Quick Answer The past tense of spill is spilled or spilt. Both are correct. “Spilled” is more common in American English. “Spilt” is more common in British English. Every day: I spill my coffee in the morning. Yesterday: I spilled my coffee this morning. Many times: I have spilt coffee on this shirt before. Spill,…
Quick Answer Both spoiled and spoilt are correct. In American English, use spoiled. In British English, you can use spoiled or spoilt. Neither one is wrong. Spoil, Spoiled, Spoilt — See the Pattern Look at these examples: Did you see the pattern? American English always uses spoiled. British English can use spoiled or spoilt. Form…
Quick Answer The past tense of smell is smelled or smelt. Both are correct. “Smelled” is more common in American English. “Smelt” is more common in British English. Every day: I smell the coffee in the morning. Yesterday: I smelled the coffee in the morning. Many times: I have smelt this perfume before. Smell, Smelled,…
Quick Answer The past tense of sneak is sneaked or snuck. Both are correct. Every day: I sneak out early. Yesterday: I sneaked out early. Also correct: I snuck out early. Sneak, Sneaked, Snuck — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see the pattern? Sneak has two…
Quick Answer The past tense of sew is sewed. With “have” or “has,” use sewn. Every day: I sew clothes. Yesterday: I sewed a button. Many times: I have sewn many things. Sew, Sewed, Sewn — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see the pattern? There are…
Quick Answer The past tense of seek is sought. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” it is also sought. The word “seeked” is not correct English. Every day: I seek help from my teacher. Yesterday: I sought help from my teacher. Many times: I have sought help from my teacher before. Seek and Sought — See…
Quick Answer The past tense of leap is leaped or leapt. Both are correct. “Leaped” is more common in American English. “Leapt” is more common in British English. Every day: The cat leaps onto the table. Yesterday: The cat leaped onto the table. With “has”: The cat has leapt onto the table many times. Leap,…
Quick Answer The past tense of learn is learned or learnt. Both are correct. “Learned” is more common in American English. “Learnt” is more common in British English. Every day: I learn new words. Yesterday: I learned ten new words. With “have”: I have learnt a lot this year. Learn, Learned, Learnt — See the…
Quick Answer The past tense of lead is led — only three letters. It rhymes with “bed.” Today: I lead the team. Yesterday: I led the team. Lead, Led — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the word changes from present to past: Did you see it? The word drops the a….
Quick Answer The past tense of lie down is lay down (not “lied down”). With “have” or “has,” use lain down. Every day: I lie down at 10 o’clock. Yesterday: I lay down at 10 o’clock. Many times: I have lain down for a rest every afternoon this week. Lie, Lay, Lain — See the…
