Gnaw – English Verbs Conjugation

gnaw gnaws gnawing gnawed

Gnaw means to bite persistently or cause persistent worry. Regular verb: gnaw-gnawed-gnawed.

Meanings

To bite repeatedly
To wear away gradually
To cause persistent anxiety

Common Collocations

gnaw at gnaw on a bone gnawing doubt gnawing hunger

Tip for Learners

Gnaw can be physical or emotional. "Guilt gnawed at his conscience."

Present Simple

I	gnaw
you	gnaw
he/she/it	gnaws
we	gnaw
they	gnaw

Examples - Present Simple

I gnaw on my pencil when nervous.
You gnaw your fingernails during stress.
The dog gnaws on bones for hours.
We gnaw at problems until we solve them.
They gnaw at their lips while thinking.

Present Continuous

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

Examples - Present Continuous

I am gnawing on this puzzle in my mind.
You are gnawing at that problem again.
The puppy is gnawing on a chew toy.
We are gnawing at the issue persistently.
They are gnawing on this decision.

Present Perfect

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

Examples - Present Perfect

I have gnawed on this problem for days.
You have gnawed your way through obstacles.
The beaver has gnawed through the tree.
We have gnawed at this challenge all week.
They have gnawed through difficult decisions.

Present Perfect Continuous

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

Examples - Present Perfect Continuous

I have been gnawing on this issue for weeks.
You have been gnawing your nails since morning.
The mouse has been gnawing at the cable.
We have been gnawing at this problem.
They have been gnawing at the mystery.

Past Simple

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

Examples - Past Simple

I gnawed on the pen while concentrating.
You gnawed at the problem until solved.
The rat gnawed through the wire.
We gnawed at the challenge for hours.
They gnawed at the mystery relentlessly.

Past Continuous

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

Examples - Past Continuous

I was gnawing on a toothpick during the wait.
You were gnawing at the issue before solving it.
The dog was gnawing on a bone all afternoon.
We were gnawing at the problem.
They were gnawing at their doubts.

Past Perfect

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

Examples - Past Perfect

I had gnawed on the problem before the solution came.
You had gnawed through obstacles before success.
The rodent had gnawed its way out before discovery.
We had gnawed at the issue before clarity.
They had gnawed at the mystery before the reveal.

Past Perfect Continuous

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

Examples - Past Perfect Continuous

I had been gnawing on this for weeks before resolution.
You had been gnawing your nails before the news.
The beaver had been gnawing for days before the tree fell.
We had been gnawing at the problem before the breakthrough.
They had been gnawing at the case before the solution.

Future Simple

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

Examples - Future Simple

I will gnaw at this problem until I solve it.
You will gnaw your way through challenges.
The puppy will gnaw on anything in sight.
We will gnaw at this issue persistently.
They will gnaw through any obstacle.

Future Continuous

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

Examples - Future Continuous

I will be gnawing on this decision all week.
You will be gnawing at the problem tonight.
The dog will be gnawing on that bone for hours.
We will be gnawing at this challenge.
They will be gnawing through difficulties.

Future Perfect

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

Examples - Future Perfect

I will have gnawed through this obstacle by then.
You will have gnawed at the problem long enough.
The beaver will have gnawed through the log.
We will have gnawed at the issue sufficiently.
They will have gnawed through all barriers.

Future Perfect Continuous

I	will have been gnawing
you	will have been gnawing
he/she/it	will have been gnawing
we	will have been gnawing
they	will have been gnawing

Examples - Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been gnawing on this for months.
You will have been gnawing at the challenge for years.
The rodent will have been gnawing for hours.
We will have been gnawing at the problem for weeks.
They will have been gnawing through obstacles for ages.