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Answer: The past tense of the word “hurt” is also “hurt”. Unlike regular verbs, which typically take -ed in their past form (e.g., “walk” → “walked”), “hurt” is an irregular verb that does not change in the past tense or past participle.
Complete Explanation
“Hurt” belongs to a category of irregular verbs in English that have the same base, past, and past participle forms. Here’s a breakdown of how “hurt” works in different tenses:
| Tense | Example Sentence |
| Present | I hurt my knee while running. |
| Past | Yesterday, I hurt my back while lifting weights. |
| Past Participle | He has hurt his arm in the game. |
As you can see, “hurt” remains unchanged in all these cases.
Common Usage of “Hurt” in Sentences
Simple Past Tense:
1. She hurt her foot while playing soccer.
2. He hurt my feelings with his words.
Present Perfect Tense (Using “has/have + past participle”):
1. She has hurt herself many times while practising gymnastics.
2. They have hurt their reputation by spreading false news.
Past Perfect Tense (Using “had + past participle”):
1. By the time help arrived, he had hurt his leg badly.
2. She had hurt her arm before the competition.
Why Does “Hurt” Stay the Same in Past Tense?
Many irregular verbs in English come from Old English or Germanic roots, where verb forms were often influenced by pronunciation patterns rather than fixed rules. Words like “cut,” “put,” “let,” and “hit” follow the same pattern as “hurt,” and remain the same in their past and past participle forms.
Fun Fact About “Hurt”
Did you know that “hurt” can function as both a verb and an adjective?
- As a verb: “I hurt my arm.” (action)
- As an adjective: “He has a hurt expression on his face.” (describing a state)
Common Doubts in English
