Irregular verb
The verb to cling
cling → clung → clung
B2Meaning: to hold something or someone tightly; to stick to something · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they cling·he/she/it clings - Past Simple:
clung(i → u) - Past participle:
clung(the same) - -ing form:
clinging
Conjugation of the verb to cling
Present Simple
| I | cling |
| You | cling |
| He / She / It | clings |
| We | cling |
| You (pl.) | cling |
| They | cling |
Past Simple
| I | clung |
| You | clung |
| He / She / It | clung |
| We | clung |
| You (pl.) | clung |
| They | clung |
All the forms of the verb to cling
Present Simple
Full pagecling / clings
“The baby clings to his mother.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are clinging
“I am clinging to the rope right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageclung
“She clung to him tightly.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were clinging
“I was clinging to the rope when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has clung
“I have already clung to the rope.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad clung
“She had already clung to the rope when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill cling
“I will cling to the rope tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to cling
“I'm going to cling to the rope this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould cling
“I would cling to the rope if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to cling
1. Holding on tightly
- The child clung to her mother.
2. Holding on to an idea
You can cling to hope, to power or to an idea: you don't want to let it go.
- He clings to hope.
- The dictator clung to power.
3. Sticking to something
- The wet shirt clung to his skin.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Clingy is a negative word
Clingy describes someone who wants to be with another person all the time: a clingy friend. It is negative, and it can hurt. Be careful if you use it to talk to someone directly.
2. Cling on the rope ❌
With an object, use cling to (or cling on to): cling to the rope. Cling on alone has no object: it means to keep holding. Just cling on a bit longer!
What's next?
You can conjugate to cling. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to cling on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to cling in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestConjugating to cling is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of cling?+
The Past Simple of cling is clung. The past participle is the same: clung. Cling → clung → clung. Other verbs change i to u in the same way: sting → stung, swing → swung, fling → flung.
What is the difference between cling to and cling on?+
Cling to + a person or thing means to hold it tightly: She clung to her dad. Cling on has no object: it means to keep holding and not let go. Just cling on! The two patterns are different.
What does clingy mean?+
Clingy is an adjective with two meanings. (1) A clingy person wants to be with someone all the time; it is a negative word: a clingy friend. (2) For fabric, it means close to the body: clingy fabric. About people, it is usually negative.
What is cling film?+
Cling film (UK) is thin, clear plastic that sticks to surfaces. In the US, people say plastic wrap, or Saran wrap (a brand name). You use it to cover food and keep it fresh in the fridge.
Is cling to hope positive?+
It can be both. Positive: you don't give up, even when things are hard. Negative: you refuse to accept the facts. The context tells you which one. Cling to power is negative: it means to refuse to leave a powerful position.
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/cling
© 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.