fence
fences
fencing
fenced
Fence means to surround with a fence or to engage in sword fighting. Regular verb: fence-fenced-fenced.
Meanings
- To surround with a barrier
- To practice sword fighting
- To sell stolen goods (slang)
Common Collocations
fence in
fence off
fence with
fenced area
Tip for Learners
Fence can mean enclose or sword fight. "They fenced off the garden."
Present Simple
| I | fence |
| you | fence |
| he/she/it | fences |
| we | fence |
| they | fence |
Examples - Present Simple
- I fence competitively at the local club.
- You fence around the issue instead of addressing it.
- He fences stolen goods through underground networks.
- We fence our property to keep animals out.
- They fence with words in every debate.
Present Continuous
| I | am fencing |
| you | are fencing |
| he/she/it | is fencing |
| we | are fencing |
| they | are fencing |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am fencing in the regional championship today.
- You are fencing with me about the real problem.
- She is fencing the backyard this weekend.
- We are fencing off the construction zone.
- They are fencing with opponents at the tournament.
Present Perfect
| I | have fenced |
| you | have fenced |
| he/she/it | has fenced |
| we | have fenced |
| they | have fenced |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have fenced since I was twelve years old.
- You have fenced around my questions all day.
- He has fenced in the entire pasture.
- We have fenced against the best in the country.
- They have fenced off the dangerous areas.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been fencing |
| you | have been fencing |
| he/she/it | has been fencing |
| we | have been fencing |
| they | have been fencing |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been fencing competitively for fifteen years.
- You have been fencing with that question for hours.
- She has been fencing since her college days.
- We have been fencing our land since we bought it.
- They have been fencing intellectually throughout the debate.
Past Simple
| I | fenced |
| you | fenced |
| he/she/it | fenced |
| we | fenced |
| they | fenced |
Examples - Past Simple
- I fenced in the national championship last year.
- You fenced with him about politics at dinner.
- He fenced the yard to protect his garden.
- We fenced against international competitors.
- They fenced off the crime scene immediately.
Past Continuous
| I | was fencing |
| you | were fencing |
| he/she/it | was fencing |
| we | were fencing |
| they | were fencing |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was fencing when I injured my shoulder.
- You were fencing verbally with your opponent.
- She was fencing the perimeter when help arrived.
- We were fencing at the club when the fire started.
- They were fencing in the finals when it was postponed.
Past Perfect
| I | had fenced |
| you | had fenced |
| he/she/it | had fenced |
| we | had fenced |
| they | had fenced |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had fenced for years before turning professional.
- You had fenced around the truth before admitting it.
- He had fenced off the area before the authorities arrived.
- We had fenced competitively before focusing on coaching.
- They had fenced the property before building the house.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been fencing |
| you | had been fencing |
| he/she/it | had been fencing |
| we | had been fencing |
| they | had been fencing |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been fencing for a decade before my first medal.
- You had been fencing with that topic for too long.
- She had been fencing since childhood before turning pro.
- We had been fencing the land for months before finishing.
- They had been fencing for hours before the match ended.
Future Simple
| I | will fence |
| you | will fence |
| he/she/it | will fence |
| we | will fence |
| they | will fence |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will fence in the Olympics next summer.
- You will fence with him about this forever.
- She will fence the garden to keep rabbits out.
- We will fence against the defending champions.
- They will fence off the restricted area tomorrow.
Future Continuous
| I | will be fencing |
| you | will be fencing |
| he/she/it | will be fencing |
| we | will be fencing |
| they | will be fencing |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be fencing at the world championship next month.
- You will be fencing with bureaucracy for weeks.
- She will be fencing the property all weekend.
- We will be fencing competitively for years to come.
- They will be fencing in the tournament all day.
Future Perfect
| I | will have fenced |
| you | will have fenced |
| he/she/it | will have fenced |
| we | will have fenced |
| they | will have fenced |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have fenced in three Olympics by then.
- You will have fenced around the issue long enough.
- He will have fenced the entire ranch by summer.
- We will have fenced competitively for twenty years.
- They will have fenced off all hazardous areas by then.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been fencing |
| you | will have been fencing |
| he/she/it | will have been fencing |
| we | will have been fencing |
| they | will have been fencing |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been fencing for thirty years by retirement.
- You will have been fencing with that problem for too long.
- She will have been fencing since age ten by the Olympics.
- We will have been fencing this land for generations.
- They will have been fencing competitively for decades.