The verb to bear · Conjugation
Past Simple of bear
The answer: bore
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to bear is bore.
Example: She bore the burden alone.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | bore |
| You | bore |
| He / She / It | bore |
| We | bore |
| You (pl.) | bore |
| They | bore |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I was borne in 2012 ❌
Born is only for birth, in the passive: I was born in 2012. Borne is for all the other meanings (to carry, to accept): The costs are borne by the company.
2. Bear ≠ bare
They sound the same (/beə/), but they are different words. Bear = the animal, or to carry or accept something. Bare = with nothing on it: a bare wall. Check the spelling when you write.
3. Bearable / unbearable
Bearable means you can accept it. Unbearable means it is too hard to accept: The heat is unbearable. Both adjectives keep the spelling of bear.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of bear?+
The Past Simple of bear is bore, the same for every person. The past participle is borne, or born only for birth. Bear → bore → borne, like wear → wore → worn and tear → tore → torn.
Is it born or borne?+
Use born only for birth, and only in the passive: I was born in 2012. Use borne for all the other meanings (to carry, to accept): She has borne the burden alone. This difference is very important.
How do you pronounce bear?+
Bear is pronounced /beə/, for the verb and for the animal: The bear ate the honey. I can't bear it. The context tells you which one it is. Be careful: bare (with nothing on it) has the same sound.
Is it didn't bear or didn't bore?+
Say didn't bear: He didn't bear any of the cost. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (bear, not bore). In everyday English, people often say couldn't bear: I couldn't bear the noise.
What does bear in mind mean?+
Bear in mind means to remember something and think about it. Bear in mind that the deadline is Friday. (Don't forget it: the deadline is Friday.)
Related pages: bear Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/bear/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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