The verb to sink · Conjugation
Past Simple of sink
The answer: sank
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to sink is sank.
Example: The Titanic sank in 1912.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | sank |
| You | sank |
| He / She / It | sank |
| We | sank |
| You (pl.) | sank |
| They | sank |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. The boat has sank ❌
The boat sank. ✓ (Past Simple). The boat has sunk. ✓ After have or has, always use sunk.
2. The i → a → u family
Sink → sank → sunk. It is like drink → drank → drunk, sing → sang → sung and ring → rang → rung. The vowels follow the same pattern.
3. Sink is also a noun
A sink is the place where you wash things, in a kitchen or a bathroom. Put your plate in the kitchen sink, please.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of sink?+
The Past Simple of sink is sank. The past participle is sunk. Sink → sank → sunk, with the i → a → u pattern (drink, sing, ring, swim).
What is the difference between sank and sunk?+
Sank is the Past Simple: The boat sank. Sunk is the past participle, used after have / has: The boat has sunk.
Is sinked correct?+
No. Sink is irregular. Its Past Simple is sank and its past participle is sunk, with the i → a → u pattern. Never say sinked.
Is sink also a noun?+
Yes! A sink is where you wash things, with taps and water. The kitchen sink is for dishes. The bathroom sink is for your hands and face.
What does sinking feeling mean?+
A sinking feeling is the feeling that something bad is going to happen, as if you are going down in water. I have a sinking feeling about this. It is an idiom.
Related pages: sink Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/sink/past-simple
© 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.
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More forms of the verb to sink are coming soon.