Burst or bursted? What’s the past tense of burst?
Irregular verbs come in various forms, but sometimes verbs show no change between the present, past and past participle verb forms. Such is the case with burst, and other irregular verbs like hurt, shut, bet and set.
The tire burst on the highway.
My throat had burst from all the shouting.
Verb forms of burst
| present | past | future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| simple | I burst | I burst | I will burst |
| continuous | I am bursting | I was bursting | I will be bursting |
| perfect | I have burst | I had burst | I will have burst |
| perfect continuous | I have been bursting | I had been bursting | I will have been bursting |
Let’s define the topic first. The verb burst, as defined by Collins Dictionary is understood as the following: “If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out.” For example, you might say, ‘It is not a good idea to burst a blister.’
Sentences in the present
| Sentence | Form/Notes |
|---|---|
| He bursts into the room every morning. | present simple (third person singular) |
| The roads are bursting with cars. | present continuous/participle |
| Every now and then you hear some bombs bursting. | present participle |
| It is easier to cope with short bursts of activity than with prolonged exercise. | present simple (plural noun) |
Burst in the past tense
| Sentence | Form/Notes |
|---|---|
| The balloon burst with confetti. | past simple |
| She had burst with emotion at the news. | past perfect (past participle) |
| Monsoons caused the river to burst its banks. | past simple |
| The pipe had burst and liquid leaked everywhere. | past perfect (past participle) |
Past tense vs. past participle of burst
If we remember our tenses, we know that participles use auxiliary verbs, such as had in the past perfect tense. Since the second sentence pairs the auxiliary had with burst, this signals that it’s the past participle verb form being used rather than the simple past tense.
True to its name, the simple past tense really is simpler, and it’s often used in simpler sentences. The past perfect, on the other hand, is a more dynamic way to describe what took place at a past time. It conveys past actions that occur in succession, and highlights their correct sequence (order that they took place). If you want to emphasize past events and their correct order, the past perfect tense is how we do so.
Verbs with one present and past tense
| base verb | past tense | past participle |
|---|---|---|
| burst | burst | burst |
| bet | bet | bet |
| shut | shut | shut |
| hit | hit | hit |
| set | set | set |
“burst” is like “hurt” or “shut”—its past tense stays “burst”.
Synonyms of burst
- explode
- blow up
- erupt
- detonate
Origin of the verb burst
From etymology online on burst (v.): Middle English bresten, from Old English berstan (intransitive) “break suddenly, shatter as a result of pressure from within”. The transitive sense (“to cause to break, cause to explode”) is from late 13c. The meaning “to issue suddenly and abundantly” is from c. 1300 (literal), mid-13c. (figurative). The meaning “break (into) sudden activity or expression” is from late 14c. Related: Bursting.
Learn more about grammar
Sources
- Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of burst.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/burst. Accessed 26 February, 2023.
Worksheet: ‘No change’ verbs
According to the blog post, what is the correct simple past tense of the verb “burst”?
What is the correct past participle form of the verb “burst”?
Which sentence correctly uses the past tense of “burst” as described in the post?
The blog post mentions other irregular verbs that have the same form for present, past, and past participle, just like “burst”. Which of these is one example from the list?
The form “bursted” is identified in the blog post as:
The water pipe _____ during the unexpected freeze.
He had _____ with laughter at the joke.
The dam _____ upstream, flooding the village.
By the time we arrived, the main balloon had already _____.
He _____ out laughing when he heard the news.
FAQs
What is the past tense of burst?
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Is ‘bursted’ a correct word?
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Does burst change form for past tense?
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How is burst used in past simple?
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When is burst used as past participle?
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Yash, D. "Burst or Bursted: What’s the Past Tense of Burst?." Grammarflex, Jun 25, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/burst-or-bursted-whats-the-past-tense-of-burst/.
