How to Use Swing (Irregular Verb Conjugations)

Last revised on October 20, 2024

Originally published April 17, 2023

5 min read

By Yash, D

The present tense verb, swing, is an irregular verb with one past verb conjugation, swung. Swinged is nonstandard, and not the correct past tense form.

Past Tense Of

How to Use Swing (Irregular Verb Conjugations)

What's the past tense of "swing"?

The simple past tense of swing is swung, and the present or past perfect), swing does not follow the same pattern—there is no "swang."

Definition of swing

The Oxford English Dictionary defines swing as "to move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis." It's used to describe pendulum motion, physical movement, or even shifts in opinion or mood.

The past tense of swing is swung.

The past participle of swing is swung.

Verb forms of 'swing'

Simple Cont. Perfect Perfect Cont.

Present

I/you/they swing • He/she/it swings

Past

I/you/they swung • He/she/it swung

Future

I/you/they will swing • He/she/it will swing

Present

I am/you are swinging • He/she/it is swinging

Past

I was/you were swinging • He/she/it was swinging

Future

I/you will be swinging • He/she/it will be swinging

Present

I/you have swung • He/she/it has swung

Past

I/you had swung • He/she/it had swung

Future

I/you will have swung • He/she/it will have swung

Present

I have been swinging • He/she/it has been swinging

Past

I had been swinging • He/she/it had been swinging

Future

I will have been swinging • He/she/it will have been swinging

Is "swing" a regular or irregular verb?

The verb swing is irregular. Its past tense and past participle forms are both swung, not "swinged." While you might expect it to follow the pattern of sing-sang-sung or ring-rang-rung, swing actually uses only one past form: swung.

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

She swung the door open.

I had swung and missed.

The verb swing uses the same form for both simple past tense and present or past perfect), it requires an auxiliary verb like have, has, or had. The simple past doesn't use a helper verb since it's a complete tense, so swung can stand alone in sentences, whereas participles require an auxiliary verb.

Similar irregular verbs

swing

Past: swung

Past part: swung

Sentence examples: swing, swung, swung

Swing (present tense)

• You have to swing the ax with force.

• He swings by most afternoons.

• Turn left, keep going forward, then swing to the left.

Swung (past simple)

• I'd swung the bat as hard as I could.

• She swung the door open.

• The child swung happily on the playground.

Swung (present or past perfect)

• I had swung and missed.

• He swung past me without a word.

• The gate has swung open in the wind.

Synonyms & nearby words

Synonyms for swing

sway rock oscillate pivot turn dangle suspend pendulate

Nearby phrases

swing by swing around swing back swing through swing vote swing open in full swing

Quotes from literature

I'm not promising anything, but there's a chance I may be able to swing something useful there.

—J. Christopher, Year of Comet

She swung her right and plugged Slingsby a perfect beauty in the eye.

—P. G. Wodehouse, Bill the Conqueror

Mr. Collins leaped to his feet and swung a round-house right at the witness.

—Sun, Baltimore

Common phrases with "swing"

a swing and a miss +

To attempt something and fail at it.

get in the swing of things / be back in full swing +

To return to activity or being productive.

to go with a swing +

When new people bring fresh perspectives and energy.

not enough room to swing a cat +

A space is very small or cramped.

to take a swing at something +

To try something new.

to swing for the bleachers +

To attempt something with the maximum amount of effort.

to swing both ways +

Said of people that are attracted to both men and women.

swings and roundabouts +

A situation where gains or advantages are offset by equal disadvantages.

Practice: 'Swing' conjugations

Question 1 of 5

The batter ______ at the first pitch and missed.

swings
swung
swinged

The old gate has ______ open in the wind all night.

swung
swinging
swinged

The children are happily ______ on the playground set.

swung
swings
swinging

Let's go to the park and ______ for a while.

swung
swing
swings

His opinion on the matter often ______ depending on who he talks to.

swings
swung
swinging

FAQs

What is the simple past tense of swing? +

"Swung" is the simple past tense form of the verb "swing". Examples include "The child swung happily on the playground" and "I swung my leg over the fence."

Is "swang" a correct past tense form? +

"Swang" is not a recognized past tense form of "swing". Unlike verbs following the sing-sang-sung pattern, "swing" does not use "swang".

Is "swinged" the past tense of swing? +

No, the past tense of "swing" is "swung". "Swung" is the simple past and past participle, not "swinged".

What is the past participle of swing? +

"Swung" is also the past participle of "swing". It is used with auxiliary verbs like has, have, or had to form perfect tenses, such as in the example "She has swung her leg over the fence."

How is "swung" used with auxiliary verbs? +

When "swung" is used with an auxiliary verb (like has, have, had, or is), it indicates a perfect or progressive tense. Helper verbs pair with the participle "swung" to create aspects showing completion or continuation.

Sources

Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner. "Swing, v." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Date of access 14 Oct. 2025.
Gale, Robert L. "Sinclair, Upton (20 September 1878–25 November 1968)" American National Biography. February, 2000. Date of access 14 Oct. 2025.
Sproat, Iain. "Wodehouse, Sir Pelham Grenville (1881–1975), writer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 01, 2017. OUP. Date of access 14 Oct. 2025.

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