Cling – English Verbs Conjugation

cling clings clinging clung

Cling means to hold on tightly, or to remain emotionally attached. Irregular verb: cling-clung-clung.

Meanings

To hold on tightly
To stick to
To be emotionally dependent

Common Collocations

cling to cling onto cling to hope clingy cling wrap

Tip for Learners

Cling to can be physical or emotional: cling to hope, cling to the past. Clingy describes excessive attachment.

Present Simple

I	cling
you	cling
he/she/it	clings
we	cling
they	cling

Examples - Present Simple

I cling to hope in difficult times.
You cling to old habits stubbornly.
She clings to her beliefs firmly.
We cling to each other in tough times.
They cling to traditional values.

Present Continuous

I	am clinging
you	are clinging
he/she/it	is clinging
we	are clinging
they	are clinging

Examples - Present Continuous

I am clinging to the edge carefully.
You are clinging to outdated ideas.
He is clinging to the rope tightly.
We are clinging to every opportunity.
They are clinging to power desperately.

Present Perfect

I	have clung
you	have clung
he/she/it	has clung
we	have clung
they	have clung

Examples - Present Perfect

I have clung to this dream for years.
You have clung to your principles admirably.
She has clung to her childhood memories.
We have clung together through hardship.
They have clung to their heritage.

Present Perfect Continuous

I	have been clinging
you	have been clinging
he/she/it	has been clinging
we	have been clinging
they	have been clinging

Examples - Present Perfect Continuous

I have been clinging to hope for months.
You have been clinging to that excuse for too long.
He has been clinging to his position.
We have been clinging to each other lately.
They have been clinging to old methods.

Past Simple

I	clung
you	clung
he/she/it	clung
we	clung
they	clung

Examples - Past Simple

I clung to the branch during the storm.
You clung to your mother as a child.
She clung to her independence fiercely.
We clung to the raft for survival.
They clung to their beliefs despite pressure.

Past Continuous

I	was clinging
you	were clinging
he/she/it	was clinging
we	were clinging
they	were clinging

Examples - Past Continuous

I was clinging to the ledge when help arrived.
You were clinging to hope all along.
He was clinging to the side of the boat.
We were clinging to each other in fear.
They were clinging to power until the end.

Past Perfect

I	had clung
you	had clung
he/she/it	had clung
we	had clung
they	had clung

Examples - Past Perfect

I had clung to that memory for decades.
You had clung to false hope too long.
She had clung to her job despite challenges.
We had clung to tradition before changing.
They had clung to their ideology firmly.

Past Perfect Continuous

I	had been clinging
you	had been clinging
he/she/it	had been clinging
we	had been clinging
they	had been clinging

Examples - Past Perfect Continuous

I had been clinging to the rope for hours.
You had been clinging to that dream for years.
He had been clinging to life barely.
We had been clinging together through trials.
They had been clinging to outdated practices.

Future Simple

I	will cling
you	will cling
he/she/it	will cling
we	will cling
they	will cling

Examples - Future Simple

I will cling to this opportunity.
You will cling to your values no matter what.
She will cling to her dreams forever.
We will cling together through this.
They will cling to their traditions.

Future Continuous

I	will be clinging
you	will be clinging
he/she/it	will be clinging
we	will be clinging
they	will be clinging

Examples - Future Continuous

I will be clinging to hope throughout.
You will be clinging to that idea for a while.
He will be clinging to his beliefs.
We will be clinging to each other in the storm.
They will be clinging to their positions.

Future Perfect

I	will have clung
you	will have clung
he/she/it	will have clung
we	will have clung
they	will have clung

Examples - Future Perfect

I will have clung to this hope for years.
You will have clung to your principles always.
She will have clung to her dreams forever.
We will have clung together through everything.
They will have clung to tradition for generations.

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
they	will have been clinging

Examples - Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been clinging to hope for too long.
You will have been clinging to that excuse.
She will have been clinging to memories.
We will have been clinging together for years.
They will have been clinging to power desperately.