← All irregular verbsIrregular Verbs
Breed past tense: bred, bred
produce offspring
Breed is an irregular English verb: the past simple of breed is bred and the past participle is bred. Learn the three forms together — breed – bred – bred.
Verb forms
Base form
breed
/briːd/
Past Simple
bred
/bred/
Past Participle
bred
/bred/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · breed
These farmers breed sheep for wool.
Past Simple · bred
They bred horses on the family farm for decades.
Past Participle · bred
These dogs have been bred for their gentle nature.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I breed he / she / it breeds | I bred | I have bred |
| Present Continuous:I am breeding · he / she / it is breeding | ||
Grammar guide
Breed belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (bred). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – bred: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – bred: 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 breed…? I didn’t breed.
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about breed
- What is the past simple of breed?
- The past simple of breed is bred.
- What is the past participle of breed?
- The past participle of breed is bred.
- What are the three forms of breed?
- The three forms are breed – bred – bred: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is breed a regular or an irregular verb?
- Breed is irregular: its past simple is bred, not breeded.