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The past tense of wear is wore, and the past participle is worn. Use wore for actions completed at a specific time in the past (I wore a jacket yesterday), and worn with have/has/had for experiences or actions connected to the present (She has worn these shoes before).
The past tense of wear often confuses English learners. Many wonder: “Is it wore or worn?” The truth is, both are correct—but used in different situations. Wear is an irregular verb, which means it doesn’t follow the usual “-ed” rule.
In this article, you will learn:
- The past tense of wear (wore) and past participle (worn).
- How to use them in affirmative, negative, and question sentences.
- Daily life examples, common mistakes, and exercises to practice.
By the end, you’ll confidently use wear, wore, and worn in your speaking and writing, without confusion.
What is Wear?
Wear (/wer/) can be a verb or a noun:
- As a verb: To have something on your body as clothing, decoration, or protection.
- Example: Jennie is wearing a black dress.
- Example: Jennie is wearing a black dress.
- As a noun: Clothing suitable for a particular purpose.
- Example: Jennie’s sports wear is in the first floor.
- Example: Jennie’s sports wear is in the first floor.
Past Forms of Wear (V1, V2, V3)
Wear is an irregular verb, so its forms must be memorized:
| Form | Example | Usage |
| V1 (Base) – wear | I wear a uniform to school. | Present tense |
| V2 (Past) – wore | I wore a blue shirt yesterday. | Simple past |
| V3 (Past Participle) – worn | I have worn this jacket many times. | Present perfect / Past perfect |
Tip: wear → wore → worn is a simple way to remember the forms.
Wear in Simple Past Tense (Wore)
We use wore to talk about completed actions in the past. Often paired with time words like yesterday, last night, ago, or last week.
Structure:
Subject + wore + object
Examples:
- I wore a black jacket yesterday.
- She wore her new dress to the wedding.
- They wore school uniforms at their old school.
Negative sentences:
- I did not wear a coat yesterday.
- She didn’t wear her new shoes to the party.
Questions:
- Did you wear a tie to the meeting?
- Did they wear uniforms last year?
Wear in Present Perfect Tense (Worn)
The past participle “worn” is used with have/has for experiences or actions without a specific past time.
Structure:
Subject + have/has + worn + object
Examples:
- I have worn this jacket many times.
- She has worn these shoes before.
- They have worn uniforms all year.
Tip: Avoid using wore with have/has.
- ❌ Incorrect: I have wore this jacket.
- ✅ Correct: I have worn this jacket.
Wear in Past Perfect Tense
Used to show an action that happened before another past action.
Structure:
Subject + had + worn + object
Examples:
- I had worn my old shoes before buying new ones.
- She had worn her uniform before switching schools.
Time words: before, by the time, already help show sequence.
Common Mistakes with Wore vs Worn
- Using worn without have/has/had
- ❌ I worn a jacket yesterday.
- ✅ I wore a jacket yesterday.
- ❌ I worn a jacket yesterday.
- Using wore with did
- ❌ I did wore shoes yesterday.
- ✅ I did wear shoes yesterday.
- ❌ I did wore shoes yesterday.
- Confusing simple past and present perfect
- ❌ She wore these shoes before.
- ✅ She has worn these shoes before.
- ❌ She wore these shoes before.
Daily Life Examples of Wore and Worn
- I wore sunglasses while driving yesterday.
- She wore a hat to protect herself from the sun.
- They have worn their safety helmets during construction work.
- He has worn glasses since childhood.
Tip: Always include time words for wore, but not with worn.
Phrasal Verbs with Wear
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
| wear away | gradually disappear | The chalk wore away after hours of use. |
| wear off | stop having effect | The medicine wore off after two hours. |
| wear down | make someone tired | All the travel and stress wore Jack down. |
| wear on | time passing slowly | The week wore on, and she grew impatient. |
| wear out | damage from use / make tired | My shoes wore out after a year. |
Exercises: Practice Wore & Worn
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
- Anna (wear) _______ a hat yesterday.
- Jack (wear) _______ his new shoes to the party.
- I (wear) _______ my jacket because it’s cold.
- They (wear) _______ their uniforms last week.
- I (wear) _______ the same necklace for years.
Exercise 2: Phrasal verbs with wear
- The constant friction _______ the surface of the table.
