What is the past tense of "sustain"?

The past simple of "sustain" is "sustained". Good nutrition sustains the body's energy throughout the day.

What is the past participle of "sustain"?

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

What is a common mistake with "sustain"?

Wrong: "The program is sustained by volunteers.". Correct: "Volunteers sustain the program. (or The program is sustained by volunteers)". Active voice is more direct. 'Volunteers sustain' is clearer than 'is sustained by'.

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

Q: Is "sustain" regular or irregular?

"Sustain" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "sustain"?

/səˈsteɪn/ — Stress is on second syllable: sus-TAYN. The '-ain' sounds like 'ane' in 'rain'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Sustain"

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

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

Past Tense of "Sustain" — Sustained

The past simple of "sustain" is "sustained" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

Past Participle of "Sustain" — Sustained

The past participle of "sustain" is "sustained" — the same form as the past simple, since "sustain" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have sustained") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was sustained").

Is "Sustain" Regular or Irregular?

"Sustain" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "sustained". The 3rd-person singular present is "sustains" and the gerund/present participle is "sustaining".

Conjugation pattern: regular -ain ending: sustain → sustained

How to Pronounce "Sustain" and Its Forms

Sustain: /səˈsteɪn/ — Stress pattern: oO

Stress is on second syllable: sus-TAYN. The '-ain' sounds like 'ane' in 'rain'.

Common mispronunciation of "sustain"

Saying SUS-tayn with first-syllable stress is incorrect; use sus-TAYN.

Syllable breakdown: sus · tain

How to Use "Sustain" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use sustain with object: 'sustain growth', 'sustain interest'. Can also mean 'suffer injury': 'sustain an injury'.

S + sustain + NP

Example Sentences with "Sustain" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: The organization's mission is to sustain local communities. B2

Common Collocations with "Sustain"

sustain growth
sustain a lifestyle
sustain life
sustain momentum
sustain injuries

When to Use "Sustain" vs Similar Verbs

"sustain" vs "sustainable"

Sustain is verb; sustainable is adjective (able to be sustained).

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

maintain — when emphasizing keeping at current level or condition
support — when emphasizing physical or emotional holding up
uphold — when sustaining principles, values, or standards

Antonyms: abandon, halt

Common Mistakes with "Sustain"

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

Origin and Etymology of "Sustain"

From Latin sustinere meaning 'to hold up or support'.

'Sustainable development' is a key environmental and political concept worldwide.

Other Forms of "Sustain"

Noun: sustainability
Adjective: sustainable
Adverb: sustainably

Conjugation Tables for "Sustain"

Negative Forms

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

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you sustain? · Does he sustain?
Simple past: Did you sustain?
Present perfect: Have you sustained?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

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

Frequently Asked Questions About "Sustain"

Is "sustain" regular or irregular?: "sustain" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "sustained".
What is the past tense of "sustain"?: The simple past of "sustain" is "sustained".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "sustain"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I sustain every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am sustaining right now."