Quick Answer The past tense of ring is rang. With has, have, or had, use rung. For example: “She rang the bell” and “She has rung the bell.” Ring, Rang, Rung — See the Pattern Look at these three sentences. Watch how the word changes: Did you see the pattern? The vowel changes: i →…
Quick Answer Both photo shoot (two words) and photoshoot (one word) are used in English. The standard spelling is photo shoot — this is what dictionaries and style guides prefer. Photo Shoot or Photoshoot — What Is the Difference? You will see both spellings online and in print. Look at these examples: Did you see…
Quick Answer The past tense of mistake is mistook. When you use it with have, has, or had, the form is mistaken. For example: “I mistook her for someone else” and “I have mistaken the address.” Mistake, Mistook, Mistaken — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Can you see how the verb changes? Did…
Quick Answer Lie down means to rest your body. Lay means to put something down. You lie down on the bed. You lay a book on the table. Right now: I lie down. / I lay the book down.Yesterday: I lay down. / I laid the book down.With have/has/had: I have lain down. / I…
Quick Answer Use was to talk about real things in the past (with I, he, she, it). Use were with you, we, and they in the past — and with all subjects for imaginary situations. Example: “She was tired” (real) but “If she were taller” (imaginary). Was and Were — See the Pattern Look at…
Quick Answer The past tense of grow is grew. With “have” or “has,” use grown. There is no such word as “growed.” Every day: I grow flowers. Yesterday: I grew flowers. Many times: I have grown flowers many times. Grow, Grew, Grown — See the Pattern Look at these four sentences. Can you see how…
Quick Answer The past tense of cut is cut. It does not change. There is no word “cutted” in English. Today: I cut the bread. Yesterday: I cut the bread. Cut in the Past — It Stays the Same Read these sentences. Can you see the pattern? Did you notice? The word is always cut…
Quick Answer Both flyer and flier are correct. They mean the same thing. But flyer is much more common, so use it for everything. The only exception is the idiom take a flier, which means “take a big risk.” Flyer and Flier — See How They Are Used These two words are spelled differently, but…
Quick Answer Capital (with an a) is the main city of a country: “Paris is the capital of France.” Capitol (with an o) is a specific building where lawmakers meet — like the US Capitol in Washington. When you mean the city, it is always capital. Capital and Capitol — See the Difference One letter…
Quick Answer The past tense of cost is cost. It never changes. There is no “costed” in everyday English. You say: “The book cost ten dollars yesterday.” Cost, Cost, Cost — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Can you see what happens to cost? Did you see the pattern? The word cost looks the…
