Conjugation of "Wear" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
Have clothing or an accessory on one's body.
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All 12 Tenses of "Wear"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "wear" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I wear |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I wore |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will wear |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am wearing |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was wearing |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be wearing |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have worn |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had worn |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have worn |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been wearing |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been wearing |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been wearing |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Wear" — Wore
The past simple of "wear" is "wore". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "wear" is irregular, "wore" 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.
- She wore a blue dress to the party. A1
Past Participle of "Wear" — Worn
The past participle of "wear" is "worn". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have worn"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was worn"). Because "wear" is irregular, "worn" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Wear" Regular or Irregular?
"Wear" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "wear", past simple "wore", and past participle "worn". The 3rd-person singular present is "wears" and the present participle/gerund is "wearing". Conjugation pattern: WEAR/WORE/WORN (strong verb).
Conjugation pattern: WEAR/WORE/WORN (strong verb)
How to Pronounce "Wear" and Its Forms
Wear: /wɛr/ — Stress pattern: O
Rhymes with 'care' and 'share', not 'beer'.
Common mispronunciation of "wear"
Pronounced as 'ware' or 'weer' by non-natives.
How to Use "Wear" — Common Grammar Patterns
Irregular verb: wore (past), worn (participle). 'What are you wearing?' not 'What you wear?'
S + V + object (clothing)S + V + out (become damaged)
Example Sentences with "Wear" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: I wear glasses every day. A1
- Simple Past: She wore a blue dress to the party. A1
Common Collocations with "Wear"
- wear clothes
- wear a hat
- wear makeup
- wear out
When to Use "Wear" vs Similar Verbs
"wear" vs "where"
Different pronunciation and meaning (location).
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- have on — casual current state of wearing
- dress in — deliberately choosing specific clothing
- put on — action of beginning to wear something
Antonyms: remove, take off
Common Mistakes with "Wear"
-
Wrong: She wear often.
Correct: She wears often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Wear"
From Old English werian (to wear).
Conjugation Tables for "Wear"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not wear · He does not wear
- Simple past: I did not wear · She did not wear
- Present perfect: I have not worn · He has not worn
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you wear? · Does he wear?
- Simple past: Did you wear?
- Present perfect: Have you worn?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is worn
- Simple past passive: It was worn
- Present perfect passive: It has been worn
Frequently Asked Questions About "Wear"
- Is "wear" regular or irregular?
- "wear" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "wore" and past participle is "worn". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "wear"?
- The simple past of "wear" is "wore".
- What's the difference between the past simple and past participle of "wear"?
- The past simple is "wore" and the past participle is "worn". Use past simple for completed past actions ("I wore yesterday"). Use past participle with have/has ("I have worn").