What is the past tense of "bite"?

The past simple of "bite" is "bit". The dog bit the mailman's leg when he approached the gate.

What is a common mistake with "bite"?

Wrong: "The snake bited the hunter when he stepped into the forest.". Correct: "The snake bit the hunter when he stepped into the forest.". Irregular verb: past tense is 'bit' not 'bited'; present tense 'bites' adds -es.

Conjugation of "Bite" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: What is the past participle of "bite"?

The past participle of "bite" is "bitten". Use it after have/has/had: "I have bitten".

Q: Is "bite" regular or irregular?

"Bite" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: strong verb: bite-bit-bitten.

Q: How do you pronounce "bite"?

/baɪt/ — The vowel sound /aɪ/ is a diphthong (two sounds: ah-ee). The final 't' is unvoiced /t/; do not add 'd'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Bite"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "bite" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I bite`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I bit`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will bite`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am biting`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was biting`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be biting`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have bitten`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had bitten`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have bitten`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been biting`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been biting`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been biting`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Bite" — Bit

The past simple of "bite" is "bit". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "bite" is irregular, "bit" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

The dog bit the mailman's leg when he approached the gate. A1
The mosquito bit me several times during the camping trip. A2

Past Participle of "Bite" — Bitten

The past participle of "bite" is "bitten". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have bitten"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was bitten"). Because "bite" is irregular, "bitten" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

Is "Bite" Regular or Irregular?

"Bite" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "bite", past simple "bit", and past participle "bitten". The 3rd-person singular present is "bites" and the present participle/gerund is "biting". Conjugation pattern: strong verb: bite-bit-bitten.

Conjugation pattern: strong verb: bite-bit-bitten

How to Pronounce "Bite" and Its Forms

Bite: /baɪt/ — Stress pattern: O

The vowel sound /aɪ/ is a diphthong (two sounds: ah-ee). The final 't' is unvoiced /t/; do not add 'd'.

Common mispronunciation of "bite"

Some learners pronounce it as /bɪt/ (short i) instead of /baɪt/ (long diphthong); others confuse past tense 'bit' pronunciation with present.

How to Use "Bite" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use for action with teeth; distinguish from 'eat' which is more general consumption.

S + V + object (noun phrase)
S + V + preposition + object (bite off, bite down)

Example Sentences with "Bite" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: The dog bit the mailman's leg when he approached the gate. A1

Common Collocations with "Bite"

bite off
bite down
dog bite
mosquito bite
bite the dust

When to Use "Bite" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

nip — when describing quick or pinching bites with teeth
gnaw — when indicating repeated biting and tearing of hard

Common Mistakes with "Bite"

Wrong: She bite often.
Correct: She bites often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Bite"

From Old English bītan, related to German beißen; cognate with bit (past tense).

Conjugation Tables for "Bite"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not bite · He does not bite
Simple past: I did not bite · She did not bite
Present perfect: I have not bitten · He has not bitten

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you bite? · Does he bite?
Simple past: Did you bite?
Present perfect: Have you bitten?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is bitten
Simple past passive: It was bitten
Present perfect passive: It has been bitten

Frequently Asked Questions About "Bite"

Is "bite" regular or irregular?: "bite" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "bit" and past participle is "bitten". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "bite"?: The simple past of "bite" is "bit".
What's the difference between the past simple and past participle of "bite"?: The past simple is "bit" and the past participle is "bitten". Use past simple for completed past actions ("I bit yesterday"). Use past participle with have/has ("I have bitten").