0
Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

sunk/sunken ships

Marco likes to explore sunk/sunken ships and underwater caves when he dives.
Many ships have sunk/sunken into the waters of the Bermuda Triangle.

Hi,
Do both sunk and sunken fit in the above two contexts? If not, could you tell me how to use them correctly? Thanks.
  

Top answer

Several verbs in English have two past participles: one for use in a perfect tense, the other for use as an adjective. This is one of them. Many ships have sunk ; there are many sunken ships .

— Philip

  • Several verbs in English have two past participles: one for use in a perfect tense, the other for use as an adjective.
  • This is one of them.
  • Many ships have sunk ; there are many sunken ships .
  • [Another example]: He has already shaved this morning ~ He is a clean-shaven young man.
  • [Still another]: The lead has melted ~ The molten lead is extremely hot.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Several verbs in English have two past participles: one for use in a perfect tense, the other for use as an adjective. This is one of them. Many ships have sunk; there are many sunken ships.

[Another example]: He has already shaved this morning ~ He is a clean-shaven young man.
[Still another]: The lead has melted ~ The molten lead is extremely hot.

My his
0
0
Hi, Angliholic,

I'm not sure how to advise you on this. The verb "to sink" is kind of a mess. Both of your sentences call for the past participle, and both forms of the past participle are acceptable. So all of your options are correct.

But in my experience, we say, "sunken treasure" and "sunken ships"; and "many ships have sunk into the water." Go figure.

Simple pa
0
0
Phillip, thanks for the great explanation! I was going slightly nutz over this. My American Heritage has a "usage note" and goes on about "sank" being preferred over "sunk" and about not using "sank" as PP, but never mentions the adjective thing. I mean, it doesn't even give you a clue that one is preferred over the other for adjective use.

The main entry line just goes sink v.
0
0
The ship ------ ?
a) sank
b) has sunk
c)had sunk
d)had sunken

Could you plz help me with the right option and explanation. As per my knowledge, "sank" being simple passt can be used only when the time or instant given. Also, "had sunk" can be used if the action have been done before a specific point in the past.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Please let me know if
0
0
AnonymousThe ship ------ ? a) sank b) has sunk c)had sunk d)had sunken
All are correct except d).
Anonymouswe use the past tense "sank" if the time is given,but without time specific we have to use present perfect.
This is not correct.

We use the past tense if the time is given, but without a specific time, we ca
0
0
The ship ------ ?
a) sank
b) has sunk
c)had sunk
d)had sunken

Could you plz help me with the right option and explanation. As per my knowledge, "sank" being simple passt can be used only when the time or instant given. Also, "had sunk" can be used if the action have been done before a specific point in the past.
Please correct me if I am wrong. Please let me know if
0
0
Except for the addition of a quote by Philip, which everybody can already see in this thread already, and which is not relevant to your question, your post is a duplicate of what you have already posted above.

Please do not double post.

CJ
0

Related Questions