Sang vs Sung
What’s the difference between them?
Sang
Meaning:
Sang is the past tense of the verb sing, meaning to produce musical sounds with your voice.
Examples:
1. She sang a beautiful song at the talent show.
2. The birds sang a melody in the morning air.
3. He sang to his baby to put her to sleep.
Sung
Meaning:
Sung is the past participle of the verb sing, meaning to produce a series of musical tones with the voice.
Examples:
1. She had never sung in front of an audience before, but tonight she bravely sang her heart out at the talent show.
2. By the time she finishes her vocal lessons, she will have sung in various genres, showcasing her versatility as a singer.
3. The choir members have sung together for years, creating a strong bond and impeccable harmony in their performances.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Sang
1. Warbled
2. Harmonized
3. Crooned
4. Piped
5. Chanted
1. Muted
2. Whispered
3. Hummed
4. Murmured
5. Not sang
Sung
1. Crooned
2. Hummed
3. Intoned
4. Warbled
5. Chanted
1. Unsung
2. Unheard
3. Unacknowledged
4. Muted
5. Silent
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Sang", "Sung".
1. Think of 'sang' as something that happened in the past, just like the word itself. 'Yesterday, she sang a beautiful song.'
2. Reserve 'sung' for situations where the singing has a connection to the present or future. 'She has sung in many concerts.'
3. Treat 'sang' like a regular past tense verb. 'She sang at the party last night.'
4. Consider 'sung' as part of a perfect tense, indicating a more completed action. 'She has sung that song multiple times.'
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Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the word 'Sang' be used?
Sang is the past tense of the verb 'sing,' so it should be used when talking about an event that has already happened. For example, if someone said, 'I sang a song last night,' the correct word to use would be 'sang'.
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'Sung'?
Sung is the past participle of the verb 'sing,' so it should be used when talking about an event that has already happened and either when referring to a single, completed action or when referring to multiple, completed actions. For example, if someone said, 'I have sung this song many times,' the correct word to use would be 'sung.'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the word 'sang' is pronounced as /sæŋ/, while 'sung' is pronounced as /sʌŋ/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
A common mistake people make when using the words 'sang' and 'sung' is confusing them. People often get the two words mixed up and use one when they should be using the other. It can also be confusing to remember which one is the past tense and which one is the past participle, so people often make mistakes with which one to use in the correct context.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. She ___ a beautiful ballad at the concert last night.
2. Have you ever ___ in a choir before?
3. By the time we arrived, the choir had already ___ three songs.
4. He had never ___ so passionately before.
5. The nightingale ___ its sweet song every evening.
6. The national anthem was ___ by the entire stadium.
1. sang
Explanation: The sentence refers to a specific event in the past (last night). Hence, the simple past tense sang is appropriate.
2. sung
Explanation: Have sung is the present perfect tense, which is used here to ask about life experiences. The past participle sung is used with the auxiliary verb have.
3. sung
Explanation: Had sung is the past perfect tense, which describes an action that took place before another past action. The past participle sung is used with the auxiliary verb had.
4. sung
Explanation: Had sung is again the past perfect tense, referring to a time before another past event. The past participle sung is used with the auxiliary verb had.
5. sang
Explanation: The sentence indicates a habitual action in the past. Hence, the simple past tense sang is used.
6. sung
Explanation: The passive voice is used here, indicating that the action was done by the subject. The past participle sung is used in passive constructions.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.