Backslide past tense

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Meaning of backslide

revert to a worse condition; relapse in behavior or belief.

Infinitive

Word: backslide /ˈbæk.slaɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. He often backslides from his commitment to quit smoking whenever he is under a lot of stress.
  • 2. If you don't stay focused on your goals, it's easy to backslide into old habits.
  • 3. Many people backslide in their fitness routines during the holiday season due to busy schedules and numerous temptations.

Past Simple

Word: backslid /ˈbæk.slaɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. After two years of solid progress, she backslid into her old habits during the holidays.
  • 2. Despite his resolve to stay on track, he backslid and missed a week of gym sessions.
  • 3. The team's performance backslid dramatically after their star player was injured.

Past Participle

Word: backslid /ˌbæksˈlɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The progress we had made was backslid by numerous unforeseen obstacles.
  • 2. The committee's resolve has been greatly backslid by recent controversies.
  • 3. After years of improvement, the project's standards had been backslid by complacency.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  2. When describing actions that happen regularly or habits.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  3. General Truths.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  4. When stating facts or general truths.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  5. Scheduled Events (in the near future).
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  6. When talking about scheduled events in the near future (less common with 'backslide').
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  7. Instructions or Directions.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  8. When giving instructions or directions.
    Example. He often backslides into bad habits when stressed.
    Example. Human nature inevitably backslides without constant vigilance.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  2. When talking about actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  3. A Series of Completed Actions.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  4. When narrating a series of events or actions in the past.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  5. Habits in the Past.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  6. When talking about habits or states of being that were true in the past.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  7. Past Facts or Generalizations.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.
  8. When making generalizations or stating facts about the past.
    Example. He backslid into his old ways last year but has been improving since then.
    Example. She backslid several times before finally committing to her goals.
    Example. When he was younger, he often backslid despite his best intentions.
    Example. Not typically used with 'backslide' in this context.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.
  2. Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.
  3. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.
  4. Future Perfect. For actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.
  5. Passive Voice.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.
  6. When the subject of the sentence is acted upon.
    Example. They have often backslid from their commitments.
    Example. By the time she realized, he had already backslid.
    Example. They will have backslid by the end of the month if we don’t intervene.
    Example. The policies were backslid on, leading to public outcry.

Common mistakes

— 01

Verb Form Usage

A common mistake in using the past simple and past participle forms of 'backslide' is using incorrect verb forms due to misunderstanding its irregular nature. The past simple form is 'backslid' and the past participle is also 'backslid,' not 'backslided' or 'backslidden.' For example, the correct usage is 'He backslid from his diet plan,' not 'He backslided from his diet plan.'

— 02

Misapplying Past Participle

Another mistake is using the past participle form without an auxiliary verb when forming perfect tenses. The past participle 'backslid' should be used with an auxiliary verb like 'have' or 'had' to form perfect tenses. A common error is saying 'I backslid my duties' instead of the correct 'I have backslid from my duties.' This mistake alters the intended meaning and grammatical correctness of the sentence.

— 03

Regular Verb Patterns

Learners often mistakenly apply regular verb Misusing Past Participle to 'backslide,' leading to errors. Since 'backslide' is an irregular verb, it does not follow the regular -ed ending pattern for its past simple and past participle forms. A frequent error is treating it as a regular verb and saying 'backslided' instead of 'backslid.' Understanding that 'backslide' is irregular and memorizing its correct forms can help avoid this mistake.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'backslide'?

The past simple form of 'backslide' is 'backslid.' It is used to describe an action that occurred and was completed at a specific time in the past. For example. 'Last year, he backslid into bad habits after months of improvement.'

How is the past participle form of 'backslide' used?

The past participle form of 'backslide' is 'backslidden' or 'backslid.' It is used in perfect tenses to describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past or that were completed in the past but have an effect on the present. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'She has backslidden from her goals recently.' Or in the past perfect tense. 'By the time we talked, he had backslid into his old ways.'

Can 'backslid' be used as a past participle as well as a past simple form?

Yes, 'backslid' can serve as both the past simple form and one of the past participle forms of 'backslide.' This dual usage can depend on regional preferences or stylistic choices. For instance, 'He backslid from his diet plan' (past simple) and 'He has backslid from his commitment' (past participle in present perfect tense) are both correct uses. Is there a difference in meaning between 'backslidden' and 'backslid' when used as the past participle