What’s the Past Tense of Tear? Is it Tore, Teared, or Torn?

English learners often stumble when they reach irregular verbs, and “tear” is a classic example that causes confusion. You’ve probably seen people write teared, while others swear the right form is tore, and then someone else brings up torn. If that makes your head spin, you’re not alone.

The verb “tear” looks simple enough, yet its past tense and past participle forms aren’t regular like “play/played” or “walk/walked.” Instead, it changes forms depending on whether you’re using it in the simple past or perfect tenses. This irregular behavior is why so many people second-guess themselves.

To make matters more interesting, “tear” has two completely different meanings. It can mean to rip or pull apart violently, and it can also mean drops of water that come from your eyes when you cry. They’re spelled the same but pronounced differently, which only adds another layer of confusion.

So what’s the real answer? Should you say “I teared the paper” or “I tore the paper”? And when do you use “torn”? More importantly, does “teared” have any place in English at all, or is it just a common mistake?

This guide will walk you through everything step by step. By the end, you’ll not only know the correct past tense of tear, but you’ll also understand the difference between tore, torn, and teared. Plus, you’ll see practical examples, a grammar table, and easy tips to remember them.

Let’s tear into it—pun intended.

Understanding the Verb “Tear”

Before diving into past tense forms, it’s important to understand what “tear” actually means.

Meanings of “Tear” (Rip)

• To pull something apart by force
• To make a hole by ripping
• To damage something by tearing material

Examples:

• She will tear the letter into pieces.
• Don’t tear your shirt while playing.
• The kids love to tear wrapping paper on birthdays.

Pronunciation Matters

English complicates things by having two separate words spelled “tear.”

• Tear (rip): pronounced /tɛr/ (rhymes with “air”).
• Tear (cry): pronounced /tiər/ (sounds like “tier”).

This split in pronunciation means learners sometimes mix them up. One refers to ripping, while the other refers to crying. Context is the key.

Grammar Category

“Tear” is an irregular verb. Unlike regular verbs that simply add -ed in past tense, irregular verbs change unpredictably. That’s why you don’t say teared for ripping.

Past Tense of Tear: Tore

The correct past tense of tear (rip) is tore.

• You use tore when describing an action that already happened in the past.
• It’s the simple past tense form of the verb.

Examples:

• She tore the letter into tiny pieces.
• The dog tore a hole in the couch cushion.
• He accidentally tore his jeans while climbing the fence.

Notice how tore works just like ate (from eat) or drove (from drive). It replaces the base form without needing -ed.

Common Mistake: Using “Teared” Instead of “Tore”

Many learners mistakenly say, “He teared the paper,” because they’re applying the regular past tense rule. While logical, it’s incorrect in the sense of ripping.

If you’re talking about ripping, the only correct past tense is tore.

Past Participle of Tear: Torn

The past participle of tear is torn.

You use torn when combining it with auxiliary verbs such as has, have, or was/were. It’s often found in perfect tenses or passive voice.

Examples:

• The flag was torn in the storm.
• I have torn three pairs of shoes this year.
• Her homework got torn by the rain.

Difference Between Tore and Torn

• Tore = simple past
• Torn = past participle

Think of it like this: if the sentence needs a helping verb (has, have, was, were, is), you use torn. If it’s a standalone past action, you use tore.

Examples side by side:

• Yesterday, I tore the envelope.
• The envelope was torn when I found it.

What About Teared?

Now comes the tricky part. Teared isn’t the past tense of “tear” when it means “rip.” That’s a mistake. But does teared exist in English? Yes—just not in that way.

Teared as the Past of “Tear Up” (Cry)

When someone starts crying, we sometimes say they “tear up.” In this case, the past tense is “teared up.”

Examples:

• She teared up during the wedding vows.
• He teared up when he saw his childhood home.

Here, teared connects to tears from crying, not ripping. So it’s only correct in this emotional sense.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Teared for Ripping

• Incorrect: She teared the paper.
• Correct: She tore the paper.

