Irregular verbs  Regular verbs

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spring, springs, springing, sprung, sprang

Synonyms: leap, jump, bound, vault, bounce

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Antonyms: land, fall, drop, sit, stay still

The Verb Spring – Definition, Usage, and Clarification


The verb spring is an irregular verb that means to move or jump suddenly and rapidly. Figuratively, it means to originate or appear suddenly.


VERB FORMS


■ Base Form: spring
■ Past Simple: sprang (or sprung)
■ Past Participle: sprung
■ Present Participle/Gerund: springing


USAGE AND CONTEXT


'Spring' conveys a sense of sudden, energetic movement or appearance.


1. Jumping or Moving Suddenly
This is its primary, literal meaning.


■ Motion: 'The cat watched the mouse and then suddenly sprang.'
■ Action: 'He sprang to his feet when he heard his name called.'


2. Originating or Arising From
This is a figurative use for ideas and sources.


■ Ideas: 'Her business idea sprang from a personal need she identified.'


3. Appearing Suddenly
The phrasal verb 'spring up' means to appear or be established quickly.


■ Appearance: 'New coffee shops are springing up all over the city.'


ℹ IMPORTANT: 'SPRANG' VS. 'SPRUNG'


The use of the past forms is a common point of confusion.


■ Past Tense (Simple Past): Traditionally and in formal writing, the correct simple past tense is sprang.
■ Correct: 'The tiger sprang on its prey.'


■ Past Participle: The correct past participle (used with 'have,' 'has,' 'had') is sprung.
■ Correct: 'The trap has sprung.'


■ Modern Informal Usage: In modern informal English, it has become very common to use sprung for the simple past tense as well ('The tiger sprung.'). While common in speech, sprang is still considered the more correct form for the simple past in formal writing.