Irregular verb
The verb to ring
ring → rang → rung
B1Meaning: to make the sound of a bell; to phone someone · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they ring·he/she/it rings - Past Simple:
rang - Past participle:
rung(different from the Past Simple) - -ing form:
ringing
Conjugation of the verb to ring
Present Simple
| I | ring |
| You | ring |
| He / She / It | rings |
| We | ring |
| You (pl.) | ring |
| They | ring |
Past Simple
| I | rang |
| You | rang |
| He / She / It | rang |
| We | rang |
| You (pl.) | rang |
| They | rang |
All the forms of the verb to ring
Present Simple
Full pagering / rings
“The bell rings at 8 a.m.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are ringing
“I am ringing the bell right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagerang
“The phone rang twice.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were ringing
“I was ringing the bell when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has rung
“I have already rung the bell.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad rung
“She had already rung the bell when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill ring
“I will ring the bell tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to ring
“I'm going to ring the bell this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould ring
“I would ring the bell if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to ring
1. Ringing (a bell, a phone)
- The bell rang.
- My phone is ringing!
2. Phoning someone (UK)
Ring someone = to phone someone (British English).
- I'll ring you tonight.
- She rang me yesterday.
3. Phrasal verb: ring up
Ring up = to phone someone, often for a short call.
- Ring me up when you arrive.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Ring or call?
Ring is British. Call is used everywhere (and it is the usual word in American English). Both mean to phone someone. If you are not sure, use call: everyone understands it.
2. Three vowels: i → a → u
Ring → rang → rung. It is the same pattern as sing → sang → sung and drink → drank → drunk.
What's next?
You can conjugate to ring. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
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For teachersReady-made activities to practise to ring in class
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of ring?+
The Past Simple of ring is rang. The past participle is rung. Ring → rang → rung.
What is the difference between ring and call?+
Both mean to phone someone. Ring is mostly British English. Call is used everywhere, and it is the usual word in American English. I'll ring you (UK) = I'll call you (US).
Is it the phone rings or the phone is ringing?+
For right now, use the Present Continuous: The phone is ringing! For a habit or a general fact, use the Present Simple: The phone rings a lot in the morning. In the past: The phone rang.
Is ring also a noun?+
Yes. A ring is also a piece of jewellery that you wear on your finger. A wedding ring is the ring you get when you marry. An engagement ring is the ring you get when you plan to marry.
Is it rang or ringed?+
For a bell or a phone, say rang: ring is irregular, never ringed. (Ringed exists, but it is a different, regular verb that means to form a circle around something: The lake is ringed by trees.)
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/ring
© 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.