Irregular verb
The verb to sew
sew → sewed → sewn
B2Meaning: to join cloth with a needle and thread · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they sew·he/she/it sews - Past Simple:
sewed(regular) - Past participle:
sewnorsewed - -ing form:
sewing
Conjugation of the verb to sew
Present Simple
| I | sew |
| You | sew |
| He / She / It | sews |
| We | sew |
| You (pl.) | sew |
| They | sew |
Past Simple
| I | sewed |
| You | sewed |
| He / She / It | sewed |
| We | sewed |
| You (pl.) | sewed |
| They | sewed |
All the forms of the verb to sew
Present Simple
Full pagesew / sews
“She sews her own dresses.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are sewing
“I am sewing a button right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagesewed
“She sewed a button on my shirt.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were sewing
“I was sewing a button when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has sewn
“I have already sewn a button.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad sewn
“She had already sewn a button when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill sew
“I will sew a button tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to sew
“I'm going to sew a button this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould sew
“I would sew a button if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to sew
1. Sewing
- She sewed a button.
2. Sew up (closing a cut)
Sew up means to close a hole or a cut with a needle and thread.
- The doctor sewed up the wound.
A common mistake
1. Sew said like few ❌
Sew is said /səʊ/, like so and sow, not /sjuː/. The Past Simple sewed is said /səʊd/.
What's next?
You can conjugate to sew. Now say it out loud.
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Related pages: sew
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of sew?+
The Past Simple of sew is sewed (regular). The past participle is sewn (the classic form) or sewed (the regular form). Sew → sewed → sewn / sewed.
How do you pronounce sew?+
Say /səʊ/, like so or sow (to put seeds in the ground). Don't say /sjuː/: it is a common mistake to pronounce it like dew /djuː/ or few /fjuː/.
What is the difference between sew, sow and so?+
They all sound the same: /səʊ/. Sew means to join cloth with a needle and thread. Sow means to put seeds in the ground. So is a small linking word: It was late, so I went home. Three words, one sound, different meanings: the context tells you which one it is.
What is a sewing kit?+
A sewing kit is a small box with what you need to sew: needles, thread and small scissors. A sewing machine is a machine that sews for you.
What does sew up mean?+
Sew up means to close a hole or a cut with a needle and thread. The doctor sewed up the cut on my knee. It is also used in a figurative way: sew up a deal means to finish an agreement successfully.
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/sew
© 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.