Conjugation of "Stink" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
to emit a strong unpleasant smell
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All 12 Tenses of "Stink"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "stink" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I stink |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I stinked |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will stink |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am stinking |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was stinking |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be stinking |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have stinked |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had stinked |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have stinked |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been stinking |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been stinking |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been stinking |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Stink" — Stank
The past simple of "stink" is "stank". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "stink" is irregular, "stank" 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 "Stink" — Stunk
The past participle of "stink" is "stunk". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have stunk"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was stunk"). Because "stink" is irregular, "stunk" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Stink" Regular or Irregular?
"Stink" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "stink", past simple "stank", and past participle "stunk". The 3rd-person singular present is "stinks" and the present participle/gerund is "stinking". Conjugation pattern: stink > stank > stunk (ablaut, like sink/sank/sunk); stunk also used as past simple in informal AmE.
Conjugation pattern: stink > stank > stunk (ablaut, like sink/sank/sunk); stunk also used as past simple in informal AmE
How to Pronounce "Stink" and Its Forms
Stink: /stɪŋk/ — Stress pattern: O
The vowel sound is short /ɪ/ like in 'sit'. Stress is on the single syllable.
Common mispronunciation of "stink"
Avoid 'stink' rhyming with 'blink'—the vowel is short, not a long /aɪ/ diphthong.
How to Use "Stink" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use stink (not smell) when describing something that smells really bad or unpleasant.
V + of (stink of garbage)V + (gerund) to mean continuous action
Example Sentences with "Stink" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: Your shoes stink after playing football. A2
Common Collocations with "Stink"
- stink of sweat
- stink up the room
- stink to high heaven
When to Use "Stink" vs Similar Verbs
"stink" vs "smell"
Smell is neutral; stink always means very bad smell
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- reek — stronger, more intense smell
- pong — informal British English
- smell — neutral, can be good or bad
Antonyms: smell good, fragrant
Common Mistakes with "Stink"
-
Wrong: She stink often.
Correct: She stinks often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Stink"
Old English 'stincan' (to smell); related to Dutch 'stinken' and German 'stinken'
Other Forms of "Stink"
- Adjective: stinky
Conjugation Tables for "Stink"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not stink · He does not stink
- Simple past: I did not stink · She did not stink
- Present perfect: I have not stunk · He has not stunk
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you stink? · Does he stink?
- Simple past: Did you stink?
- Present perfect: Have you stunk?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is stunk
- Simple past passive: It was stunk
- Present perfect passive: It has been stunk
Frequently Asked Questions About "Stink"
- Is "stink" regular or irregular?
- "stink" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "stinked" and past participle is "stinked". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "stink"?
- The simple past of "stink" is "stinked".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "stink"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "stinked".