Bust past tense

Type your word here
Try:

Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of bust

to break or burst.

Infinitive

Word: bust /bʌst/
Examples:
  • 1. Every summer, the local police bust several illegal street races in the area.
  • 2. The detective often busts myths about crime investigation techniques during her lectures.
  • 3. When it comes to fixing cars, Jack can bust myths about engine problems with ease.

Past Simple

Word: busted /ˈbʌstɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The police busted the door open during the raid last night.
  • 2. He busted his phone screen when he dropped it on the concrete.
  • 3. After hours of studying, she finally busted the myth that had been confusing her.

Past Participle

Word: busted /ˈbʌstɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The antique vase was accidentally busted by the cat.
  • 2. Her trust had been busted beyond repair.
  • 3. By the end of the day, the corrupt scheme was busted wide open by the investigators.

Learn more words on the go

Master verb forms with Promova!

Download the app
cta-section-decorative-line-left
cta-section-decorative-line-left

Bare infinitive

  1. General truth or fact.
    Example. The police bust drug operations regularly.
    Example. They bust fraud schemes every month.
    Example. The operation to bust the network happens tomorrow.
  2. Habitual actions.
    Example. The police bust drug operations regularly.
    Example. They bust fraud schemes every month.
    Example. The operation to bust the network happens tomorrow.
  3. Schedules or timetables (often future context).
    Example. The police bust drug operations regularly.
    Example. They bust fraud schemes every month.
    Example. The operation to bust the network happens tomorrow.

Past Simple

  1. Completed action in the past.
    Example. The team busted the illegal ring yesterday.
    Example. They busted three hideouts, arrested the leaders, and seized all contraband last week.
  2. A series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. The team busted the illegal ring yesterday.
    Example. They busted three hideouts, arrested the leaders, and seized all contraband last week.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect aspects indicating completed actions at some point in the past (Present Perfect).
    Example. Police have busted several gangs this year.
    Example. By the time backup arrived, the squad had already busted the smugglers.
    Example. The illegal operation has been busted by authorities.
  2. Perfect aspects relating to actions that were completed before another action or time in the past (Past Perfect).
    Example. Police have busted several gangs this year.
    Example. By the time backup arrived, the squad had already busted the smugglers.
    Example. The illegal operation has been busted by authorities.
  3. Used to form passive voice sentences indicating an action that has happened to the subject.
    Example. Police have busted several gangs this year.
    Example. By the time backup arrived, the squad had already busted the smugglers.
    Example. The illegal operation has been busted by authorities.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

One of the most common mistakes involves Confusing Forms of 'bust.' The past simple form is 'busted,' used to indicate an action that occurred and was completed in the past, e.g., 'He busted the window yesterday.' The past participle form, also 'busted' (though 'bust' is increasingly accepted in informal American English), is used in perfect tenses and passive voice, e.g., 'The window has been busted.'

— 02

Verb Form Usage

Another common mistake is using the wrong form of 'bust' in perfect tenses, which require the past participle. Since 'busted' serves both as the past simple and past participle form in standard English, some might incorrectly opt for 'bust' out of confusion or by mimicking the irregular verb pattern where the base and past participle forms are the same. For example, saying 'He has bust the door' instead of the correct 'He has busted the door' misuses the verb forms and disrupts the grammatical consistency of the perfect tense.

— 03

Irregular Verb Patterns

Learners might overapply patterns from irregular verbs to 'bust,' leading to errors. For instance, with verbs like 'sing,' 'sang,' 'sung,' learners might mistakenly create nonexistent forms of 'bust' such as 'bust,' 'bast,' 'busten,' by analogy. This overgeneralization overlooks the fact that 'bust' does not follow the same conjugation pattern as these irregular verbs, leading to incorrect usage and confusion. Understanding that 'busted' is both the past simple and past participle form is crucial to avoid this mistake.

Past tense quiz

Check your skills and find areas for improvement

Take quiz

Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'bust'?

The past simple form of 'bust' is 'busted'. It is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'She busted the balloon accidentally during the party.'

Can 'bust' also be used as the past participle form?

Yes, 'busted' can also serve as the past participle form of 'bust'. This form is used in perfect tenses. For instance, 'They have busted several myths in their research.' However, it's worth noting that in some dialects and informal English, 'bust' itself is used as the past participle. Is there a difference in meaning when using 'busted' vs. 'bust' in the past participle form

How do I know when to use 'busted' or 'bust' in a sentence?

The choice between using 'busted' or 'bust' depends on several factors, including the tense of the sentence, the formality of the context, and regional dialect. For past simple tense, 'busted' is the correct choice (e.g., 'I busted the light'). When dealing with perfect tenses, 'busted' is generally preferred in formal writing and speech, although 'bust' can be used in informal situations or within certain dialects. Always consider the audience and context of your communication to choose the most appropriate form.