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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

help

I might sound silly here but can somebody please tell me the difference between past tense and past participle.

Song: sang ( past tense)

sung (past participle)

I am confused. Any input appreciated.

Thanks
  

Top answer

The past tense is a finite verb referring to completed events (I sang yesterday). The past participle is a verb form used in the perfect tenses ( have sung, had sung ), as an adjective ( the man is tired ), in the passive voice ( the song was sung by Pavarotti ) and in nonfinite clauses ( sung in F#, the aria was atrocious ). Does that help?

— Mister Micawber

  • The past tense is a finite verb referring to completed events (I sang yesterday).
  • The past participle is a verb form used in the perfect tenses ( have sung, had sung ), as an adjective ( the man is tired ), in the passive voice ( the song was sung by Pavarotti ) and in nonfinite clauses ( sung in F#, the aria was atrocious ).
  • Does that help?
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2 Answers
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The past tense is a finite verb referring to completed events (I sang yesterday).

The past participle is a verb form used in the perfect tenses (have sung, had sung), as an adjective (the man is tired), in the passive voice (the song was sung by Pavarotti) and in nonfinite clauses (sung in F#, the aria was atrocious).
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The past tense form can be used by itself as the main and only verb of the sentence.
The past participle must be preceded by an auxiliary verb (have / be) or else used as an adjective.

CJ
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