The verb to breed · Conjugation
Past Simple of breed
The answer: bred
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to breed is bred.
Example: He bred horses for racing.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | bred |
| You | bred |
| He / She / It | bred |
| We | bred |
| You (pl.) | bred |
| They | bred |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Breeded ❌
Breed is irregular: breed → bred → bred, never breeded. Same pattern: feed → fed, bleed → bled, flee → fled, speed → sped.
2. What race is your dog? ❌
For animals, use breed: What breed is your dog? Race is for a competition or for groups of people, never for a type of dog.
3. Well-bred = polite
Well-bred means polite, with good manners (for people), or from a good breed (for animals): a well-bred young lady, a well-bred dog.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of breed?+
The Past Simple of breed is bred, and the past participle is also bred. Breed → bred → bred. Same pattern: feed → fed, bleed → bled, flee → fled.
Is breed also a noun?+
Yes. A breed is a type of animal, for example a type of dog or cat: What breed is your dog? A dog whose parents are the same breed is a purebred. Don't confuse it with race, which means a competition or a group of people.
What is the difference between breed and race?+
For animals, use breed: a type of dog or cat. Race means a competition (a car race) or a group of people. What race is your dog? is a common mistake: say What breed is your dog?
Is it didn't breed or didn't bred?+
Say didn't breed: They didn't breed cattle. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (breed, not bred).
What does breeding ground mean?+
A breeding ground is a place where animals have their young. It also has a figurative meaning: a place or situation where something bad grows. Poverty is a breeding ground for crime.
Related pages: breed 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/breed/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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More forms of the verb to breed are coming soon.