Past Tense of Tear? Tore or Torn?

Tear is in the present tense. Tore is the simple past, and torn is the past participle.‍

What’s the past tense of “tear”?

The verb tear is when “someone pulls or rips something apart.”

Tear is an irregular verb (does not follow the standard “ed” past tense formation).

Tore is the simple past tense form; torn is the past participle form.

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Examples of “tore” in the past tense.

‍Look at  the following table for past tense sentences using the verb “tear” with four examples:

Examples: “Tore” in past tense sentences

Mary tore a piece of paper from her notebook.

Last week, we tore down the old shed in the backyard.

He tore the wrapping paper off the gift excitedly.

The strong wind tore branches from the trees during the storm.

Verb tenses of tear

Tense	Past	Present	Future
Simple	I tore	I tear	I will tear
Continuous	I was tearing	I am tearing	I will be tearing
Perfect	I had torn	I have torn	I will have torn
Perfect Continuous	I had been tearing	I have been tearing	I will have been tearing

• To tear is the present tense:
• Tears is third-person present singular: 
• Tearing is the present participle:
• Tore is the simple past:
•  Will tear is the future tense:.
• Torn is the past participle: ‍

When to use tore vs. torn

Both tore and torn  are verb forms in English used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past.  Look a these;

• She tore the paper into pieces. (simple past)

The first sentence uses  simple past tense to  describe the action or event that happened in the past and is now completed. 

• The paper had already been torn before I got there. (past participle)

The second sentence uses the past participle ( torn) to show  the state resulting from the action in the past. ‍

“Tear”, present tense, used in sentences

• I tear open the envelope to see what’s inside.
• She tears the paper into small pieces.
• Tearing wrapping paper off gifts is always fun.
• He tears off a piece of bread to feed the ducks.
• Can you tear the page out of the notebook?

“Tore”, past tense, in sentences

• Yesterday, he tore his shirt while playing outside.
• She tore the photograph in half in a fit of anger.
• They tore down the old building to make way for a new one.
• The dog tore up the newspaper and scattered it all over the floor.
• He tore through the wrapping paper to get to his gift.

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“Torn”, (past participle), used in sentences

• The letter had already been torn when I found it.
• The paper had been torn into shreds by the wind.
• The fabric had been torn beyond repair.
• The poster had been torn down by vandals.
• His heart was torn between two conflicting desires.

Synonyms of “tear”:

• Rip
• Rend
• Split
• Shred
• Gash
• Lacerate
• Slash
• Cut
• Puncture
• Mutilate
• Cleave
• Sever
• Damage
• Tear Apart
• Tear Asunder

Origin of the word “tear”:

From Etymology Online on “tear” (v.):

Old English “teran” (class IV strong verb; past tense “tær,” past participle “toren”) meaning “to pull apart by force,” derived from Proto-Germanic “*teraną.”