Sprang vs. Sprung
“Sprang” and “sprung” are forms of the irregular verb “spring.” Oxford lists “sprang” as the standard past simple, “sprung” as the past participle, and also records “sprung” as a North American past-simple variant.
Use “sprang” as the standard past-simple form and “sprung” as the past participle. Oxford also records “sprung” as a North American past-simple variant.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Sentence need | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| simple past | sprang | The sentence uses sprang as the simple-past form of “spring.” |
| past participle after have/has/had | sprung | The sentence uses sprung after an auxiliary. |
Further guidance
Core difference
“Sprang” is the standard past-simple form of “spring”; “sprung” is the past participle. Oxford also records “sprung” as a North American past-simple variant.
Fast Test
After have, has, or had, use “sprung.” For simple past, “sprang” is the standard form; “sprung” also occurs as a North American past-tense variant.
Variant Boundary
Do not mark every simple-past use of “sprung” as an error: Oxford records it as a North American English past-simple variant.
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.
- spring verb — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for spring / sprang / sprung forms, including the North American past-tense variant sprung