past tense

Also found in: Wikipedia.

past tense

The past tense is used to describe or indicate an action that began in the past. Depending on how we form the past tense, it might describe actions that happened or were completed in the past, were occurring at the same time as something else in the past, or continued to happen until or near the present time.
There are four forms of the Past Tense that can accomplish these tasks.

past tense

n.
A verb tense used to express an action or a condition that occurred in or during the past. For example, in He read aloud while she was sewing, the verb read and the verb phrase was sewing are in the past tense.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.past tense - a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past
tense - a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
preterit, preterite - a term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
minulý čas
VergangenheitPräteritum
αόριστος
imperfekti
passé
múlt idő
þátíð
verleden tijd
прошедшее время

past tense

npassato
in the past tense → al passato
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
I have related it in the past tense, but the present would be the fitter form, for again and again the somber tragedy reenacts itself in my consciousness--over and over I lay the plan, I suffer the confirmation, I redress the wrong.
I make mention of the race, as of the Yorkshire schoolmasters, in the past tense. Though it has not yet finally disappeared, it is dwindling daily.
By the way, the questions were all written in the past tense. What was the colour of Mother's eyes, and so on.
"They're not in the past tense," retorted Aunt Jamesina.
"What do you mean by speaking of the Judgment Day in the past tense?"
I have to speak of him in the past tense, for gone is Oliver from the Gardens (gone to Pilkington's) but he is still a name among us, and some lordly deeds are remembered of him, as that his father shaved twice a day.
{60} Here the writer, knowing that she is drawing (with embellishments) from things actually existing, becomes impatient of past tenses and slides into the present.
* iolchned: the past tense of the obsolete verb 'oluhne', to flatter;
figure By PHILIP OCHIENG As with other English verbs with UR endings, to occur ndash to take place ndash is turned into its simple past form (occurred) simply by doubling the R in the last syllable and appending the usual simple past tense letters ed.
The government said it may be noted that what has already been done is described by the words in the past tense, that is, the government "has already shared" the price details with the CAG.
"Past Tense: A Jack Reacher Novel" by Lee Child; Delacorte Press; 400 pages
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.