The verb to tear · Conjugation
Past Simple of tear
The answer: tore
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to tear is tore.
Example: She tore the letter into pieces.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | tore |
| You | tore |
| He / She / It | tore |
| We | tore |
| You (pl.) | tore |
| They | tore |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Tear /teə/ (rip) or tear /tɪə/ (cry)?
Same spelling, two different sounds. The verb (to pull into pieces) is /teə/. The noun (water from your eye) is /tɪə/. Words like this are called homographs: same spelling, different meaning.
2. My shirt is teared ❌
The past participle is torn: My shirt is torn. Never teared for this meaning.
3. Tear up = cry a little
When tear up means to start crying a little, the past is regular: I teared up at the end of the film.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of tear?+
The Past Simple of tear is tore (pronounced /tɔː/). The past participle is torn. Tear → tore → torn, like wear → wore → worn.
How do you pronounce tear (rip) and tear (cry)?+
They are two different words with the same spelling! The verb tear (to pull into pieces) is /teə/: Don't tear the paper. The noun tear (water from your eye) is /tɪə/: A tear ran down her cheek.
What does tear up mean?+
Tear up has two meanings: (1) to tear something into pieces, (2) to start to cry a little. He tore up the letter. I teared up at the end of the film. For meaning 2, the past is regular: teared up.
Is it didn't tear or didn't tore?+
Say didn't tear: She didn't tear the paper. After didn't, use the base form, tear.
Is teared a word?+
Not for the verb meaning to pull into pieces: say tore and torn. But teared up exists. It means to cry a little, and this form is regular.
Related pages: tear 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/tear/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 tear are coming soon.