Teared is never acceptable for the meaning of “rip.” Reserve it only for crying situations.

Quick Grammar Table: Tear Conjugation

Here’s a simple chart to make things clearer:

Tense	Form	Example
Base	tear	Don’t tear the paper.
Past	tore	She tore the page yesterday.
Past Participle	torn	The bag is torn.
Present Participle	tearing	He is tearing the cloth.

This table is worth memorizing. It’s the fastest way to avoid mistakes with tear.

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Even advanced learners trip over “tear” because of its irregularity and double meanings. Here are the most frequent errors:

• Mixing up tore and torn
  Example mistake: I have tore my shirt.
  Correction: I have torn my shirt.
• Using teared instead of tore
  Mistake: He teared the page out.
  Correction: He tore the page out.
• Confusing tear (rip) with tear (cry)
  Example mistake: She tore when she heard the sad news.
  Correction: She teared up when she heard the sad news.
• Overgeneralizing rules
  Many learners think all verbs just need -ed. That’s why irregular verbs like tear → tore → torn need extra attention.

Real-Life Usage Examples

One of the best ways to learn is by seeing real-world sentences. Here’s how “tore” and “torn” appear in common English.

In Literature

• “She tore the letter into a thousand pieces.” – Charlotte Brontë
• “He had torn the fabric of his soul.” – William Faulkner

In News Headlines

• Hurricane winds tore through the city overnight.
• The torn agreement sparked new debates in Parliament.

In Everyday Speech

• I tore my backpack last week.
• My notebook is torn; I need a new one.
• She teared up when her son left for college.

Notice how tore, torn, and teared up each fit in different situations.

Tear (Rip) vs Tear (Cry): Two Different Words

Since “tear” has two distinct meanings, let’s break them down clearly.

Tear (Rip)

• Pronunciation: /tɛr/
• Meaning: To rip, split, or pull apart
• Past tense: tore
• Past participle: torn

Tear (Cry)

• Pronunciation: /tiər/
• Meaning: A drop of water from the eye when crying
• Related phrasal verb: tear up → teared up
• Example: She teared up after hearing the good news.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning	Past Tense	Example
Tear (rip)	/tɛr/	Rip apart	tore	He tore the shirt.
Tear (cry)	/tiər/	Drops from eyes	teared up	She teared up at the movie.

Tips to Remember Correct Usage

If you find yourself second-guessing between tore, torn, and teared, use these memory tricks:

• Mnemonic: Tore yesterday, torn today.
• Rule of thumb: If there’s a helping verb (has/have/was/were), go with torn.
• Think in pairs: Tore = simple action, Torn = result.
• Context check: If it’s about crying, “teared up” may fit. If it’s about ripping, never use “teared.”
• Practice sentences:
  
  • I tore the poster yesterday.
  • The poster is torn now.
  • She teared up when she saw the surprise.

Final Recap

• The past tense of tear (rip) is tore.
• The past participle is torn.
• Teared is valid only in the emotional sense of “teared up” (crying).
• Using teared for ripping is incorrect.
• Always check for auxiliary verbs: no helper → tore, with helper → torn.

Here’s the summary again in table form:

Action	Correct Form	Example
Past tense (rip)	tore	She tore the book yesterday.
Past participle (rip)	torn	The book was torn in half.
Emotional crying	teared up	He teared up after the speech.

Conclusion

English irregular verbs can feel frustrating at first, but once you understand the patterns, they’re not so intimidating. The verb tear is a perfect example. Tore is your past tense form. Torn is your past participle form. And teared belongs only in emotional contexts like crying.

By practicing with real examples, checking the context, and remembering the quick rules, you’ll avoid common mistakes. Keep the tables handy and try using “tore,” “torn,” and “teared up” in your own sentences. The more you practice, the more natural they’ll sound.

Language learners often overcomplicate grammar, but the truth is, clarity comes with exposure. The next time you’re unsure, remember: Yesterday I tore, today it is torn, and when I cried, I teared up. Simple as that.