Float past tense

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Meaning of float

to move or hover slowly and lightly in a liquid or the air; drift.

Infinitive

Word: float: /floʊt/
Examples:
  • 1. Leaves float gently down the river during autumn.
  • 2. Balloons filled with helium float up into the sky.
  • 3. Objects with lower density than water float on its surface.

Past Simple

Word: floated /ˈfloʊ.tɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The paper boat floated gently down the stream yesterday.
  • 2. We watched in awe as the lanterns floated up into the sky during the festival last night.
  • 3. The children's balloons floated away when they accidentally let go of the strings at the park last weekend.

Past Participle

Word: floated /ˈfloʊtɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The message in a bottle has been floated across the ocean for years before it was finally discovered.
  • 2. The boats were floated gently down the river by the tranquil currents.
  • 3. The balloons have been floated up to the ceiling to create a festive atmosphere.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Routine or Habitual Actions. For actions that happen regularly or form a routine.
    Example. Boats usually float on water.
    Example. Ice floats in water because it's less dense.
    Example. The carnival float appears every year in the parade.
  2. General Truths or Laws of Nature. For stating general truths or laws of nature.
    Example. Boats usually float on water.
    Example. Ice floats in water because it's less dense.
    Example. The carnival float appears every year in the parade.
  3. Fixed Arrangements. For events that are scheduled or arranged in the future.
    Example. Boats usually float on water.
    Example. Ice floats in water because it's less dense.
    Example. The carnival float appears every year in the parade.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Action in the Past. For actions that were completed at some specific point in the past.
    Example. The paper boat floated on the pond yesterday before it sank.
    Example. The kids made paper boats and floated them on the stream last Sunday.
    Example. In my childhood, I floated paper boats in the rainwater near my house regularly.
  2. A Series of Completed Actions. For listing a series of actions that happened one after another in the past.
    Example. The paper boat floated on the pond yesterday before it sank.
    Example. The kids made paper boats and floated them on the stream last Sunday.
    Example. In my childhood, I floated paper boats in the rainwater near my house regularly.
  3. Habit in the Past. For habits that were true in the past but not anymore.
    Example. The paper boat floated on the pond yesterday before it sank.
    Example. The kids made paper boats and floated them on the stream last Sunday.
    Example. In my childhood, I floated paper boats in the rainwater near my house regularly.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. Scientists have floated many theories about the origin of the universe.
    Example. The divers had floated back to the surface before the boat came to pick them up.
    Example. By next year, the company will have floated its shares on the stock market.
    Example. Proposals for the new project were floated during the meeting.
  2. Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or have relevance to the present.
    Example. Scientists have floated many theories about the origin of the universe.
    Example. The divers had floated back to the surface before the boat came to pick them up.
    Example. By next year, the company will have floated its shares on the stock market.
    Example. Proposals for the new project were floated during the meeting.
  3. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. Scientists have floated many theories about the origin of the universe.
    Example. The divers had floated back to the surface before the boat came to pick them up.
    Example. By next year, the company will have floated its shares on the stock market.
    Example. Proposals for the new project were floated during the meeting.
  4. Future Perfect. For actions that will have been completed by a certain future time.
    Example. Scientists have floated many theories about the origin of the universe.
    Example. The divers had floated back to the surface before the boat came to pick them up.
    Example. By next year, the company will have floated its shares on the stock market.
    Example. Proposals for the new project were floated during the meeting.
  5. Passive Voice. For forming passive voice sentences where the focus is on the action rather than who performs it.
    Example. Scientists have floated many theories about the origin of the universe.
    Example. The divers had floated back to the surface before the boat came to pick them up.
    Example. By next year, the company will have floated its shares on the stock market.
    Example. Proposals for the new project were floated during the meeting.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrectly Adding Suffix

A common mistake is misunderstanding the rule for adding the '-ed' suffix to verbs ending in a vowel plus 't,' leading to the incorrect addition of an extra 'ed' or another incorrect suffix, such as 'floatted' instead of 'floated.' This error stems from overgeneralizing the rule that verbs ending in a consonant require the consonant to be doubled before adding '-ed.'

— 02

Using the Base Form

Another frequent error involves using the base form 'float' instead of the past simple or past participle form 'floated' in sentences referring to past actions. For instance, saying 'Yesterday, the leaf float on the water' instead of 'Yesterday, the leaf floated on the water.' This mistake indicates a lack of understanding about when to use the past tense to denote completed actions.

— 03

Omitting the Past Participle

In perfect tense constructions, the past participle 'floated' should be used with an auxiliary verb to indicate actions that have been completed. A common mistake is omitting the past participle or using the incorrect form, leading to grammatically incomplete sentences. For example, saying 'I have float in the pool last summer' instead of the correct 'I have floated in the pool last summer.'

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'float'?

The past simple form of 'float' is 'floated.' It is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, the paper boat floated down the river smoothly.'

What is the past participle form of 'float'?

The past participle form of 'float' is also 'floated.' This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'The logs have floated downstream for miles.' In a passive voice sentence, you could say, 'The message in the bottle was floated across the ocean.'

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

Using 'floated' correctly depends on the tense and structure of your sentence. For past simple, you typically narrate an action that completed in the past. 'The kids floated their toy boats in the pond last Sunday.' For the past participle, you might use it in a perfect tense scenario. 'She has never floated on her back in the pool before.' Or in passive voice. 'The rumors were floated by an unknown source.'

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

Yes, 'floated' can be used in both active and passive voice sentences. In active voice, the subject performs the action, as in 'The company floated its new shares last year.' In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon, as in 'New shares were floated by the company last year.' The context and meaning you wish to convey will determine which voice is more appropriate for your sentence.