Dye past tense

Meaning of dye

to color (material, especially fabric) by soaking it in a solution containing a dye.

Infinitive

Word: die /daɪ/

Examples:

1. She dyes her hair every month to maintain its vibrant color.
2. He dyes fabric as part of his job at the textile factory.
3. This company dyes yarn for knitters and weavers all over the country.

Past Simple

Word: dyed /daɪd/

Examples:

1. She dyed her hair blonde for the summer.
2. I accidentally dyed my white shirt pink when I washed it with a red sock.
3. They dyed the fabric using natural ingredients for an eco-friendly approach.

Past Participle

Word: dyed /daɪd/

Examples:

1. The fabric was dyed a rich shade of blue.
2. The wool has been dyed in vibrant colors for the project.
3. The once faded curtains had been dyed back to their original color.

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Bare infinitive

to describe a habitual action, a general truth, a scheduled event in the near future, or instructions.
Example. 'Natural ingredients dye fabric less harshly than chemicals.'
Example. 'The factory dyes the textiles on the first Monday of every month.'
Example. 'First, dye the fabric by soaking it in the color solution for an hour.'
a. Habitual action.
Example. 'She dyes her hair every month to cover the grey.'
Example. 'Natural ingredients dye fabric less harshly than chemicals.'
Example. 'The factory dyes the textiles on the first Monday of every month.'
Example. 'First, dye the fabric by soaking it in the color solution for an hour.'
b. General truth.
Example. 'Natural ingredients dye fabric less harshly than chemicals.'
Example. 'The factory dyes the textiles on the first Monday of every month.'
Example. 'First, dye the fabric by soaking it in the color solution for an hour.'
c. Scheduled event in the near future (less common with 'dye', but applicable to some contexts, especially in a professional or industrial setting).
Example. 'Natural ingredients dye fabric less harshly than chemicals.'
Example. 'The factory dyes the textiles on the first Monday of every month.'
Example. 'First, dye the fabric by soaking it in the color solution for an hour.'
d. Instructions (often seen in manuals or guides).
Example. 'Natural ingredients dye fabric less harshly than chemicals.'
Example. 'The factory dyes the textiles on the first Monday of every month.'
Example. 'First, dye the fabric by soaking it in the color solution for an hour.'

Past Simple

to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past.
Example. 'She dyed her hair black last year but now prefers it natural.'
Example. 'First, she dyed the cloth, then cut it into shapes for the quilt.'
Example. 'I dyed my own clothes in college, but I don't have time for that anymore.'
a. Specific event in the past.
Example. 'She dyed her hair black last year but now prefers it natural.'
Example. 'First, she dyed the cloth, then cut it into shapes for the quilt.'
Example. 'I dyed my own clothes in college, but I don't have time for that anymore.'
b. Sequential actions in the past.
Example. 'She dyed her hair black last year but now prefers it natural.'
Example. 'First, she dyed the cloth, then cut it into shapes for the quilt.'
Example. 'I dyed my own clothes in college, but I don't have time for that anymore.'
c. Habit in the past (not now).
Example. 'She dyed her hair black last year but now prefers it natural.'
Example. 'First, she dyed the cloth, then cut it into shapes for the quilt.'
Example. 'I dyed my own clothes in college, but I don't have time for that anymore.'

Past Participle

to form perfect tenses, passive voice, or as an adjective.
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'
a. Present Perfect tense – for actions that occurred at an unspecified time or have relevance to the present.
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'
b. Past Perfect tense – for actions that were completed before another action in the past.
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'
c. Future Perfect tense (less commonly used with 'dye' but still possible in certain contexts).
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'
d. Passive voice – when the subject of the sentence is acted upon.
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'
e. As an adjective – describing the state of something.
Example. 'They have dyed their curtains to match the new sofa.'
Example. 'By the time the fashion show started, the designer had already dyed all the fabrics.'
Example. 'By next year, she will have dyed her hair every color of the rainbow.'
Example. 'The fabric was dyed a deep blue to match the company’s colors.'
Example. 'The dyed wool is ready for weaving into blankets.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing in Past Simple

A frequent mistake involves using 'died' instead of 'dyed' when referring to the action of changing the color of something in the past. 'Died' is the past tense of 'die,' which means to cease living, while 'dyed' is the correct past simple form of 'dye,' indicating the act of applying color. For example, the correct usage is 'I dyed my hair blue last month,' not 'I died my hair blue last month.'

— 02

Incorrect Past Participle

Another common error is misusing the past participle form of 'dye.' The correct past participle is also 'dyed,' but people often mistakenly treat it as an irregular verb and modify it incorrectly. For instance, they might say 'have dide' instead of the correct 'have dyed.' The correct form should be used in perfect tenses, as in 'She has dyed her fabric beautifully.'

— 03

Omitting the 'e'

A subtle yet common mistake is dropping the 'e' in 'dyed' when converting 'dye' into its past forms. Some might write 'dyd' thinking it follows the pattern of verbs like 'cry' turning into 'cried.' However, 'dyed' retains the 'e' to differentiate it from 'died,' ensuring clarity. Correct usage requires the 'e,' as in 'They dyed the curtains yesterday' and 'We have dyed our clothes for the festival.'

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'dye'?

The past simple form of 'dye' is 'dyed.' This form is used to describe an action that was completed in the past. For example, 'She dyed her hair blue last week.'

How do you form the past participle of 'dye'?

The past participle form of 'dye' is also 'dyed.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For instance, 'Her hair has been dyed a vibrant red.'

Can 'dyed' be used in both active and passive voice sentences?

Yes, 'dyed' can be used in both active and passive voice sentences. In the active voice, the subject performs the action, e.g., 'He dyed the fabric green.' In the passive voice, the subject receives the action, e.g., 'The fabric was dyed green by him.' Is there a difference in spelling between the past simple and past participle forms of 'dye'