What's the past tense of "shine"?
The verb shine has two past tense forms: shone (intransitive) and shined (transitive). Use shone when something produces light itself, and shined when causing something to shine.
Definition of shine
The Oxford English Dictionary defines shine as "to give out or reflect light; to be bright." As a transitive verb, it means "to aim or point light in a particular direction."
- The past tense of shine (intransitive) is shone.
- The past tense of shine (transitive) is shined.
Verb forms of 'shine'
Is "shine" a regular or irregular verb?
The verb shine is irregular. It has two different past tense forms depending on whether it's used transitively or intransitively: shone (intransitive) and shined (transitive). This dual form makes it unique among English verbs.
When to use "shone" vs. "shined"
The sun shone brightly through the clouds.
She shined her silver necklace until it sparkled.
The verb shine uses different forms depending on whether it's transitive or intransitive. When something produces light itself (intransitive), use shone. When causing something to shine or aiming light (transitive), use shined.
Similar irregular verbs
Other verbs that have different past tense forms for transitive and intransitive uses include similar patterns in English.
Sentence examples: shine, shone/shined, shone/shined
• The stars shine brightly in the night sky.
• She shines the flashlight down the dark hallway.
• The sun shines through the window every morning.
• The sun shone brightly through the clouds.
• The stars shone like diamonds in the sky.
• His eyes shone with excitement.
• She shined her silver necklace until it sparkled.
• He shined his shoes before the interview.
• The doctor shined the light in my eyes.
• The sun has shone all day.
• She has shined the silverware for the dinner party.
• The stars had shone brightly before the storm.
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for shine
Nearby phrases
Origin of the verb shine
Middle English shinen, from Old English scinan "shed, send forth, or give out light; be radiant, be resplendent, illuminate," of persons, "be conspicuous".
Practice: "Shine" conjugations
Which is correct? "Yesterday, the sun ____ brightly through the clouds."
Which is correct? "She ____ her silver necklace until it sparkled."
Which is correct? "He ____ with pride after winning the award."
Which is correct? "The doctor ____ the light in my eyes several times."
Which is correct? "The stars have ____ brightly all night."
FAQs
When to use "shined" vs "shone"?
When do I use "shone"?
When do I use "shined"?
Can "shone" be a past participle?
Can "shined" be a past participle?
Sources
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Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner. "Shine, v." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
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Chicago Manual of Style. "Shine, shone, shined." Chicago Manual of Style Online. Date of access 15 Jan. 2025.
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