Quick Answer The past tense of let is let. The word does not change. “Letted” is not a real English word. ✓ Today: Please let me help you.✓ Yesterday: She let me help her. Let, Let, Let — The Word Never Changes Look at these four sentences. Two talk about now. Two talk about the…
Quick Answer The past tense of lean is leaned or leant. Both are correct. Americans say leaned. Many British people say leant (it sounds like “lent”). Every day: I lean on the desk. Yesterday: I leaned on the desk. (US) or I leant on the desk. (UK) Lean, Leaned, Leant — See the Pattern Read…
Quick Answer Lice is plural (more than one). The singular is louse. One louse, two lice. Do not add -s — “louses” is not correct. Louse and Lice — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. Can you see when we use louse and when we use lice? Did you see the pattern? We use…
Quick Answer The past tense of go is went. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use gone. Every day: I go to school. Yesterday: I went to school. Many times: I have gone to school many times. Go, Went, Gone — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see…
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 spit is spat. In American English, spit is also used as the past tense. Both are correct, but spat is the safest choice. Now: I spit out the seeds. Yesterday: I spat out the seeds. Many times: I have spat out seeds before. Spit, Spat, Spat — See the…
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 Rational is a describing word (adjective). It means “logical” or “based on clear thinking.” Rationale is a naming word (noun). It means “the reason” behind a choice. “She made a rational decision.” vs “She explained the rationale for her decision.” Rational and Rationale — See the Difference These two words look almost the…
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…
