IRREGULAR VERBS
Irregular verbs Regular verbs
cling, clings, clung, clinging
Synonyms: adhere, stick, attach, hold on, grip
Antonyms: release, let go, detach, loosen, abandon
The verb "cling" is a descriptive word in English, often associated with the action of holding on tightly to something. It is an irregular verb, following its unique conjugation pattern. In the present simple tense, "cling" follows its base form for most subjects: "I cling," "you cling," "he/she/it clings," and so forth. For example, "She clings to her teddy bear at night." In the past simple tense, "cling" changes to "clung." This form is used to describe past actions of holding on tightly. For instance, "He clung to the edge of the cliff." The past participle of "cling" is also "clung." When forming perfect tenses, such as present perfect or past perfect, the past participle is combined with auxiliary verbs. An example sentence is "They have clung to each other through thick and thin." Understanding the irregular conjugation of "cling" is important for accurately describing actions related to holding on tightly. The verb "cling" is also used in various idiomatic expressions, adding to its depth and richness in the English language.
Irregular verbs in English are special verbs that don't follow standard rules for changing forms. You need to memorize their specific forms instead of following regular patterns.
Regular verbs are verbs that follow a consistent pattern when forming their past tense and past participle by adding "-ed" to the base form.
CLING - PRESENT SIMPLE | |
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★ i | cling |
★ you | cling |
★ he/she/it | clings |
★ we | cling |
★ you | cling |
★ they | cling |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Present Simple: |
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- I cling to hope in difficult times. |
- You cling to old memories. |
- He clings to outdated ideas. | She clings to her teddy bear at night. |
- We cling to traditions. |
- You (plural) cling to each other in times of need. |
- They cling to the past. |
CLING - PRESENT CONTINUOUS | |
★ i am | clinging |
★ you are | clinging |
★ he/she/it is | clinging |
★ we are | clinging |
★you are | clinging |
★ they are | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Present Continuous: |
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- I am clinging to the railing as the ship rocks. |
- You are clinging to the idea of perfection. |
- He is clinging to power. | She is clinging to her umbrella in the wind. |
- We are clinging to the edge of the cliff. |
- You (plural) are clinging to outdated methods. |
- They are clinging to hope. |
CLING - PRESENT PERFECT | |
★ i have | clung |
★ you have | clung |
★ he/she/it has | clung |
★ we have | clung |
★ you have | clung |
★ they have | clung |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Present Perfect: |
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- I have clung to my beliefs despite criticism. |
- You have clung to your dreams. |
- He has clung to the same routine. | She has clung to her principles. |
- We have clung to each other through tough times. |
- You (plural) have clung to tradition. |
- They have clung to their possessions. |
CLING - PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
★ i have been | clinging |
★ you have been | clinging |
★ he/she/it has been | clinging |
★ we have been | clinging |
★ you have been | clinging |
★ they have been | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Present Perfect Continuous: |
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- I have been clinging to the hope of a better future. |
- You have been clinging to the past. |
- He has been clinging to power. | She has been clinging to her teddy bear since childhood. |
- We have been clinging to each other for support. |
- You (plural) have been clinging to outdated ideas. |
- They have been clinging to their traditions. |
CLING - PAST SIMPLE | |
★ i | clung |
★ you | clung |
★ he/she/it | clung |
★ we | clung |
★ you | clung |
★ they | clung |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Past Simple: |
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- I clung to my mother's hand when I was scared. |
- You clung to the hope of finding a solution. |
- He clung to the idea that everything would work out. | She clung to her childhood memories. |
- We clung to each other during the storm. |
- You (plural) clung to the belief that things would get better. |
- They clung to the past and couldn't move on. |
CLING - PAST CONTINUOUS | |
★ i was | clinging |
★ you were | clinging |
★ he/she/it was | clinging |
★ we were | clinging |
★ you were | clinging |
★ they were | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Past Continuous: |
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- I was clinging to the hope that everything would be okay. |
- You were clinging to the past instead of moving forward. |
- He was clinging to power even as his influence waned. | She was clinging to her umbrella in the wind. |
- We were clinging to each other for warmth. |
- You (plural) were clinging to outdated ideas. |
- They were clinging to the edge of the cliff for dear life. |
CLING - PAST PERFECT | |
★ i had | clung |
★ you had | clung |
★ he/she/it had | clung |
★ we had | clung |
★ you had | clung |
★ they had | clung |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Past Perfect: |
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- I had clung to the idea for years before realizing it was flawed. |
- You had clung to your dreams despite all obstacles. |
- He had clung to the hope of reconciliation. | She had clung to her teddy bear since childhood. |
- We had clung to the belief that things would improve. |
- You (plural) had clung to tradition without question. |
- They had clung to the memories of better times. |
CLING - PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
★ i had been | clinging |
★ you had been | clinging |
★ he/she/it had been | clinging |
★ we had been | clinging |
★ you had been | clinging |
★ they had been | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Past Perfect Continuous: |
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- I had been clinging to the hope of a reunion. |
- You had been clinging to outdated technology. |
- He had been clinging to power for far too long. | She had been clinging to the idea of perfection. |
- We had been clinging to each other for comfort. |
- You (plural) had been clinging to the past for too long. |
- They had been clinging to the hope of a better future. |
CLING - FUTURE SIMPLE | |
★ i will | cling |
★ you will | cling |
★ he/she/it will | cling |
★ we will | cling |
★ you will | cling |
★ they will | cling |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Future Simple: |
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- I will cling to my values no matter what. |
- You will cling to the memories of our time together. |
- He will cling to power until the very end. | She will cling to her faith in humanity. |
- We will cling to each other for support. |
- You (plural) will cling to the hope of a brighter future. |
- They will cling to tradition and resist change. |
CLING - FUTURE CONTINUOUS | |
★ i will be | clinging |
★ you will be | clinging |
★ he/she/it will be | clinging |
★ we will be | clinging |
★ you will be | clinging |
★ they will be | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Future Continuous: |
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- I will be clinging to my faith during the difficult times ahead. |
- You will be clinging to the memories of our time together. |
- He will be clinging to power until the very end. | She will be clinging to her faith in humanity. |
- We will be clinging to each other for support. |
- You (plural) will be clinging to the hope of a brighter future. |
- They will be clinging to tradition and resist change. |
CLING - FUTURE PERFECT | |
★ i will have | clung |
★ you will have | clung |
★ he/she/it will have | clung |
★ we will have | clung |
★ you will have | clung |
★ they will have | clung |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Future Perfect: |
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- I will have clung to my beliefs despite the challenges. |
- You will have clung to the past for too long. |
- He will have clung to power until the last moment. | She will have clung to her dreams and made them a reality. |
- We will have clung to each other through thick and thin. |
- You (plural) will have clung to tradition without question. |
- They will have clung to the memories of their youth. |
CLING - FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
★ i will have been | clinging |
★ you will have been | clinging |
★ he/she/it will have been | clinging |
★ we will have been | clinging |
★ you will have been | clinging |
★ they will have been | clinging |
Examples of verb 'cling' in the Future Perfect Continuous: |
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- I will have been clinging to the hope of a better tomorrow. |
- You will have been clinging to the past and missing out on the present. |
- He will have been clinging to outdated ideas. | She will have been clinging to her teddy bear for comfort. |
- We will have been clinging to each other for warmth. |
- You (plural) will have been clinging to tradition without understanding its meaning. |
- They will have been clinging to the belief that things will work out in the end. |