Irregular verb
The verb to saw
saw → sawed → sawn
B2Meaning: to cut with a saw (a tool with teeth) · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they saw·he/she/it saws - Past Simple:
sawed(regular) - Past participle:
sawn(UK) orsawed(US) - -ing form:
sawing
Conjugation of the verb to saw
Present Simple
| I | saw |
| You | saw |
| He / She / It | saws |
| We | saw |
| You (pl.) | saw |
| They | saw |
Past Simple
| I | sawed |
| You | sawed |
| He / She / It | sawed |
| We | sawed |
| You (pl.) | sawed |
| They | sawed |
All the forms of the verb to saw
Present Simple
Full pagesaw / saws
“He saws wood for fun.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are sawing
“I am sawing the wood right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagesawed
“He sawed the plank in half.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were sawing
“I was sawing the wood when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has sawn
“I have already sawn the wood.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad sawn
“She had already sawn the wood when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill saw
“I will saw the wood tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to saw
“I'm going to saw the wood this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould saw
“I would saw the wood if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to saw
1. Cutting with a saw
- He sawed the wood.
2. A saw (the tool)
A handsaw is used by hand. A chainsaw has an engine and a chain.
- A handsaw / a chainsaw.
A common mistake
1. Yesterday I saw the plank in two ❌
The Past Simple of saw (to cut) is sawed: I sawed the plank in two. I saw the plank sounds like the past of see (I looked at it), or the present of saw (I cut it).
What's next?
You can conjugate to saw. 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 saw on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to saw 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 saw 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 saw (to cut with a saw)?+
The Past Simple of saw is sawed (regular). The past participle is sawn (UK) or sawed (US). Saw → sawed → sawn / sawed. Don't confuse it with saw, the Past Simple of see: it has the same spelling.
Why does saw have two meanings?+
They are two different words with the same spelling and the same sound, /sɔː/. The verb saw (to cut) comes from the noun a saw (the tool). Saw as the Past Simple of see has a different origin. The context tells you which one it is.
What are the different kinds of saw?+
A saw is a tool with sharp teeth for cutting wood. A handsaw is a saw you use by hand. A chainsaw is a saw with an engine and a moving chain. A jigsaw is a small electric saw (and also a puzzle!). A sawmill is a factory that cuts trees into wood.
Is it sawn or sawed?+
Both are correct as a past participle. British English prefers sawn: The trees have been sawn into logs. American English prefers sawed. You find the same difference in the adjective sawn-off (UK) / sawed-off (US), which means cut short with a saw.
What is a jigsaw?+
A jigsaw is: 1. a small electric saw that cuts curves; 2. a puzzle with many small pieces (a jigsaw puzzle). The puzzle has this name because people first cut the pieces with this kind of saw.
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/saw
© 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.