What's the past tense of "bite"?
The simple past tense of bite is bit, and the past participle is bitten. Use bit for simple past tense and bitten for past participle forms.
Definition of bite
The Oxford English Dictionary defines bite as "to use the teeth to cut into something, typically food." It's an irregular verb that doesn't follow the standard "-ed" pattern for past tenses.
- The past tense of bite is bit.
- The past participle of bite is bitten.
Verb forms of 'bite'
Is "bite" a regular or irregular verb?
Note: Regular verbs end in -ed in the past tense. Any other verb ending is considered irregular.
The verb bite is irregular. Its past tense form is bit and past participle is bitten, not "bited." This is a pattern shared with a small group of English verbs, and it's important to recognize when using "bite" in different contexts.
When to use "bit" vs. "bitten"
The dog bit the mailman yesterday.
The dog has bitten three people this week.
The participle form of a verb (shown in the second sentence) uses the auxiliary verb have.
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.
Similar irregular verbs
Sentence examples: bite, bit, bitten
• The dog bites when it's scared.
• I bite my nails when I'm nervous.
• She bites into the apple carefully.
• The dog bit the mailman yesterday.
• She bit into the apple.
• I bit my tongue during the meeting.
• The dog has bitten three people this week.
• I have been bitten by mosquitoes.
• She has bitten her lip in concentration.
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for bite
Nearby phrases
Practice: "Bite" conjugations
The dog _____ the ball yesterday.
She has _____ her lip in concentration.
The dog _____ when it's scared.
They _____ into the sandwich together.
I will _____ into the apple carefully.
FAQs
What is the past tense of "bite"?
What is the past participle of "bite"?
Is "bited" ever correct?
Is "bite" a regular or irregular verb?
What are some common phrases with "bite"?
Sources
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Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner. "Bite, v." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
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Huddleston, Rodney, and Geoffrey K. Pullum. "The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language." Cambridge University Press, 2002. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
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