Irregular verb
The verb to sting
sting → stung → stung
B2Meaning: to hurt the skin with a sharp point; to cause a sharp burning pain · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they sting·he/she/it stings - Past Simple:
stung(i → u) - Past participle:
stung(the same) - -ing form:
stinging
Conjugation of the verb to sting
Present Simple
| I | sting |
| You | sting |
| He / She / It | stings |
| We | sting |
| You (pl.) | sting |
| They | sting |
Past Simple
| I | stung |
| You | stung |
| He / She / It | stung |
| We | stung |
| You (pl.) | stung |
| They | stung |
All the forms of the verb to sting
Present Simple
Full pagesting / stings
“Bees can sting.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are stinging
“I am stinging like a bee right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagestung
“A bee stung me yesterday.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were stinging
“I was stinging like a bee when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has stung
“I have already stung like a bee.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad stung
“She had already stung like a bee when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill sting
“I will sting like a bee tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to sting
“I'm going to sting like a bee this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould sting
“I would sting like a bee if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to sting
1. Stinging (insects with a sharp point)
- A wasp stung me.
- Be careful, bees can sting.
2. Burning a little (a feeling)
Sting also describes a sharp, burning pain, for example in your eyes or in a cut.
- My eyes are stinging.
- The cut stung.
3. Hurting someone's feelings (figurative)
Her words stung me means her words hurt my feelings.
- Her words stung me.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. A sting operation = a police trap
A sting operation is a trap that the police set up to catch criminals. The police set up a sting operation.
2. A bee strung me ❌
Sting and string are two different verbs. Sting → stung: what a bee does. String → strung: to put things on a thread (a string is a thin rope). So say A bee stung me.
What's next?
You can conjugate to sting. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of sting?+
The Past Simple of sting is stung. The past participle is also stung. Sting → stung → stung. Other verbs with the vowel change i → u: stick → stuck, swing → swung, dig → dug.
Is it sting or bite for insects?+
Use sting for animals with a sharp point on their body: a bee, a wasp, a scorpion, a jellyfish. Use bite for animals that use their mouth: a mosquito, a spider, an ant, a snake, a dog. A bee stings. A mosquito bites. This difference is important in English.
What is a sting operation?+
A sting operation is a police trap. A team of police officers pretend to be criminals to attract and catch the real criminals. It is a classic word in American police series.
What does my eyes are stinging mean?+
Sting also describes a sharp, burning feeling in your eyes, on your skin or in a cut. My eyes are stinging from the smoke means the smoke hurts my eyes. The cut stings.
Why is the singer called Sting?+
Gordon Sumner, the singer of the band The Police, often wore a black and yellow striped jumper. It made him look like a bee, so his friends called him Sting. The name stayed with him for his whole career.
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/sting
© 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.