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Meaning of find

discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly.

Infinitive

Word: find /faɪnd/
Examples:
  • 1. She always finds the best deals when she goes shopping.
  • 2. He finds comfort in reading books by his favorite author.
  • 3. The dog finds its way home, even from miles away.

Past Simple

Word: found /faʊnd/
Examples:
  • 1. Yesterday, I found a lost kitten hiding under my car.
  • 2. She found her old diary while cleaning the attic last weekend.
  • 3. After hours of searching, they finally found the hidden treasure.

Past Participle

Word: found /faʊnd/
Examples:
  • 1. The lost treasure was found by the explorers after years of searching.
  • 2. The keys have been found under the sofa.
  • 3. All the missing documents were finally found in the old filing cabinet.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions. For actions that happen regularly or habits.
    Example. 'She finds joy in reading every night.'
    Example. 'The meeting finds its start at 10 a.m. tomorrow.'
  2. Fixed Arrangements. For scheduled events in the near future, often with a fixed time.
    Example. 'She finds joy in reading every night.'
    Example. 'The meeting finds its start at 10 a.m. tomorrow.'

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past. For actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
    Example. 'Last year, I found a rare coin in my backyard.'
    Example. 'We found a nice cafe, ordered coffee, and talked for hours.'
    Example. 'When I was a child, I always found solace in the woods.'
    Example. 'She found herself confused by the rules.'
  2. Sequences of Actions in the Past. When describing a series of past actions or events.
    Example. 'Last year, I found a rare coin in my backyard.'
    Example. 'We found a nice cafe, ordered coffee, and talked for hours.'
    Example. 'When I was a child, I always found solace in the woods.'
    Example. 'She found herself confused by the rules.'
  3. Past Habits. For habits or routines that were true in the past but not anymore.
    Example. 'Last year, I found a rare coin in my backyard.'
    Example. 'We found a nice cafe, ordered coffee, and talked for hours.'
    Example. 'When I was a child, I always found solace in the woods.'
    Example. 'She found herself confused by the rules.'
  4. Past States. Describing a state or situation that was true in the past.
    Example. 'Last year, I found a rare coin in my backyard.'
    Example. 'We found a nice cafe, ordered coffee, and talked for hours.'
    Example. 'When I was a child, I always found solace in the woods.'
    Example. 'She found herself confused by the rules.'

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. 'I have found many interesting books in that store.'
    Example. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.'
    Example. 'By this time next year, they will have found a new solution.'
    Example. 'A new species has been found in the Amazon.'
  2. Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
    Example. 'I have found many interesting books in that store.'
    Example. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.'
    Example. 'By this time next year, they will have found a new solution.'
    Example. 'A new species has been found in the Amazon.'
  3. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. 'I have found many interesting books in that store.'
    Example. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.'
    Example. 'By this time next year, they will have found a new solution.'
    Example. 'A new species has been found in the Amazon.'
  4. Future Perfect. For actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
    Example. 'I have found many interesting books in that store.'
    Example. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.'
    Example. 'By this time next year, they will have found a new solution.'
    Example. 'A new species has been found in the Amazon.'
  5. Passive Voice. When the focus is on the action, not who or what is performing the action.
    Example. 'I have found many interesting books in that store.'
    Example. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.'
    Example. 'By this time next year, they will have found a new solution.'
    Example. 'A new species has been found in the Amazon.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is using the past simple form 'found' when the past participle form is required, and vice versa. For example, in perfect tenses or passive voice, the past participle 'found' is correct, not the past simple. Incorrect. 'I have find the keys.' Correct. 'I have found the keys.' Similarly, for passive voice, it should be 'The keys were found by me,' not 'The keys were find by me.'

— 02

Incorrectly using the base form

Another mistake is using the base form 'find' when referring to actions in the past, which can lead to confusion about the timing of the action. Incorrect. 'Yesterday, I find the book you were looking for.' Correct. 'Yesterday, I found the book you were looking for.' This mistake overlooks the need to change the verb form to indicate the past action.

— 03

Misusing Patterns

Some learners mistakenly apply regular verb endings (-ed) to 'find' because they assume it follows the same pattern as regular verbs for forming the past simple and past participle. They might incorrectly say 'finded' instead of 'found' for both past simple and past participle forms. Correct usage. 'I found the letter' (past simple) and 'I have found the letter' (past participle). This mistake shows a misunderstanding of irregular verb forms in English.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'find'?

The past simple form of 'find' is 'found.' This form is used to describe actions or situations that were completed in the past. For example, you might say, 'Yesterday, I found a lost puppy in the park.'

What is the past participle form of 'find'?

The past participle form of 'find' is also 'found.' Past participles are used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'I have found the keys that I lost last week.' In a passive voice sentence, you could say, 'The keys were found by the janitor.'

How do I use 'found' in a sentence correctly?

Using 'found' correctly depends on the tense and structure of your sentence. For past simple sentences, you use 'found' to describe a completed action in the past, e.g., 'She found a rare book at the flea market.' For perfect tenses or passive voice, ensure you're using auxiliary verbs appropriately, e.g., 'He has found his true calling in life' (present perfect) or 'A solution has been found by the team' (passive voice).

Can you give examples of sentences using 'found' in different tenses?

Certainly! Here are examples in various tenses. Past Simple. 'Last week, they found an old coin in the backyard.' Present Perfect. 'We have found several mistakes in the document.' Past Perfect. 'By the time the concert started, we had already found our seats.' Future Perfect. 'By next year, scientists will have found a cure for the disease.' Passive Voice. 'The lost puppy was found by a local resident.' Remember, the context of your sentence will determine how you use 'found' correctly. Whether you're speaking about a completed action in the past, describing an experience up to the present, or using the passive voice, 'found' is versatile and widely applicable.