Apply past tense

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Meaning of apply

to make a formal request or petition, usually in writing, for something such as a job, admission to an institution, or a loan.

Infinitive

Word: apply /əˈplaɪ/
Examples:
  • 1. She always applies herself fully to any task she undertakes.
  • 2. He applies for new jobs every week in the hope of finding a better opportunity.
  • 3. This rule applies to everyone, without exception.

Past Simple

Word: applied /əˈplaɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. She applied for the job last week but hasn't heard back yet.
  • 2. They applied a fresh coat of paint to the walls yesterday.
  • 3. He applied the brakes suddenly, avoiding an accident.

Past Participle

Word: applied /əˈplaɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The final coat of paint has been applied to the walls.
  • 2. The rules were applied strictly by the new teacher.
  • 3. After the strategy was applied, the company's profits increased significantly.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Routine or Habitual Actions.
    Example. He applies for new jobs every month.
    Example. Water applies pressure to objects submerged in it.
    Example. The train applies its brakes at the next station.
  2. General Truths or Laws of Nature.
    Example. He applies for new jobs every month.
    Example. Water applies pressure to objects submerged in it.
    Example. The train applies its brakes at the next station.
  3. Scheduled Events in the Near Future (often for public transportation, timetables).
    Example. He applies for new jobs every month.
    Example. Water applies pressure to objects submerged in it.
    Example. The train applies its brakes at the next station.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Action in the Past.
    Example. He applied for the position last week, but he hasn't heard back yet.
    Example. She applied the paint, let it dry, and then applied a second coat.
    Example. In his previous job, he often applied innovative solutions to complex problems.
    Example. Before digital applications, people applied for jobs in person.
  2. A Series of Completed Actions.
    Example. He applied for the position last week, but he hasn't heard back yet.
    Example. She applied the paint, let it dry, and then applied a second coat.
    Example. In his previous job, he often applied innovative solutions to complex problems.
    Example. Before digital applications, people applied for jobs in person.
  3. Habitual Actions or States in the Past.
    Example. He applied for the position last week, but he hasn't heard back yet.
    Example. She applied the paint, let it dry, and then applied a second coat.
    Example. In his previous job, he often applied innovative solutions to complex problems.
    Example. Before digital applications, people applied for jobs in person.
  4. Past Facts or Generalizations.
    Example. He applied for the position last week, but he hasn't heard back yet.
    Example. She applied the paint, let it dry, and then applied a second coat.
    Example. In his previous job, he often applied innovative solutions to complex problems.
    Example. Before digital applications, people applied for jobs in person.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Aspects.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.
  2. Present Perfect. Use for actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past or began in the past and continue to the present.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.
  3. Past Perfect. Use for actions that were completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.
  4. Future Perfect. Use for actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.
  5. Passive Voice.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.
  6. Use when the focus is on the action or the result of the action, not who or what is performing the action.
    Example. I have already applied for that grant.
    Example. She had applied to several colleges before she received her acceptance letter from her first choice.
    Example. By next year, he will have applied to all the best medical schools.
    Example. The new rules were applied strictly by the committee.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing 'applied'

Mistake. Many learners mistakenly believe that 'apply' has different forms for its past simple and past participle or they might use an incorrect form altogether, such as 'applyed' for either the past simple or past participle. Correction. The correct form for both the past simple and past participle of 'apply' is 'applied'. For example, 'Yesterday, I applied for the job' (past simple) and 'I have already applied for the job' (past participle).

— 02

Incorrect Past Participle

Mistake. Some individuals incorrectly pair the base form or the past simple form of 'apply' with auxiliary verbs when they should use the past participle. For example, they might say, 'I have apply for the position' or 'I had apply for the position.' Correction. When using auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or the passive voice, the past participle form 'applied' must be used. Correct sentences would be. 'I have applied for the position' and 'I had applied for the position.'

— 03

Misusing the past simple

Mistake. In passive voice constructions, some may mistakenly use the past simple form of the verb instead of the past participle. For example, saying 'The document was apply yesterday' instead of using the correct past participle form. Correction. In passive constructions, the past participle 'applied' should be used to convey the correct meaning. The correct sentence would be. 'The document was applied yesterday' if intending to maintain the passive voice, though typically, with 'apply,' a more natural construction might be 'The application was submitted yesterday.'

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'apply'?

The past simple form of 'apply' is 'applied'. This form is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example. 'I applied for the job last week.'

What is the past participle form of 'apply'?

The past participle form of 'apply' is also 'applied'. This form is used in perfect tense constructions to describe actions that have been completed at the time of speaking or by a specific point in the past or future. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'I have applied to several universities.'

How do you use 'applied' in a sentence to indicate a past action?

To indicate a past action using 'applied', you would typically use it in the past simple tense. For instance. 'She applied for a passport before her trip.' In this sentence, 'applied' indicates that the action of applying for a passport happened at a specific time before her trip.

Can you give an example of a sentence using 'applied' in the past participle form within a perfect tense construction?

Yes. When using 'applied' as a past participle in a perfect tense construction, you could say. 'They have applied the new regulations to all incoming shipments.' In this example, 'have applied' is in the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of applying the new regulations is complete at the present moment, affecting all shipments from now on.