The verb to sting · Conjugation
Past Simple of sting
The answer: stung
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to sting is stung.
Example: A bee stung me yesterday.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | stung |
| You | stung |
| He / She / It | stung |
| We | stung |
| You (pl.) | stung |
| They | stung |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Stinged ❌
Vowel change i → u: stick → stuck, sting → stung, swing → swung, dig → dug. So stung, never stinged.
2. A mosquito stung me ❌
Mosquitoes and spiders use their mouth, so they bite: a mosquito bite. Bees and wasps have a sharp point on their body, so they sting: a bee sting.
3. Sting is also a noun
A sting can be (1) the wound or pain from an insect: a bee sting; (2) the sharp point on the insect's body; (3) a trick or a trap: a sting operation (by the police).
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of sting?+
The Past Simple of sting is stung, and the past participle is also stung. Sting → stung → stung. Same pattern: stick → stuck, swing → swung.
Do bees sting or bite?+
Bees sting. Use sting for animals with a sharp point on their body (bee, wasp, scorpion). Use bite for animals that use their mouth (mosquito, ant, spider, snake). A bee stings. A mosquito bites.
Is it stinged or stung?+
Sting is irregular. Its Past Simple is stung: stinged does not exist. The vowel changes i → u, like stick → stuck and swing → swung.
Is it didn't sting or didn't stung?+
Say didn't sting: The bee didn't sting me. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (sting, not stung).
Is the singer Sting named after the verb?+
Yes. The singer Sting (from the band The Police) got his name because of a black and yellow striped jumper that he often wore. It made people think of a bee, and bees sting.
Related pages: sting 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/sting/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 sting are coming soon.