- After hours of negotiation, the salesperson managed to _______ the customer’s resistance.
- The effect of the pain medication started to _______ after a few hours.
Answers:
Exercise 1: wore, wore, am wearing, wore, have worn
Exercise 2: wore away, wear down, wear off
Wear Past Tense and Past Participle
The verb “wear” refers to having clothes, accessories, or items on your body. Its forms are:
- Base Form: wear
- Past Tense: wore
- Past Participle: worn
For example:
- Present: I wear a uniform to school.
- Past: Yesterday, I wore a red dress.
- Present Perfect: She has worn that hat many times.
Using the correct form is important for both writing and speaking.
Wear Past Tense Word
The past tense of wear is “wore.”
It is used when referring to something someone had on in the past.
Example:
- I wore my new shoes to the party.
- He wore a suit for the wedding.
Remember, wore is different from worn, which is the past participle.
Wear Past Tense Sentences
Here are some sentences showing the wear past tense in action:
- She wore a beautiful dress yesterday.
- I wore my favorite jacket to the concert.
- He wore a hat because it was sunny.
- They wore matching outfits for the photo shoot.
- We wore gloves while working in the garden.
These examples demonstrate everyday use of the past tense form.
Wear Past Tense Examples
Here are more examples to understand its usage better:
- Yesterday, I wore casual clothes to work.
- She wore a smile even on a tough day.
- They wore costumes for Halloween.
- He wore his new shoes all day.
- The children wore school uniforms during the ceremony.
Notice how wore always refers to actions completed in the past.
Wear Past Tense Meaning
The past tense of wear, wore, means that someone had something on their body at a previous time.
It is an action that happened and finished in the past.
Example:
- I wore a blue jacket yesterday. → I had it on yesterday, but not now.
Wear Past Tense Pronunciation
Pronouncing wore correctly is important. Here’s a guide:
- Wore: /wɔːr/
Tips:
- It rhymes with “more” and “store.”
- Do not confuse it with war, which is pronounced slightly differently.
Wear Past Tense and Past Participle Sentences
Understanding the difference between past tense (wore) and past participle (worn) is key:
- Past Tense (wore): I wore my hat yesterday.
- Past Participle (worn): I have worn this hat many times.
More examples:
- She wore a scarf yesterday, but she has worn it many times before.
- They wore uniforms last week. The same uniforms have been worn by students for years.
Wear Past Tense Verb
Wear is an irregular verb. Knowing its past tense and past participle forms will improve your grammar significantly.
- Base Form: wear
- Past Tense: wore
- Past Participle: worn
Remember, irregular verbs do not follow the “-ed” rule, so memorizing them is essential.
Wear Past Tense Meaning in Tamil
In Tamil, wear translates to தொடுத்து அணிவது (thoduththu anivathu).
- Past Tense wore → கடந்த காலத்தில் தொடுத்தது (kadanda kaalam thoduththathu)
- Past Participle worn → அணிந்திருந்த (anindhirundha)
Example in Tamil:
- Yesterday, I wore a red shirt.
→ நேற்று நான் ஒரு சிவப்பு சட்டை தொடுத்தேன். - She has worn this dress many times.
→ அவள் இந்த உடையை பல முறை அணிந்திருக்கிறாள்.
FAQs About Past Tense of Wear
- What is the past tense of wear?
- Wore.
- Wore.
- What is the past participle of wear?
- Worn. Used with have, has, or had.
- Worn. Used with have, has, or had.
- Can we say “did wore”?
- No. Use did wear.
- No. Use did wear.
- Is wear regular or irregular?
- Irregular. Forms: wear → wore → worn.
- Irregular. Forms: wear → wore → worn.
- How do we make negative sentences?
- Use did not wear or didn’t wear.
Conclusion
The verb wear is one of the most common irregular verbs in English. Knowing when to use wore (simple past) and worn (past participle) helps you speak and write clearly.
- Wore = simple past, completed action, time words required (yesterday, last week).
- Worn = past participle, used with have/has/had, no specific past time.
Practice daily life sentences, use phrasal verbs, and avoid common mistakes. With consistent practice, you’ll confidently master wear, wore, and worn!Meta Description: Learn the past tense of wear (wore & worn) with easy examples, daily life sentences, phrasal verbs, exercises, and common mistakes.
