Irregular verb
The verb to string
string → strung → strung
B2Meaning: to put things on a thread; to hang things in a line · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they string - Past Simple:
strung - Past participle:
strung - -ing form:
stringing
Conjugation of the verb to string
Present Simple
| I | string |
| You | string |
| He / She / It | strings |
| We | string |
| You (pl.) | string |
| They | string |
Past Simple
| I | strung |
| You | strung |
| He / She / It | strung |
| We | strung |
| You (pl.) | strung |
| They | strung |
All the forms of the verb to string
Present Simple
Full pagestring / strings
“She strings the beads together.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are stringing
“I am stringing beads on a thread right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagestrung
“They strung lights on the tree.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were stringing
“I was stringing beads on a thread when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has strung
“I have already strung beads on a thread.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad strung
“She had already strung beads on a thread when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill string
“I will string beads on a thread tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to string
“I'm going to string beads on a thread this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould string
“I would string beads on a thread if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to string
1. Threading beads
Here, string means to put things on a thread.
- She strung the beads.
2. Hanging lights or decorations
Here, string means to hang things in a line, for example lights on a tree.
- They strung lights on the tree.
A common mistake
1. Stringed in the Past Simple ❌
String is irregular: strung in the Past Simple and the past participle (She strung the beads on a thread). Stringed is only an adjective: stringed instruments (instruments with strings, like the guitar).
What's next?
You can conjugate to string. Now say it out loud.
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Related pages: string
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of string?+
Strung. It follows the i → u pattern: sting/stung, swing/swung, fling/flung, string/strung.
What does string mean as a noun?+
A string can be (1) a thin rope, (2) one of the thin wires on a guitar or a violin (guitar strings), (3) in computing, a line of letters or characters, or (4) a series of things (a string of wins).
What does no strings attached mean?+
No strings attached is an idiom: it means with no conditions. You often hear it about an offer or a gift: you don't have to give anything back.
What does pull strings mean?+
Pull strings is an idiom: it means to ask important people you know to help you get something. He pulled strings to get the job.
What does string someone along mean?+
String someone along is an idiom: it means to make someone believe a promise that you don't plan to keep. He's just stringing her along.
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/string
© 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.