One such verb is “stink,” which refers to emitting a strong, unpleasant smell. It’s present tense is straightforward—something stinks, meaning it gives off an offensive odor in the here and now. However, when we look to describe an event in the past that involved an unpleasant odor, the verbs we use are “stank” or “stunk.”…
Quick Answer The past tense of strike is struck. With “have” or “has,” use struck. But when you talk about feelings or suffering, use stricken. Every day: I strike the ball. Yesterday: I struck the ball. Feeling: She was stricken with fear. Strike, Struck, Stricken — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how…
Quick Answer The past tense of swim is swam. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use swum. Every day: I swim in the pool. Yesterday: I swam in the pool. Many times: I have swum in the pool before. Swim, Swam, Swum — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did…
Quick Answer The past tense of swing is swung. “Swang” and “swinged” are not correct. Every day: I swing the bat. Yesterday: I swung the bat. Many times: I have swung the bat before. Swing, Swung, Swung — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see the pattern?…
Quick Answer The past tense of sweep is swept. “Sweeped” is not a real word. Use swept for the past and with have/has/had. Every day: I sweep the floor. Yesterday: I swept the floor. Many times: I have swept the floor this week. Sweep, Swept — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how…
Quick Answer Both sped and speeded are correct. Use sped when someone moves fast. Use speeded up when something gets faster. Speed, Sped, Speeded — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Watch how the word speed changes: Did you see the pattern? Sped is used when someone moves fast. Speeded is used with up…
Quick Answer Both shined and shone are correct past tense forms of shine. Use shined when someone does something to an object (like polishing shoes). Use shone when something gives light by itself (like the sun or stars). Shine, Shined, Shone — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Can you see when we use…
Quick Answer The past tense of put is put. It never changes. Do not add -ed. “Putted” is not a word. Every day: I put my keys on the table. Yesterday: I put my keys on the table. Many times: I have put my keys on the table before. Put, Put, Put — See the…
Quick Answer The past tense of sink is sank. With “have” or “has,” use sunk. Every day: Ships sink in bad storms. Yesterday: The boat sank yesterday. Many times: Many ships have sunk in that sea. Sink, Sank, Sunk — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see…
Quick Answer The past tense of throw is threw. With “have” or “has,” use thrown. Every day: I throw the ball. Yesterday: I threw the ball. Many times: I have thrown the ball many times. Throw, Threw, Thrown — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see the…
