Breed past tense

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Meaning of breed

to produce offspring through reproduction.

Infinitive

Word: breed /briːd/
Examples:
  • 1. Rabbits breed very quickly, often overwhelming their environment.
  • 2. Farmers breed cattle to produce the best meat and milk.
  • 3. Certain fish species breed only in fresh water.

Past Simple

Word: bred /brɛd/
Examples:
  • 1. They bred several types of roses in their garden last summer.
  • 2. The farmer bred his best horses to produce a stronger racehorse.
  • 3. The zoo successfully bred a pair of endangered tigers two years ago.

Past Participle

Word: bred /brɛd/
Examples:
  • 1. The new species was bred in the laboratory by genetic engineers.
  • 2. Many varieties of dogs have been bred for specific characteristics over centuries.
  • 3. The rare plants were successfully bred in a controlled environment by the botanists.

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Bare infinitive

  1. To describe habits, general truths, repeated actions, and fixed arrangements.
    Example. She breeds exotic birds in her backyard.
    Example. To breed healthy plants, you need to ensure they get enough sunlight.
  2. For giving instructions or directions.
    Example. She breeds exotic birds in her backyard.
    Example. To breed healthy plants, you need to ensure they get enough sunlight.

Past Simple

  1. To talk about completed actions at some point in the past.
    Example. They bred a new species of rose last year.
    Example. She bred several champions before retiring.
    Example. He bred dogs when he lived on the farm.
  2. To describe a series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. They bred a new species of rose last year.
    Example. She bred several champions before retiring.
    Example. He bred dogs when he lived on the farm.
  3. To express habits in the past.
    Example. They bred a new species of rose last year.
    Example. She bred several champions before retiring.
    Example. He bred dogs when he lived on the farm.

Past Participle

  1. To form the perfect aspect, indicating a completed action or condition that has consequences in the present or future.
    Example. They have bred over fifty types of tomatoes in their greenhouse.
    Example. A new strain of wheat was bred to resist pests. To serve as an adjective describing a state resulting from an action.
    Example. The bred animals are healthier than those found in the wild.
  2. To create passive voice, indicating the subject is acted upon.
    Example. They have bred over fifty types of tomatoes in their greenhouse.
    Example. A new strain of wheat was bred to resist pests. To serve as an adjective describing a state resulting from an action.
    Example. The bred animals are healthier than those found in the wild.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

One of the most common mistakes when using the verb 'breed' is confusing its past simple form, 'bred,' with its past participle form, which is also 'bred.' This confusion can affect the construction of perfect tenses. For example, a correct sentence in the present perfect tense should be, 'They have bred several champions,' not 'They have breed several champions.' Understanding that both the past simple and past participle forms of 'breed' are 'bred' helps in correctly constructing sentences in various tenses.

— 02

Incorrect Use in Passive Voice

Another mistake involves using the incorrect form of 'breed' in passive voice constructions. Because 'bred' serves as both the past simple and past participle form, it's crucial to use it correctly in passive sentences. A common error might be saying, 'The dogs was breed for agility,' instead of the correct form, 'The dogs were bred for agility.' Recognizing that 'bred' is the form needed for passive voice ensures grammatical accuracy in sentences describing how something was produced or raised.

— 03

Misapplication in Conditional

Lastly, a mistake can occur when 'breed' is incorrectly used in conditional sentences, especially in the third conditional, which deals with past hypothetical situations. The mistake often lies in not using the correct form, 'had bred,' for these hypotheticals. For instance, saying, 'If they would breed the species, they could save it,' instead of the grammatically correct, 'If they had bred the species, they could have saved it,' demonstrates this error.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'breed' is 'bred'. The past participle form is also 'bred'. These forms are used to describe the action of breeding in the past.

How do you use 'bred' in a past simple sentence?

To use 'bred' in a past simple sentence, you typically refer to an action of breeding that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example. 'Last year, the farmer bred chickens for the local market.' This sentence indicates that the action of breeding chickens happened and was completed last year.

Can you give an example of how to use 'bred' as a past participle in a sentence?

Certainly! When using 'bred' as a past participle, it often appears in perfect tense constructions or passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'The scientists have bred a new type of rice that is more resistant to drought.' In a passive voice sentence. 'A new type of rose was bred by the horticulturist to be more fragrant.' Is there a difference in meaning between the past simple and past participle forms of 'breed'