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Dig past tense: dug, dug
make a hole
Dig is an irregular English verb: the past simple of dig is dug and the past participle is dug. Learn the three forms together — dig – dug – dug.
Verb forms
Base form
dig
/dɪɡ/
Past Simple
dug
/dʌɡ/
Past Participle
dug
/dʌɡ/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · dig
Dogs love to dig holes in the garden.
Past Simple · dug
They dug a well behind the house.
Past Participle · dug
The tunnel has been dug by hand.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I dig he / she / it digs | I dug | I have dug |
| Present Continuous:I am digging · he / she / it is digging | ||
Grammar guide
Dig belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (dug). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – dug: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – dug: 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 dig…? I didn’t dig.
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about dig
- What is the past simple of dig?
- The past simple of dig is dug.
- What is the past participle of dig?
- The past participle of dig is dug.
- What are the three forms of dig?
- The three forms are dig – dug – dug: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is dig a regular or an irregular verb?
- Dig is irregular: its past simple is dug, not digged.