The verb to burst · Conjugation
Past Simple of burst
The answer: burst
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to burst is burst.
Example: The balloon burst suddenly.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | burst |
| You | burst |
| He / She / It | burst |
| We | burst |
| You (pl.) | burst |
| They | burst |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Bursted ❌
Burst never changes: burst → burst → burst. It works like cut, put, hit, let, set and bet. Don't say bursted.
2. She burst in tears ❌
These expressions always use into: burst into tears (to start crying), burst into laughter (to start laughing), burst into song (to start singing).
3. He burst out to laugh ❌
After burst out, use a verb in -ing: burst out laughing (to start laughing suddenly), burst out crying (to start crying suddenly).
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of burst?+
The Past Simple of burst is burst: it does not change. The past participle is also burst. Burst → burst → burst, like cut, put, hit and let.
Is it burst into tears or burst in tears?+
Say burst into tears: it means to start crying suddenly. She burst into tears. In the same way, burst into laughter means to start laughing suddenly.
What is the difference between burst and bust?+
Burst means to break open, and you can use it everywhere: to burst a balloon. Bust is informal and mostly American: it means to break. Bust a move (US) means to dance with a lot of energy. In normal English, use burst.
Is it didn't burst or didn't bursted?+
Say didn't burst: The balloon didn't burst. After didn't, use the base form → burst.
Is bursted a word?+
Burst is irregular and never changes. Bursted exists in very informal or regional English, but it is not standard. Always use burst.
Related pages: burst 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/burst/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 burst are coming soon.