Irregular verb
The verb to dig
dig → dug → dug
B1Meaning: to make a hole in the ground · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they dig·he/she/it digs - Past Simple:
dug - Past participle:
dug(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
digging(double g)
Conjugation of the verb to dig
Present Simple
| I | dig |
| You | dig |
| He / She / It | digs |
| We | dig |
| You (pl.) | dig |
| They | dig |
Past Simple
| I | dug |
| You | dug |
| He / She / It | dug |
| We | dug |
| You (pl.) | dug |
| They | dug |
All the forms of the verb to dig
Present Simple
Full pagedig / digs
“The dog digs a hole.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are digging
“I am digging a hole right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagedug
“They dug a hole in the garden.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were digging
“I was digging a hole when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has dug
“I have already dug a hole.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad dug
“She had already dug a hole when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill dig
“I will dig a hole tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to dig
“I'm going to dig a hole this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould dig
“I would dig a hole if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to dig
1. Digging a hole
- They dug a hole.
- The dog is digging.
2. Digging deep (figurative meaning)
Dig deep means to try very hard, or to look carefully for something.
- You'll have to dig deep to find the answer.
3. Phrasal verbs: dig in / dig up
Dig in! means start eating. Dig up means to take something out of the ground, or to find something old or hidden.
- Dig in! The food is ready.
- They dug up old photos.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. They dug up a hole ❌
Dig means to make a hole: They dug a hole. Dig up means to take something out of the ground: The dog dug up a bone. So you dig a hole, but you dig up a bone, a plant or some old photos.
2. Digged ❌
Dig → dug → dug. The vowel changes from i to u, like stick → stuck. Never digged.
What's next?
You can conjugate to dig. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of dig?+
The Past Simple of dig is dug. It is the same for every person: I dug, he dug, they dug. The past participle is also dug. Dig → dug → dug.
Why does digging have two g's?+
Short verbs that end in one vowel + one consonant double the last consonant before -ing: dig → digging. It is the same for swim → swimming and run → running.
What does dig in mean?+
Dig in! means start eating! People say it at the start of a meal, in an informal way, often to family or friends: Dig in! The food is ready. Dig in can also mean to refuse to change your position.
What does dig up mean?+
Dig up means to take something out of the ground. It can also mean to find something old or hidden: They dug up old photos. The journalist dug up the truth.
Is it digged or dug?+
Say dug. Dig is an irregular verb, so its Past Simple is dug, like stick → stuck. Digged is never correct.
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/dig
© 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.