The verb to swear · Conjugation
Past Simple of swear
The answer: swore
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to swear is swore.
Example: She swore to tell the truth.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | swore |
| You | swore |
| He / She / It | swore |
| We | swore |
| You (pl.) | swore |
| They | swore |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She has swore ❌
Swore is the Past Simple: She swore. ✓ Sworn is the past participle: She has sworn. ✓ After have or has, always use sworn.
2. Two meanings: a promise OR bad words
The context tells you the meaning. I swear I'll come is a promise. Stop swearing! means stop saying bad words.
3. Swear in = to make an official promise
The president was sworn in means the president made an official promise at the start of the new job. It is a formal phrasal verb.
Practice quiz
What's next?
Master the Past Simple of swear when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
Practise the Past Simple of swear on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of swear, and you follow each student
The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestThe English contest tests the Past Simple of swear in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of swear?+
The Past Simple of swear is swore. The past participle is sworn. Swear → swore → sworn.
What are the meanings of swear?+
Swear has two different meanings. (1) To make a serious promise: I swear I'll do it. (2) To say rude, bad words: Don't swear in front of children.
Is it swore or sweared?+
Swear is irregular. Its Past Simple is swore and its past participle is sworn. Never sweared.
What does swear word mean?+
A swear word is a rude, bad word. Don't use swear words means don't say rude words. Another name is a curse word.
What does I swear by it mean?+
I swear by it means I really believe it is good, and I recommend it. My grandma swears by this soup when you have a cold. You use it to say that something really works.
Related pages: swear 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/swear/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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to swear are coming soon.