Heal past tense

Meaning of heal

to restore to health or soundness; cure.

Infinitive

Word: heal /hiːl/

Examples:

1. Every night, I apply an ointment that helps heal small cuts and scrapes.
2. Doctors often say that time can heal many emotional wounds.
3. A balanced diet and regular exercise can heal the body from the inside.

Past Simple

Word: healed /hiːld/

Examples:

1. She finally healed from her injury after weeks of physical therapy.
2. The community healed quickly after the devastating storm, coming together to rebuild homes and lives.
3. He healed his relationship with his brother after years of misunderstanding and silence.

Past Participle

Word: healed /hiːld/

Examples:

1. The broken vase was healed by a skilled restorer.
2. By the end of the summer, her sunburn had completely healed.
3. The wound had been healed using an ancient remedy.

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Bare infinitive

To describe habits or routines.
Example. She always heals quickly after her workouts.
Example. The body heals during rest.
Example. To heal properly, avoid any strenuous activities.
To state general truths or facts.
Example. She always heals quickly after her workouts.
Example. The body heals during rest.
Example. To heal properly, avoid any strenuous activities.
To give instructions or directions.
Example. She always heals quickly after her workouts.
Example. The body heals during rest.
Example. To heal properly, avoid any strenuous activities.

Past Simple

To describe actions or situations that were completed in the past.
Example. He healed completely after the surgery.
Example. She injured her knee, rested for a month, and finally healed.
Example. Last year, they discovered a plant that healed their sickness.
To describe a series of completed actions in the past.
Example. He healed completely after the surgery.
Example. She injured her knee, rested for a month, and finally healed.
Example. Last year, they discovered a plant that healed their sickness.
To provide background information in a story.
Example. He healed completely after the surgery.
Example. She injured her knee, rested for a month, and finally healed.
Example. Last year, they discovered a plant that healed their sickness.

Past Participle

To form the present perfect tense, describing actions or states that occurred at an unspecified time in the past.
Example. She has healed from her emotional trauma.
Example. By the time the therapy ended, he had healed from his injuries.
Example. The wounds were healed through careful treatment.
To form the past perfect tense, describing actions or states that were completed before some other past action or state.
Example. She has healed from her emotional trauma.
Example. By the time the therapy ended, he had healed from his injuries.
Example. The wounds were healed through careful treatment.
To form the passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence is being acted upon.
Example. She has healed from her emotional trauma.
Example. By the time the therapy ended, he had healed from his injuries.
Example. The wounds were healed through careful treatment.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusion between 'healed'

A common mistake is misunderstanding that 'healed' serves as both the past simple and past participle form of 'heal.' This leads to confusion in sentence construction, especially when forming perfect tenses or the passive voice. For example, in the sentence 'He has healed from his injury,' 'healed' is correctly used as the past participle in the present perfect tense. However, some might mistakenly try to use a different form for the past participle, such as 'healen' or 'healt,' which are incorrect.

— 02

Incorrect 'healed'

Another mistake involves using 'healed' instead of 'heal' in present tense sentences. For instance, saying 'He healed every day' when the correct form is 'He heals every day.' The error stems from not recognizing the need to use the base form of the verb in present simple tense constructions, leading to a mix-up between past and present forms.

— 03

Misapplying 'healed'

Some might incorrectly use 'healed' to imply an action that was ongoing in the past, which distorts the meaning intended. The sentence 'He healed working on his project' incorrectly suggests a completed action, whereas the correct expression for an ongoing past action would require the past continuous form, 'He was healing while working on his project.' This mistake overlooks the nuanced difference between a completed action in the past (past simple) and an action that was in progress (past continuous).

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'heal'?

The past simple form of 'heal' is 'healed.' This form is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example. 'She healed quickly after the surgery.'

What is the past participle form of 'heal'?

The past participle form of 'heal' is also 'healed.' This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'He has healed completely from his injuries.' In a passive voice construction, you might say, 'The wounds were healed by a skilled doctor.'

How do I use 'healed' in a sentence to indicate a past action?

To indicate a past action using 'healed,' you should use the past simple tense. Make sure the subject of your sentence is followed by 'healed' to denote an action that was completed in the past. For example. 'After a few weeks of rest, the athlete healed from his injury.'

Can 'healed' be used to describe both physical and emotional recovery?

Yes, 'healed' can be used to describe both physical and emotional recovery. When referring to physical recovery, it typically involves the healing of wounds, diseases, or injuries. For emotional recovery, it involves overcoming emotional pain, trauma, or distress. Examples. 'Her broken arm healed in six weeks' (physical recovery) and 'Time healed his broken heart' (emotional recovery).