Sang vs. Sung
“Sang” is the simple past form of “sing”; “sung” is the past participle. That means “she sang yesterday” but “she has sung before” and “the song was sung live.” Auxiliary “have/has/had” and passive “be” constructions call for the participle “sung.”
Use “sang” for simple past without an auxiliary: “They sang.” Use “sung” after have/has/had or in passive constructions: “They have sung” and “It was sung.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past of “sing” | sang | Use “sang” as the finite past-tense form. |
| past participle after have/has/had | sung | Use “sung” in perfect constructions. |
| past participle in a passive construction | sung | Use “sung” after a form of “be” when the song or words are the thing performed. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the grammar require the past participle because the form follows have/has/had or forms a passive?
If yes: Use “sung.”
If no: Use “sang” for the ordinary simple past.
Examples
They sang together last night.
“Sang” is the simple past form.
They have sung together before.
“Have” requires the past participle “sung.”
The anthem was sung before the match.
The passive construction uses the past participle “sung.”
Further guidance
Diagnostic
If “have/has/had” directly governs the form of sing, choose “sung,” not “sang.”
Participle
Use “sung” with perfect auxiliaries such as have/has/had and in passive constructions with forms of be.
Simple Past
Use “sang” as the past-simple form when the verb stands as the finite past verb: “She sang.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Sing — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb paradigm showing sing, past sang, and past participle sung.