Control past tense
Meaning of control
to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.
Infinitive
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Routine or Habitual ActionsExample. 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.
- General Truths or Laws of NatureExample. 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.
- Fixed Arrangements or TimetablesExample. 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
- Completed Actions in the PastExample. 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 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.
- Sequential Actions in the PastExample. 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 Facts or GeneralizationsExample. 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
- 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.
- Passive Voice ConstructionsExample. 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.
- Adjectival Use to Describe a StateExample. 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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