfect · Form 3Her harsh words have really stung me.
Watch out
Stung has a u, like clung and swung: stinged and stang are wrong.
Same pattern
A — B — BForms two and three are the same
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
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