Control past tense

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Meaning of control

to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.

Infinitive

Word: control /kənˈtroʊl/
Examples:
  • 1. She always controls the volume when we watch movies to make sure it's not too loud.
  • 2. The company controls the quality of its products through rigorous testing.
  • 3. He controls his emotions very well, rarely showing anger or frustration.

Past Simple

Word: controlled /kənˈtroʊld/
Examples:
  • 1. She controlled the music volume at the party last night, ensuring it was never too loud or too soft.
  • 2. The company effectively controlled costs last year, resulting in improved profitability.
  • 3. He controlled his urge to respond angrily during the heated discussion.

Past Participle

Word: controlled /kənˈtroʊld/
Examples:
  • 1. The situation was finally controlled by the authorities after several hours of chaos.
  • 2. The project has been controlled meticulously to ensure its success.
  • 3. The entire process will have been controlled by automation by the year's end.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Routine or Habitual Actions
    Example. I control my daily expenses meticulously.
    Example. Gravity controls how objects fall toward the Earth.
    Example. The meeting controls every aspect of the project timeline.
  2. General Truths or Laws of Nature
    Example. I control my daily expenses meticulously.
    Example. Gravity controls how objects fall toward the Earth.
    Example. The meeting controls every aspect of the project timeline.
  3. Fixed Arrangements or Timetables
    Example. I control my daily expenses meticulously.
    Example. Gravity controls how objects fall toward the Earth.
    Example. The meeting controls every aspect of the project timeline.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past
    Example. I controlled the music playlist at the party last night.
    Example. He controlled his temper better when he was younger.
    Example. First, we controlled the data entry process, and then we analyzed the results.
    Example. The king controlled all the lands in the realm during his reign.
  2. Past Habits or States (No Longer True)
    Example. I controlled the music playlist at the party last night.
    Example. He controlled his temper better when he was younger.
    Example. First, we controlled the data entry process, and then we analyzed the results.
    Example. The king controlled all the lands in the realm during his reign.
  3. Sequential Actions in the Past
    Example. I controlled the music playlist at the party last night.
    Example. He controlled his temper better when he was younger.
    Example. First, we controlled the data entry process, and then we analyzed the results.
    Example. The king controlled all the lands in the realm during his reign.
  4. Past Facts or Generalizations
    Example. I controlled the music playlist at the party last night.
    Example. He controlled his temper better when he was younger.
    Example. First, we controlled the data entry process, and then we analyzed the results.
    Example. The king controlled all the lands in the realm during his reign.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses (Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect)
    Example. Present Perfect. She has always controlled her investments wisely.
    Example. Past Perfect. By the time the new manager took over, I had already controlled the team for five years.
    Example. Future Perfect. By next year, they will have controlled the entire market segment.
    Example. The project is controlled by the senior management team to ensure alignment with company goals.
    Example. Feeling controlled by his circumstances, he decided to take action and change his life.
  2. Passive Voice Constructions
    Example. Present Perfect. She has always controlled her investments wisely.
    Example. Past Perfect. By the time the new manager took over, I had already controlled the team for five years.
    Example. Future Perfect. By next year, they will have controlled the entire market segment.
    Example. The project is controlled by the senior management team to ensure alignment with company goals.
    Example. Feeling controlled by his circumstances, he decided to take action and change his life.
  3. Adjectival Use to Describe a State
    Example. Present Perfect. She has always controlled her investments wisely.
    Example. Past Perfect. By the time the new manager took over, I had already controlled the team for five years.
    Example. Future Perfect. By next year, they will have controlled the entire market segment.
    Example. The project is controlled by the senior management team to ensure alignment with company goals.
    Example. Feeling controlled by his circumstances, he decided to take action and change his life.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Doubling

The correct form 'controlled' doubles the final 'l' before adding '-ed' to form both the past simple and past participle. A common mistake is failing to double the 'l' when moving from 'control' to 'controlled.' This error stems from misunderstandings about the rule that applies to verbs ending in a consonant preceded by a single vowel, especially when the stress is on the last syllable in American English pronunciation. Learners might incorrectly write 'controled' instead of the correct 'controlled.'

— 02

Pronunciation

The correct pronunciation of 'controlled' is /kənˈtroʊld/, but learners may have difficulty with the pronunciation of the '-ed' ending, particularly in ensuring that the 'ed' creates a distinct sound that is not overly emphasized nor too softly spoken. Mispronouncing this ending can blur the distinction between the past tense form and the base form, especially in fast speech. Emphasizing the 'd' sound just enough to convey the past tense without altering the flow of speech is essential for clear pronunciation.

— 03

Misuse in Tense

Although 'controlled' correctly serves as both the past simple and past participle, learners might misuse it due to a lack of understanding of tense and aspect distinctions in English. For example, using 'controlled' inappropriately in present tense sentences or failing to use it correctly with auxiliary verbs in perfect tense constructions (e.g., 'I have controlled,' 'They had controlled') can lead to grammatical inaccuracies. This type of mistake reflects challenges not with the verb form itself but with understanding how to properly use past tense forms within various grammatical contexts to express time, aspect, and mood accurately.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'control'?

The past simple form of 'control' is 'controlled.' This form is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. For example. 'Yesterday, she controlled the meeting effectively.'

How is the past participle of 'control' formed and used?

The past participle of 'control' is also 'controlled.' It is used in perfect tense constructions to describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past relative to the present or another point in time. It's also used in passive voice constructions. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'She has controlled the project since its inception.' In a passive voice sentence, you could say, 'The crowd was controlled by a small group of organizers.'

Can you provide an example of a sentence using 'controlled' in the past simple tense?

Yes, an example of a sentence using 'controlled' in the past simple tense is. 'The manager controlled the situation with calm and professionalism.' This sentence indicates that the controlling action happened at a specific time in the past and is now complete.

How can I differentiate between when to use the past simple form and the past participle form of 'controlled'?

The key to differentiating between the two forms lies in the structure of the sentence and the tense being used. Past Simple. Use 'controlled' when talking about a specific completed action in the past. The structure is usually subject + past simple verb. For example. 'They controlled the release of information carefully.' Past Participle. Use 'controlled' when forming perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) or in passive voice constructions. In perfect tenses, the structure typically involves the auxiliary verb 'have' (in the correct tense) plus the past participle, as in 'She has controlled her emotions very well.' In passive voice, the structure can be subject + auxiliary verb 'be' (in the correct tense) + past participle, for example, 'The company's finances were controlled by external auditors.'