Irregular verb
The verb to tear
tear → tore → torn
B1Meaning: to pull paper or cloth into pieces · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they tear·he/she/it tears - Past Simple:
tore(pronounced /tɔː/) - Past participle:
torn(ends in -orn, like wear → worn) - -ing form:
tearing
Conjugation of the verb to tear
Present Simple
| I | tear |
| You | tear |
| He / She / It | tears |
| We | tear |
| You (pl.) | tear |
| They | tear |
Past Simple
| I | tore |
| You | tore |
| He / She / It | tore |
| We | tore |
| You (pl.) | tore |
| They | tore |
All the forms of the verb to tear
Present Simple
Full pagetear / tears
“Don't tear the paper.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are tearing
“I am tearing the paper right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagetore
“She tore the letter into pieces.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were tearing
“I was tearing the paper when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has torn
“I have already torn the paper.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad torn
“She had already torn the paper when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill tear
“I will tear the paper tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to tear
“I'm going to tear the paper this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould tear
“I would tear the paper if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to tear
1. Pulling something into pieces
- He tore the page.
- My jeans are torn.
2. Tear up
Two meanings: to tear into small pieces, or to start to cry a little.
- She tore up the contract.
- I teared up at the ending.
3. Tear down
Tear down = to destroy a building or a wall.
- They tore down the old building.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Tear: /teə/ or /tɪə/?
Tear /teə/ is the verb (to pull into pieces), like bear and wear. Tear /tɪə/ is the noun (water from your eye), like ear and near.
2. Teared ❌
Tear → tore → torn follows the same pattern as wear → wore → worn, swear → swore → sworn and bear → bore → borne. So teared is wrong when you mean to pull into pieces.
What's next?
You can conjugate to tear. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of tear?+
The Past Simple of tear (to pull into pieces) is tore. The past participle is torn. Tear → tore → torn. Other verbs in -ear follow the same pattern: wear → wore → worn, swear → swore → sworn.
How do you pronounce tear?+
There are two different words with the same spelling. The verb tear (to pull into pieces) is /teə/, like bear and wear. The noun tear (a drop of water from your eye when you cry) is /tɪə/, like ear and near. The context tells you which one.
What does tear up mean?+
Tear up has two meanings. (1) To tear something into small pieces: He tore up the letter. (2) To start to cry a little: I teared up during the film. For meaning 2, the past is regular: teared up.
What is the difference between tear and rip?+
Both mean to pull something into pieces. Tear is more general, and the action can be careful: She tore a page out of her notebook. Rip is quicker and more violent, often with cloth: He ripped his jeans on the fence. They are very close.
Is it tore or teared?+
For the verb meaning to pull into pieces, say tore and torn. Teared is wrong for this meaning. One exception: teared up exists and means to start to cry a little. It comes from the noun tear (from your eye).
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/tear
© 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.