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

/hɜːrt/ A1 Irregular

To cause physical or emotional pain to someone or something.

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All 12 Tenses of "Hurt"

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

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

Past Tense of "Hurt" — Hurt

The past simple of "hurt" is "hurt". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "hurt" is irregular, "hurt" 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.

  • Be careful not to hurt yourself with the knife. A1
  • His words hurt her feelings deeply. A2
  • The scandal hurt the company's reputation significantly. B1

Past Participle of "Hurt" — Hurt

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

  • Be careful not to hurt yourself with the knife. A1
  • His words hurt her feelings deeply. A2
  • The scandal hurt the company's reputation significantly. B1

Is "Hurt" Regular or Irregular?

"Hurt" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "hurt", past simple "hurt", and past participle "hurt". The 3rd-person singular present is "hurts" and the present participle/gerund is "hurting". Conjugation pattern: zero-change irregular: hurt-hurt-hurt.

Conjugation pattern: zero-change irregular: hurt-hurt-hurt

How to Pronounce "Hurt" and Its Forms

Hurt: /hɜːrt/ — Stress pattern: O

The 'ur' sound is like in 'bird' not 'her'. The final 't' is sharp and clear.

Common mispronunciation of "hurt"

Some confuse the vowel sound with 'heart' /hɑːrt/ instead of /hɜːrt/.

How to Use "Hurt" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use for both physical pain and emotional suffering. Works with reflexive pronouns: 'I hurt myself.'

  • S + V + O
  • S + V + reflexive

Example Sentences with "Hurt" in Different Tenses

  • Simple Present: His words hurt her feelings deeply. A2
  • Simple Past: Be careful not to hurt yourself with the knife. A1

Common Collocations with "Hurt"

  • hurt feelings
  • hurt someone's pride
  • it hurts

When to Use "Hurt" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

  • injure — for physical damage to body or structure
  • wound — for serious physical or emotional injury

Antonyms: heal, help

Common Mistakes with "Hurt"

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

Other Forms of "Hurt"

  • Adjective: hurtful

Conjugation Tables for "Hurt"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

  • Simple present: Do you hurt? · Does he hurt?
  • Simple past: Did you hurt?
  • Present perfect: Have you hurt?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Hurt"

Is "hurt" regular or irregular?
"hurt" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "hurt" and past participle is "hurt". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "hurt"?
The simple past of "hurt" is "hurt".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "hurt"?
Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "hurt".

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