Burn past tense: burnt/burned, burnt/burned
be on fire
Burn is an irregular English verb: the past simple of burn is burnt/burned and the past participle is burnt/burned. Learn the three forms together — burn – burnt/burned – burnt/burned.
Verb forms
Base form
/bɜːn/
Past Simple
/bɜːnt/, /bɜːnd/
Past Participle
/bɜːnt/, /bɜːnd/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · burn
Dry leaves burn very quickly.
Past Simple · burnt/burned
I burnt the toast again this morning.
Past Participle · burnt/burned
The letter had been burnt before anyone could read it.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I burn he / she / it burns | I burnt | I have burnt |
| Present Continuous:I am burning · he / she / it is burning | ||
Grammar guide
Burn belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (burnt/burned). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – burnt/burned: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – burnt/burned: 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 burn…? I didn’t burn.
Questions about burn
- What is the past simple of burn?
- The past simple of burn is burnt/burned.
- What is the past participle of burn?
- The past participle of burn is burnt/burned.
- What are the three forms of burn?
- The three forms are burn – burnt/burned – burnt/burned: base form, past simple and past participle.