Abide past tense

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Meaning of abide

to tolerate or endure.

Infinitive

Word: abide /əˈbaɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. She always abides by the rules, even when no one is watching.
  • 2. He abides in his commitment to daily exercise, rain or shine.
  • 3. The community abides by the principle of mutual respect, ensuring peace and harmony.

Past Simple

Word: abode /əˈboʊd/
Examples:
  • 1. She abode by the rules while she stayed with her grandparents over the summer.
  • 2. The community abode by the decisions made at the town meeting without complaint.
  • 3. He quietly abode by their judgement, though he did not agree with it.

Past Participle

Word: abided /əˈbaɪdɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The rules must be strictly abided by all members of the team.
  • 2. The decision was abided by the committee, despite some opposition.
  • 3. The laws of the land are to be abided by every citizen.

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Bare infinitive

  1. The present simple tense of 'abide,' generally used to describe habits, general truths, fixed arrangements, and repeated actions or events.
    Example. 'She always abides by the rules at school.'
    Example. 'People who abide by the law tend to face fewer legal problems.'
  2. Use cases.
    Example. 'She always abides by the rules at school.'
    Example. 'People who abide by the law tend to face fewer legal problems.'
  3. To express a habitual action.
    Example. 'She always abides by the rules at school.'
    Example. 'People who abide by the law tend to face fewer legal problems.'
  4. To state a general truth or fact.
    Example. 'She always abides by the rules at school.'
    Example. 'People who abide by the law tend to face fewer legal problems.'

Past Simple

  1. The past simple tense of 'abide,' used to describe actions or situations that were completed in the past.
    Example. 'They abided by the agreement until the contract was over.'
    Example. 'He entered the room, abided by the meeting's rules, and then left quietly.'
  2. Use cases.
    Example. 'They abided by the agreement until the contract was over.'
    Example. 'He entered the room, abided by the meeting's rules, and then left quietly.'
  3. To describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past.
    Example. 'They abided by the agreement until the contract was over.'
    Example. 'He entered the room, abided by the meeting's rules, and then left quietly.'
  4. To narrate a sequence of past events.
    Example. 'They abided by the agreement until the contract was over.'
    Example. 'He entered the room, abided by the meeting's rules, and then left quietly.'

Past Participle

  1. The past participle form of 'abide,' used in perfect tenses to indicate completed actions or in the passive voice.
    Example. 'They have always abided by the community standards.'
    Example. 'By the time the new law was implemented, most citizens had abided by the old regulations.'
    Example. 'The rules are to be abided by all members of the club.'
  2. Use cases.
    Example. 'They have always abided by the community standards.'
    Example. 'By the time the new law was implemented, most citizens had abided by the old regulations.'
    Example. 'The rules are to be abided by all members of the club.'
  3. Present perfect tense, to describe actions that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
    Example. 'They have always abided by the community standards.'
    Example. 'By the time the new law was implemented, most citizens had abided by the old regulations.'
    Example. 'The rules are to be abided by all members of the club.'
  4. Past perfect tense, to describe actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. 'They have always abided by the community standards.'
    Example. 'By the time the new law was implemented, most citizens had abided by the old regulations.'
    Example. 'The rules are to be abided by all members of the club.'
  5. Passive voice, to describe an action done to the subject by someone else.
    Example. 'They have always abided by the community standards.'
    Example. 'By the time the new law was implemented, most citizens had abided by the old regulations.'
    Example. 'The rules are to be abided by all members of the club.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is the confusion over the correct past simple and past participle forms of 'abide'. While both 'abided' and 'abode' are historically correct, their usage can depend on the context or dialect. 'Abided' is more commonly used in modern standard English as both the past simple and past participle form, especially in the sense of obeying or following a rule. 'Abode' is considered somewhat archaic or literary, particularly when used in the sense of residing. Incorrectly using 'abode' in a contemporary context where 'abided' is more appropriate can lead to confusion.

— 02

Incorrectly using the present form

Another mistake is failing to change the verb form when referring to past actions. Some might incorrectly use the base form 'abide' instead of the correct past simple form 'abided' or the past participle form 'abided' (or 'abode' in literary contexts). For example, saying 'Yesterday, I abide by the rules' instead of the correct 'Yesterday, I abided by the rules.'

— 03

Misapplication of the past participle

A mistake involves the misuse of the past participle form when constructing perfect tenses. Some might incorrectly use the simple past form 'abided' instead of the past participle 'abided' (or 'abode' in certain contexts) in perfect tense constructions. For instance, saying 'I have abided' instead of the correct 'I have abided' or, in a more literary sense, 'I have abode.' This error disrupts the grammatical structure necessary for conveying the perfect aspect, which indicates actions that have been completed at the time of speaking.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'abide'?

The verb 'abide' has two sets of forms for its past simple and past participle. Traditionally, 'abode' is used as both the past simple and past participle forms. However, in modern usage, 'abided' is also accepted and commonly used as both the past simple and past participle.

How do I use 'abode' and 'abided' in a sentence?

Using 'abode'. Past Simple. 'He abode by the rules of the club during his membership.' Past Participle. 'She has abode by the decision made by the committee.' Using 'abided'. Past Simple. 'They abided by the laws of the country throughout their stay.' Past Participle. 'We have always abided by our agreement.' Is one form more correct than the other

Can 'abide' be used in present tense, and if so, how?

Yes, 'abide' can certainly be used in the present tense. In its base form, it serves as an infinitive or a present tense verb for first-person singular (I), second-person singular (you), and all plural subjects. The third-person singular form is 'abides'. Examples. 'I cannot abide dishonesty in any form.' 'She abides by the rules without complaint.' 'They abide in the house where they were born.' Remember, the context in which you use 'abide' (whether present, past simple, or past participle) will determine the appropriate form to use.