The verb to strike · Conjugation
Past Simple of strike
The answer: struck
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to strike is struck.
Example: Lightning struck the tree.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | struck |
| You | struck |
| He / She / It | struck |
| We | struck |
| You (pl.) | struck |
| They | struck |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Striked ❌
Strike is an irregular verb: say struck. The i changes to u, like stick → stuck, sting → stung and swing → swung.
2. The tree was stricken by lightning ❌
Stricken is a rare past participle. Today you mostly see it in adjectives: grief-stricken (very sad), panic-stricken (very frightened). For a hit, say struck: The tree was struck by lightning.
3. Strike: to hit OR to stop working
The meaning depends on the sentence. The clock struck ten (it rang). Lightning struck the house (it hit the house). The workers struck for better pay (they stopped working).
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of strike?+
The Past Simple of strike is struck. The past participle is the same: struck. Strike → struck → struck. The i changes to u, like stick → stuck.
Is stricken a word?+
Yes, stricken is another past participle, but it is rare and formal. You mostly see it in adjectives: grief-stricken (very sad), panic-stricken (very frightened). In everyday English, use struck.
What does go on strike mean?+
Go on strike means to stop working as a protest. The workers went on strike. The noun is a strike.
Is it didn't strike or didn't struck?+
Say didn't strike: Lightning didn't strike the house. After didn't, use the base form → strike.
Is striked a word?+
No. Strike is irregular: its Past Simple is struck. Striked does not exist. The i changes to u, like stick → stuck and sting → stung.
Related pages: strike 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/strike/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 strike are coming soon.