Conjugation of "Fly" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To move through the air on wings or in an aircraft.
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All 12 Tenses of "Fly"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "fly" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I fly |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I flied |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will fly |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am flying |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was flying |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be flying |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have flied |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had flied |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have flied |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been flying |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been flying |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been flying |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Fly" — Flew
The past simple of "fly" is "flew". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "fly" is irregular, "flew" 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.
Past Participle of "Fly" — Flown
The past participle of "fly" is "flown". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have flown"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was flown"). Because "fly" is irregular, "flown" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Fly" Regular or Irregular?
"Fly" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "fly", past simple "flew", and past participle "flown". The 3rd-person singular present is "flies" and the present participle/gerund is "flying". Conjugation pattern: ablaut: fly-flew-flown.
Conjugation pattern: ablaut: fly-flew-flown
How to Pronounce "Fly" and Its Forms
Fly: /flaɪ/ — Stress pattern: O
The vowel sound is long like the letter 'I'.
How to Use "Fly" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use for birds moving through air or traveling by plane.
S + V + adverbialS + V + to + location
Example Sentences with "Fly" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: Most birds fly south in winter to find food. A1
- Simple Future: We will fly to Paris next month on an airplane. A2
Common Collocations with "Fly"
- fly to a place — We fly to Paris every summer.
- fly high — The eagle flies high in the sky.
- fly a plane — She flies a plane as a professional pilot.
- fly directly — This flight flies directly to Tokyo.
- fly away — The birds flew away when we approached.
When to Use "Fly" vs Similar Verbs
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- soar — describes graceful upward movement through air
- hover — when staying in one spot while airborne
Common Mistakes with "Fly"
-
Wrong: The bird fly high.
Correct: The bird flies high.
Add "s" for third-person singular (it/she/he). -
Wrong: I am fly to London.
Correct: I am flying to London.
Use present participle (flying), not base form, with "am". -
Wrong: The plane flied yesterday.
Correct: The plane flew yesterday.
Past tense is "flew", not "flied".
Origin and Etymology of "Fly"
Old English 'fleogan', related to flight and fleeing.
Other Forms of "Fly"
- Noun: flight
Conjugation Tables for "Fly"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not fly · He does not fly
- Simple past: I did not fly · She did not fly
- Present perfect: I have not flown · He has not flown
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you fly? · Does he fly?
- Simple past: Did you fly?
- Present perfect: Have you flown?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is flown
- Simple past passive: It was flown
- Present perfect passive: It has been flown
Frequently Asked Questions About "Fly"
- Is "fly" regular or irregular?
- "fly" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "flied" and past participle is "flied". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "fly"?
- The simple past of "fly" is "flied".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "fly"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "flied".
- What's a common mistake with "fly"?
- Add "s" for third-person singular (it/she/he). Wrong: "The bird fly high." Correct: "The bird flies high."