How to Use Bended or Bent (Explained, With Examples)

What's the past tense of "bend"?

The simple past tense of bend is bent, and the past participle is also bent. Use bent for both simple past and past participle forms.

Definition of bend

The Oxford English Dictionary defines bend as "to lean, or make something lean, in a particular direction; to curve or cause to curve." It's used in both literal and figurative senses, from physical bending to changing direction.

• The past tense of bend is bent.

• The past participle of bend is bent.

Verb forms of 'bend'

Is "bend" a regular or irregular verb?

Note: Regular verbs end in -ed in the past tense. Any other verb ending is considered irregular.

While an irregular verb, 'bend' shows a highly common verb-conjugation pattern. Similar to other verbs like sleep/slept, feed/fed, and speed/sped, bend uses one form for all past tenses (and in the present perfect).

When to use "bent" (past) vs. "bent" (participle)

He bent and kissed her.

I've bent over backwards to help him.

The participle form of a verb (shown in the second sentence) uses the auxiliary verb have as a contraction, I've.

When auxiliaries like have or had appear in the same sentence as a past participle verb form, this indicates that the verb's aspect is in the present or past perfect, and not the simple past tense.

Remember, a participle always uses a helper verb to form the complete tense or aspect. Simple tenses, on the other hand, can stand on their own.

Sentence examples: bend, bent, bent

Synonyms & nearby words

Origin of the verb bend

Old English bendan "to bend a bow, bring into a curved state; confine with a string, fetter," causative of bindan "to bind," from Proto-Germanic base *band- "string, band".

Practice: "Bend" conjugations

FAQs

Sources

1. Oxford English Dictionary. "bend, v." OED Online. Oxford University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
2. Cambridge Dictionary. "bend." Cambridge University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.