Delay past tense

Type your word here
Try:

Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of delay

to postpone or put off to a later time.

Infinitive

Word: delay /dɪˈleɪ/
Examples:
  • 1. The train always delays during the winter months due to heavy snowfalls.
  • 2. She delays making her decision until she has all the necessary information.
  • 3. This software update delays the startup process by a couple of seconds.

Past Simple

Word: delayed /dɪˈleɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. They delayed the flight due to bad weather.
  • 2. She delayed her trip because she was not feeling well.
  • 3. They delayed the meeting to wait for more participants.

Past Participle

Word: delayed /dɪˈleɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The meeting has been delayed until further notice.
  • 2. The flights were delayed due to severe weather conditions.
  • 3. My response has been delayed by unforeseen circumstances.

Learn more words on the go

Master verb forms with Promova!

Download the app
cta-section-decorative-line-left
cta-section-decorative-line-left

Bare infinitive

  1. General Truths or Facts. To express actions that are universally true or facts that stand over time.
    Example. 'The public transport system always delays during heavy rains.'
    Example. 'She never delays submitting her assignments.'
    Example. 'The train delays for five minutes every day at the same station.'
  2. Habitual Actions. To describe actions that happen regularly or habits.
    Example. 'The public transport system always delays during heavy rains.'
    Example. 'She never delays submitting her assignments.'
    Example. 'The train delays for five minutes every day at the same station.'
  3. Fixed Arrangements. For schedules or timetables that are fixed.
    Example. 'The public transport system always delays during heavy rains.'
    Example. 'She never delays submitting her assignments.'
    Example. 'The train delays for five minutes every day at the same station.'

Past Simple

  1. Completed Action in the Past. For actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
    Example. 'The flight delayed for two hours yesterday due to bad weather.'
    Example. 'The meeting started late because the keynote speaker was delayed.'
    Example. 'When I was a student, I never delayed doing my homework.'
  2. Sequential Actions in the Past. When narrating events that happened one after another in the past.
    Example. 'The flight delayed for two hours yesterday due to bad weather.'
    Example. 'The meeting started late because the keynote speaker was delayed.'
    Example. 'When I was a student, I never delayed doing my homework.'
  3. Habit in the Past. To talk about habits in the past, which are no longer true.
    Example. 'The flight delayed for two hours yesterday due to bad weather.'
    Example. 'The meeting started late because the keynote speaker was delayed.'
    Example. 'When I was a student, I never delayed doing my homework.'

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. 'She has never delayed her project submission before.'
    Example. 'The show had already delayed by an hour when we arrived.'
    Example. 'By the time you get here, the ceremony will have delayed by at least thirty minutes.'
    Example. 'The project will be delayed if we don’t receive the necessary approvals.'
  2. Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
    Example. 'She has never delayed her project submission before.'
    Example. 'The show had already delayed by an hour when we arrived.'
    Example. 'By the time you get here, the ceremony will have delayed by at least thirty minutes.'
    Example. 'The project will be delayed if we don’t receive the necessary approvals.'
  3. Past Perfect. To talk about an action that was completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. 'She has never delayed her project submission before.'
    Example. 'The show had already delayed by an hour when we arrived.'
    Example. 'By the time you get here, the ceremony will have delayed by at least thirty minutes.'
    Example. 'The project will be delayed if we don’t receive the necessary approvals.'
  4. Future Perfect. For actions that will be completed before a specified time in the future.
    Example. 'She has never delayed her project submission before.'
    Example. 'The show had already delayed by an hour when we arrived.'
    Example. 'By the time you get here, the ceremony will have delayed by at least thirty minutes.'
    Example. 'The project will be delayed if we don’t receive the necessary approvals.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Use of the Past Simple Form

A common mistake with the verb 'delay' is using an incorrect past simple form. The correct past simple form of 'delay' is 'delayed,' but people sometimes mistakenly use 'delayd' or 'delaid.' For instance, the correct usage is 'The flight was delayed due to bad weather,' not 'The flight was delayd due to bad weather.'

— 02

Confusing forms

Another frequent error involves Confusing forms of 'delay.' Both the past simple and the past participle forms of 'delay' are 'delayed.' However, some might incorrectly use 'delayed' exclusively as a past simple form and attempt to create an irregular past participle form like 'delaid' for perfect tenses. For example, the correct sentence in the present perfect tense is 'The project has been delayed,' not 'The project has been delaid.'

— 03

Incorrect Structure

Misusing auxiliary verbs when forming negative sentences or questions in the past simple tense with 'delay' is another common mistake. The correct way to form a negative sentence in the past simple is by using 'did not' (didn't) followed by the base form of the verb, 'delay.' For questions, 'Did' is used at the beginning, followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. Mistakes occur when 'was' or 'were' is mistakenly used, or the past participle form is used instead of the base form. Correctly, it should be 'The project did not delay' for a negative statement and 'Did the project delay?' for a question, rather than incorrect forms like 'The project was not delayed' or 'Did the project delayed?'

Past tense quiz

Check your skills and find areas for improvement

Take quiz

Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'delay'?

The past simple form of 'delay' is 'delayed.' It is used to describe an action that was postponed or took longer to happen than originally planned in the past. For example, 'The flight was delayed due to bad weather.'

What is the past participle form of 'delay'?

The past participle form of 'delay' is also 'delayed.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions to indicate an action that has been completed in relation to another time frame. For example, 'The project has been delayed multiple times.'

How do you use the past simple form of 'delay' in a sentence?

To use the past simple form, you structure your sentence to indicate that the delaying action happened at a specific time in the past. You generally follow the subject with the verb 'delayed' and then the object or reason for the delay. For example, 'The meeting was delayed because the CEO was stuck in traffic.'

Can you give an example of how to use the past participle form of 'delay' in a sentence?

Certainly! The past participle form 'delayed' is often used in passive sentences or perfect tenses. For example, in the passive voice. 'The concert was delayed by an hour.' In a perfect tense. 'They have delayed their trip until next month.' Both sentences indicate that the action of delaying has a relevance to another point in time, either by being an action that was completed in the past or by affecting a future event.