Exist past tense
Meaning of exist
to have actual being; to be.
Infinitive
- 1. Stars exist billions of miles away from Earth, shining brightly in the night sky.
- 2. Various theories exist on how the universe was created.
- 3. In every culture, myths and legends exist to explain the mysteries of life.
Past Simple
- 1. The ancient city existed thousands of years ago before it was destroyed by a natural disaster.
- 2. They once existed in harmony, but circumstances changed their relationship forever.
- 3. The mythical creatures that existed in the stories fascinated the children.
Past Participle
- 1. The artifacts had existed in the museum for decades before they were loaned out.
- 2. The ancient civilization has existed undisturbed until recent excavations.
- 3. The documents were believed to have existed in the archive for over a century.
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Bare infinitive
- To describe current states of being or the ongoing existence of something.Example. Dinosaurs no longer exist.Example. Many cultures exist in harmony within this country.Example. To exist is to experience life in its myriad forms.
- To state facts or general truths about the existence of entities, concepts, or phenomena.Example. Dinosaurs no longer exist.Example. Many cultures exist in harmony within this country.Example. To exist is to experience life in its myriad forms.
- To express existential observations or philosophical statements.Example. Dinosaurs no longer exist.Example. Many cultures exist in harmony within this country.Example. To exist is to experience life in its myriad forms.
Past Simple
- To talk about a specific instance or period in the past when something had actual being or was in existence.Example. Ancient civilizations existed thousands of years ago.Example. The old empire existed for centuries before it fell.Example. When I was a child, the idea of smartphones didn't exist.
- To describe the former existence of something that no longer exists in the present.Example. Ancient civilizations existed thousands of years ago.Example. The old empire existed for centuries before it fell.Example. When I was a child, the idea of smartphones didn't exist.
- To recount historical or personal contexts where the existence of something or someone played a role.Example. Ancient civilizations existed thousands of years ago.Example. The old empire existed for centuries before it fell.Example. When I was a child, the idea of smartphones didn't exist.
Past Participle
- Perfect tenses - To talk about entities, concepts, or phenomena that have had actual being or have been in existence, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.
- Example (Present Perfect). Scientists have discovered species that existed millions of years ago.
- Example (Past Perfect). By the time the explorers arrived, the ancient tree had already existed for over a millennium.
- Passive voice - While less common due to the active nature of existing, it can be used in contexts that emphasize the duration or significance of existence.
Common mistakes
— 01
Pronunciation
'Existed' is correctly pronounced as /ɪɡˈzɪ.stɪd/, but learners may struggle with the stress and the pronunciation of the '-ed' ending. Since the stress is on the second syllable, misplacing it can alter the word's sound significantly. Moreover, the '-ed' ending should sound like 'ɪd,' seamlessly following the 'st' sound. However, learners might pronounce it too forcefully or too softly, making it difficult to discern the word as past tense or causing confusion with similar-sounding words.
— 02
Incorrect Spelling
While 'existed' follows the regular verb pattern by adding '-ed' to the base form, some learners may apply this rule inconsistently or incorrectly to other verbs, especially those ending in 'e.' Specifically, for 'exist,' adding 'ed' after the final 't' is straightforward, but learners might mistakenly omit the 'e' before the 'd' in other verbs or add an unnecessary 'e' to 'existed,' thinking it should be 'existeded.' This reflects a broader misunderstanding of regular verb conjugation rules.
— 03
Misuse in Tense
Although 'existed' is used correctly as both the past simple and past participle, errors can occur in its application within more complex tense structures or in choosing the appropriate tense for a given context. For example, using 'existed' inappropriately in present tense sentences due to confusion with the base form or failing to use it correctly with auxiliary verbs in perfect tense constructions (e.g., 'I have existed,' 'They had existed') can lead to grammatical inaccuracies. Additionally, misunderstanding when to use 'existed' versus 'existing' (the present participle) in continuous or progressive aspects can also lead to mistakes. These errors highlight challenges with tense and aspect, underscoring the importance of understanding how different verb forms are used within various grammatical contexts to convey specific meanings and temporal relations.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'exist'?
How do I use 'existed' in a past simple sentence?
Can you give an example of a sentence using 'existed' as a past participle?