bite
bites
biting
bit
Bite means to cut or grip with teeth. Irregular verb: bite-bit-bitten.
Meanings
- To cut with teeth
- To sting (insects)
- To take hold
Common Collocations
bite the bullet
bite off more than you can chew
bite your tongue
once bitten, twice shy
bite back
Tip for Learners
Bite the bullet means to face difficulty bravely. Bite your tongue means to stay silent.
Present Simple
| I | bite |
| you | bite |
| he/she/it | bites |
| we | bite |
| they | bite |
Examples - Present Simple
- I bite my nails when nervous.
- You bite off more than you can chew.
- She bites into the apple.
- We bite our tongues sometimes.
- They bite when threatened.
Present Continuous
| I | am biting |
| you | are biting |
| he/she/it | is biting |
| we | are biting |
| they | are biting |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am biting into a sandwich.
- You are biting your nails again.
- He is biting the apple.
- We are biting our tongues.
- They are biting into the steak.
Present Perfect
| I | have bitten |
| you | have bitten |
| he/she/it | has bitten |
| we | have bitten |
| they | have bitten |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have bitten my tongue.
- You have bitten off too much.
- She has bitten into the fruit.
- We have bitten the bullet.
- They have bitten someone before.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been biting |
| you | have been biting |
| he/she/it | has been biting |
| we | have been biting |
| they | have been biting |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been biting my nails all day.
- You have been biting your lip.
- He has been biting into apples.
- We have been biting our tongues.
- They have been biting things nervously.
Past Simple
| I | bit |
| you | bit |
| he/she/it | bit |
| we | bit |
| they | bit |
Examples - Past Simple
- I bit into the apple.
- You bit your tongue.
- She bit the sandwich.
- We bit the bullet.
- They bit the intruder.
Past Continuous
| I | was biting |
| you | were biting |
| he/she/it | was biting |
| we | were biting |
| they | were biting |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was biting into the steak.
- You were biting your nails then.
- He was biting the apple.
- We were biting our tongues.
- They were biting into their food.
Past Perfect
| I | had bitten |
| you | had bitten |
| he/she/it | had bitten |
| we | had bitten |
| they | had bitten |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had bitten my tongue before.
- You had bitten off too much.
- She had bitten into the fruit earlier.
- We had bitten the bullet.
- They had bitten someone.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been biting |
| you | had been biting |
| he/she/it | had been biting |
| we | had been biting |
| they | had been biting |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been biting my nails for years.
- You had been biting your lip.
- He had been biting into apples.
- We had been biting our tongues.
- They had been biting nervously.
Future Simple
| I | will bite |
| you | will bite |
| he/she/it | will bite |
| we | will bite |
| they | will bite |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will bite into the apple.
- You will bite the bullet.
- She will bite her tongue.
- We will bite into the sandwich.
- They will bite back.
Future Continuous
| I | will be biting |
| you | will be biting |
| he/she/it | will be biting |
| we | will be biting |
| they | will be biting |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be biting my nails.
- You will be biting into the steak.
- He will be biting the apple.
- We will be biting our tongues.
- They will be biting into their food.
Future Perfect
| I | will have bitten |
| you | will have bitten |
| he/she/it | will have bitten |
| we | will have bitten |
| they | will have bitten |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have bitten the bullet by then.
- You will have bitten into many apples.
- She will have bitten her tongue.
- We will have bitten the bullet.
- They will have bitten back.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been biting |
| you | will have been biting |
| he/she/it | will have been biting |
| we | will have been biting |
| they | will have been biting |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been biting my nails for years.
- You will have been biting your lip.
- He will have been biting into apples.
- We will have been biting our tongues.
- They will have been biting nervously.