Irregular verb
The verb to shed
shed → shed → shed
B2Meaning: to lose naturally (hair, leaves, skin); to let fall (tears, blood) · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they shed·he/she/it sheds - Past Simple:
shed(no change) - Past participle:
shed - -ing form:
shedding(double d)
Conjugation of the verb to shed
Present Simple
| I | shed |
| You | shed |
| He / She / It | sheds |
| We | shed |
| You (pl.) | shed |
| They | shed |
Past Simple
| I | shed |
| You | shed |
| He / She / It | shed |
| We | shed |
| You (pl.) | shed |
| They | shed |
All the forms of the verb to shed
Present Simple
Full pageshed / sheds
“My dog sheds a lot.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are shedding
“I am shedding tears right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageshed
“She shed tears of joy.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were shedding
“I was shedding tears when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has shed
“I have already shed tears.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad shed
“She had already shed tears when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill shed
“I will shed tears tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to shed
“I'm going to shed tears this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould shed
“I would shed tears if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to shed
1. Letting fall (tears, blood)
- She shed tears.
2. Losing (hair, skin)
Animals shed their hair or their skin: they lose it naturally.
- My dog sheds.
3. Idioms
Shed light on something means to explain it.
- Shed light on this.
A common mistake
1. Shedded ❌
Shed does not change in the Past Simple or the past participle, like cut and put: The tree shed its leaves. Only the -ing form doubles the d: shedding.
What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of shed?+
Shed does not change: shed → shed → shed. Other verbs like this: cut, put, hit, let, set.
What does shed light on mean?+
Shed light on something is an idiom: to help people understand it better, to explain it. The new evidence sheds light on the case. It is very common in the news and in investigations.
What does shed pounds mean?+
Shed pounds means to lose weight (informal, common in American English). A pound is about 450 grams. I want to shed 10 pounds. It is an informal way to say lose weight.
What is a shed?+
A shed (noun) is a small building, usually in a garden, where people keep tools. A garden shed. A tool shed. It is a common word in Britain, where many houses have a garden.
Do snakes shed their skin?+
Yes! Snakes shed their skin: they lose their old skin and grow a new one. Also: Trees shed their leaves in autumn. These things happen naturally.
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/shed
© 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.