English can be tricky, especially when it comes to irregular verbs.
One classic example that confuses learners and even native speakers alike is stink, stank, stunk.
These three forms of the same verb are not interchangeable, and understanding when to use each is key for speaking and writing correctly.
In this guide, you’ll learn the literal and figurative meanings of stink, how to use it in present, past, and future tenses, common idioms, mistakes to avoid, and practical exercises to master it.
By the end, you’ll confidently distinguish between stink, stank, and stunk in any context.
Understanding Irregular Verbs in English
English verbs are generally regular or irregular. Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern: you add -ed for past tense and past participle (walk → walked → walked). Irregular verbs, however, break this pattern.
Stink is an irregular verb that changes its vowel across tenses:
- Present: stink
- Simple past: stank
- Past participle: stunk
Unlike regular verbs, these forms cannot be guessed based on the base verb. Other examples of similar patterns include:
| Base Verb | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| Drink | Drank | Drunk |
| Ring | Rang | Rung |
| Sing | Sang | Sung |
Understanding these patterns helps learners remember when to use each form.
The Verb ‘Stink’: Meaning and Core Usage
At its core, stink means to emit a foul smell. For example:
- Literal: “The garbage stinks.”
- Figurative: “That idea really stinks.”
In figurative usage, stink often expresses disapproval, poor quality, or something morally wrong.
Other synonyms include: reek, smell bad, fester, or rot. Knowing these helps expand vocabulary and avoid repetition.
Present Tense: Using ‘Stink’
The present tense of stink is straightforward: stink.
- Singular: “I stink at cooking.”
- Plural: “They stink at keeping promises.”
It can describe habitual actions or ongoing situations. Some examples:
- Literal: “This room stinks of smoke.”
- Figurative: “Your excuse stinks of dishonesty.”
Notice that the base form remains unchanged for plural subjects: “He stinks” vs “They stink”.
Future Tense Usage
To describe future events, use auxiliary verbs will or going to with the base verb stink.
Examples:
- “The milk will stink if we leave it out overnight.”
- “The basement is going to stink after the flood.”
This structure ensures clarity and keeps the verb in its correct form for future actions.
Past Tense Forms: ‘Stank’ vs ‘Stunk’
One of the most confusing points for learners is distinguishing stank from stunk. Let’s clarify:
| Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stank | Simple past (completed action) | “Yesterday, the trash stank.” |
| Stunk | Past participle (with have/has/had) | “The trash has stunk for hours.” |
- Stank describes an action that occurred and ended in the past.
- Stunk is used with auxiliary verbs to describe a state resulting from that past action.
Stank: The Simple Past
Use stank for events that happened and finished in the past:
- Literal: “The locker room stank after the game.”
- Figurative: “The plan stank from the beginning.”
Common mistakes:
- Saying “The locker room has stank” instead of “has stunk”. Remember: simple past doesn’t use auxiliary verbs.
Stunk: The Past Participle
Stunk pairs with auxiliary verbs has, have, or had to describe completed actions affecting the present or another past point:
- “The kitchen has stunk since morning.”
- “The milk had stunk before we noticed.”
Tip: Think of stunk as a bridge between the past action and its current impact.
Comparing ‘Stank’ and ‘Stunk’
Here’s a simple way to remember:
- Stank → Event happened and ended → past action.
- Stunk → Event happened in past but affects present → past participle.
Visual timeline example:
Yesterday: Trash stank.
Today: Trash has stunk for hours.
The action happened yesterday, but its effect continues today, hence stunk.
Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions
The verb stink appears in many idioms:
- Stink to high heaven → Something smells extremely bad or is morally wrong.
- “The deal stinks to high heaven.”
- Stink of failure → Something seems destined to fail.
- “The project stinks of failure from the start.”
Figurative expressions often require careful tense usage. For example:
- Incorrect: “The deal stank to high heaven for years.”
- Correct: “The deal has stunk to high heaven for years.”
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even advanced learners make mistakes with stink, stank, stunk. Watch out for:
- Mixing past tense and past participle
- Incorrect: “The cheese stunk yesterday.”
- Correct: “The cheese stank yesterday.”
- Using present tense in past context
- Incorrect: “The room stink yesterday.”
- Correct: “The room stank yesterday.”
- Overgeneralizing irregular verbs
- Be careful not to mix patterns from other verbs (drink → drank → drunk vs stink → stank → stunk).
Tip: A mnemonic: “Past actions stank, past participle has stunk.”
Patterns in English Similar to ‘Stink, Stank, Stunk’
Several irregular verbs follow vowel-change patterns:
| Base Verb | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| Drink | Drank | Drunk |
| Ring | Rang | Rung |
| Swim | Swam | Swum |
| Sing | Sang | Sung |
Recognizing these patterns helps you quickly learn other irregular verbs without memorizing each individually.
Practice Exercises
Fill-in-the-blank
- The cheese _______ last night. (stank/stunk)
- The garbage has _______ for hours. (stank/stunk)
- This plan really _______. (stink/stank)
Correct the Sentences
- “The room has stank all day.” →
Correct: “The room has stunk all day.” - “Yesterday, the milk has stunk.” →
Correct: “Yesterday, the milk stank.” - “I stink the bathroom yesterday.” →
Correct: “I stank the bathroom yesterday.”
FAQS
What is the difference between stank and stunk?
Answer: Stank is simple past; stunk is the past participle used with have/has/had.
Can I use stunk for past actions without have/has/had?
Answer: No. Use stank for simple past actions.
Is stink used figuratively?
Answer: Yes. You can say “This idea stinks” to show disapproval.
Are there similar irregular verbs to learn?
Answer: Yes. Examples: drink → drank → drunk, ring → rang → rung.
How can I remember the correct forms?
Answer: Mnemonic: “Past actions stank, past participle has stunk.”
Conclusion
Mastering stink, stank, stunk may seem tricky, but it becomes intuitive once you understand the rules, see examples, and practice. Remember:
- Stink → present
- Stank → simple past
- Stunk → past participle with auxiliary verbs
Using these correctly will make your English more natural, precise, and expressive. Practice with literal and figurative examples, and soon, these irregular verbs will feel second nature.
I’m Alex Henry — a passionate English enthusiast who loves exploring words, grammar, and the art of expression. I share creative tips to help you fall in love with the English language every day.