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Bite past tense: bit, bitten
cut with teeth
Bite is an irregular English verb: the past simple of bite is bit and the past participle is bitten. Learn the three forms together — bite – bit – bitten.
Verb forms
Base form
bite
/baɪt/
Past Simple
bit
/bɪt/
Past Participle
bitten
/ˈbɪtn/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · bite
Some dogs bite when they feel threatened.
Past Simple · bit
A mosquito bit me on the arm.
Past Participle · bitten
He has been bitten by the travel bug.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I bite he / she / it bites | I bit | I have bitten |
| Present Continuous:I am biting · he / she / it is biting | ||
Grammar guide
Bite belongs to the ABC group: all three forms are different (bite – bit – bitten), so each form has to be learnt separately.
- Past simple – bit: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – bitten: after have, has or had (present perfect, past perfect) and after be in the passive voice.
- Questions and negatives in the past simple use did + the base form: Did you bite…? I didn’t bite.
Verbs with the same pattern
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about bite
- What is the past simple of bite?
- The past simple of bite is bit.
- What is the past participle of bite?
- The past participle of bite is bitten.
- What are the three forms of bite?
- The three forms are bite – bit – bitten: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is bite a regular or an irregular verb?
- Bite is irregular: its past simple is bit, not bited.