Free past tense

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Meaning of free

release from confinement or slavery.

Infinitive

Word: free /friː/
Examples:
  • 1. Airports often offer free Wi-Fi to travelers.
  • 2. Many museums have one day a week with free admission.
  • 3. Libraries provide free access to books and resources.

Past Simple

Word: freed /friːd/
Examples:
  • 1. She freed the birds from their cage.
  • 2. I freed myself from the constraints of my old job.
  • 3. They freed the trapped animal from the net.

Past Participle

Word: freed /friːd/
Examples:
  • 1. The book was freed from the constraints of censorship and found accessible to all.
  • 2. By the end of the seminar, the truth had been freed from a web of lies.
  • 3. The animals were freed from their cages during the night, creating chaos by morning.

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Bare infinitive

  1. To describe habitual actions or routines involving releasing from confinement or slavery.
    Example. The organization works to free animals from cruel conditions.
    Example. This country frees political prisoners under international pressure.
    Example. If you find a trapped bird, gently free it from the net.
  2. To state facts or general truths about the act of releasing or liberating.
    Example. The organization works to free animals from cruel conditions.
    Example. This country frees political prisoners under international pressure.
    Example. If you find a trapped bird, gently free it from the net.
  3. To give instructions or advice related to the action of liberating or making free.
    Example. The organization works to free animals from cruel conditions.
    Example. This country frees political prisoners under international pressure.
    Example. If you find a trapped bird, gently free it from the net.

Past Simple

  1. To talk about a specific instance in the past when someone or something was released from confinement or slavery.
    Example. The activists freed the caged animals last night.
    Example. After years of struggle, they finally freed the town from occupation.
    Example. The foundation used to free captured wildlife before it expanded its mission.
  2. To describe a series of actions in the past involving the liberation of individuals or animals.
    Example. The activists freed the caged animals last night.
    Example. After years of struggle, they finally freed the town from occupation.
    Example. The foundation used to free captured wildlife before it expanded its mission.
  3. To express a past habit or state involving the action of liberating that is no longer current.
    Example. The activists freed the caged animals last night.
    Example. After years of struggle, they finally freed the town from occupation.
    Example. The foundation used to free captured wildlife before it expanded its mission.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses - To talk about actions of liberating or releasing that have happened, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.
    Example. Many animals have been freed from the zoo into wildlife sanctuaries.
  2. Example (Present Perfect). We have freed several wrongly accused individuals through our legal efforts.
    Example. Many animals have been freed from the zoo into wildlife sanctuaries.
  3. Example (Past Perfect). By the time the law was changed, many had already been freed from unjust sentences.
    Example. Many animals have been freed from the zoo into wildlife sanctuaries.
  4. Passive voice - To describe situations where the focus is on the individuals or entities that were liberated, rather than who performed the liberation.
    Example. Many animals have been freed from the zoo into wildlife sanctuaries.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing 'Free' as a Regular Verb

Mistake. Using 'free' as if it were a regular verb that forms its past simple and past participle by adding -ed, leading to incorrect forms like 'freeed' for both the past simple and past participle. Correct Usage. The word 'free' is indeed a regular verb when it comes to its past forms, but the correct spelling adjustments must be applied. The past simple and past participle form of 'free' is 'freed,' not 'freeed.' The correct way to transform 'free' into its past forms is by simply adding -d, due to its ending in 'e.'

— 02

Misusing 'Free'

Mistake. Treating 'free' as an irregular verb and attempting to change its form entirely for the past simple and past participle, similar to how 'fly' becomes 'flew' (past simple) and 'flown' (past participle). Correct Usage. Unlike some English verbs that change form dramatically to indicate past simple and past participle, 'free' maintains a regular pattern and becomes 'freed' for both the past simple and past participle. Remembering that 'free' does not alter its base significantly can help avoid this mistake.

— 03

Misusing 'Free' in Perfect Tenses

Mistake. Incorrectly conjugating 'free' in perfect tenses by either forgetting to use the past participle form or misapplying it. For example, saying 'I have free him yesterday' instead of using the correct past participle form. Correct Usage. When using 'free' in perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect), it's crucial to employ the correct past participle form, 'freed,' along with the appropriate auxiliary verb. The correct construction for the example would be 'I have freed him yesterday' (noting that for a specific time like 'yesterday,' the simple past 'I freed him yesterday' would be more appropriate).

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'free'?

The past simple form of 'free' is 'freed.' This form is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'The activists freed the animals from the laboratory yesterday.'

What is the past participle form of 'free'?

The past participle form of 'free' is also 'freed.' This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'They have freed many animals over the years.' In a passive voice sentence, you could say, 'The animals were freed by the activists.'

How do you use 'freed' in a sentence to show past action?

To show a past action using 'freed,' you form a sentence in the past simple tense. You need a subject, followed by 'freed' and then the object of the action. For example. 'The government freed the political prisoners after the peace talks.' This sentence indicates that the action of freeing the prisoners occurred at a specific point in the past.

Can you give an example of a sentence using 'freed' in the passive voice?

Yes, using 'freed' in the passive voice involves flipping the focus of the sentence from the doer of the action to the recipient of the action. For example. 'The political prisoners were freed by the government after the peace talks.' In this sentence, the emphasis is on the prisoners being released, rather than on the government, which performed the action. Remember, the context in which you use 'freed' will determine whether it's appropriate to use the past simple or the past participle form. Understanding the difference between active and passive voice can also help in correctly applying these forms.