Hold past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of hold

to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp.

Infinitive

Word: hold /hoʊld/
Examples:
  • 1. Every Sunday, they hold a community meeting at the local hall.
  • 2. This cup can hold up to 200ml of liquid.
  • 3. She often holds her breath while diving into the pool.

Past Simple

Word: held /held/
Examples:
  • 1. She held her breath as she waited for the results.
  • 2. They held a meeting last week to discuss the project's progress.
  • 3. He held the door open for the elderly couple entering the restaurant.

Past Participle

Word: held /hɛld/
Examples:
  • 1. The ancient artifacts have been held in the museum's collection for decades.
  • 2. The championship trophy was held aloft by the jubilant team.
  • 3. All the secrets have been held closely by the family for generations.

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Bare infinitive

  1. General Truths or Facts. When expressing universal truths or facts that are always valid.
    Example. The Earth holds water and life.
    Example. He holds a meeting every Monday morning.
    Example. The conference holds 300 participants annually.
    Example. This button holds the menu for more options.
    Example. The library holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.
  2. Habits or Routines. To describe actions that are habitual or part of a routine.
    Example. The Earth holds water and life.
    Example. He holds a meeting every Monday morning.
    Example. The conference holds 300 participants annually.
    Example. This button holds the menu for more options.
    Example. The library holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.
  3. Fixed Arrangements. For scheduled events or fixed arrangements in the near future, especially in formal contexts.
    Example. The Earth holds water and life.
    Example. He holds a meeting every Monday morning.
    Example. The conference holds 300 participants annually.
    Example. This button holds the menu for more options.
    Example. The library holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.
  4. Instructions or Directions. In giving instructions or directions.
    Example. The Earth holds water and life.
    Example. He holds a meeting every Monday morning.
    Example. The conference holds 300 participants annually.
    Example. This button holds the menu for more options.
    Example. The library holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.
  5. Permanent States. Describing things considered permanent or very unlikely to change.
    Example. The Earth holds water and life.
    Example. He holds a meeting every Monday morning.
    Example. The conference holds 300 participants annually.
    Example. This button holds the menu for more options.
    Example. The library holds thousands of ancient manuscripts.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past. For actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
    Example. The committee held a meeting yesterday.
    Example. He held the belief that Earth was flat in his early years.
    Example. I held the door open, walked inside, and then the meeting started.
    Example. She held the record for two years before someone else broke it.
  2. Past Habits or States. Describing habits or states in the past that are no longer true.
    Example. The committee held a meeting yesterday.
    Example. He held the belief that Earth was flat in his early years.
    Example. I held the door open, walked inside, and then the meeting started.
    Example. She held the record for two years before someone else broke it.
  3. Sequential Actions in the Past. Narrating a series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. The committee held a meeting yesterday.
    Example. He held the belief that Earth was flat in his early years.
    Example. I held the door open, walked inside, and then the meeting started.
    Example. She held the record for two years before someone else broke it.
  4. Duration in the Past. When indicating the duration of an action that occurred in the past and has ended.
    Example. The committee held a meeting yesterday.
    Example. He held the belief that Earth was flat in his early years.
    Example. I held the door open, walked inside, and then the meeting started.
    Example. She held the record for two years before someone else broke it.

Past Participle

  1. Present Perfect Tense. Describing actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
    Example. She has held many prestigious awards throughout her career.
    Example. By the time the award ceremony started, he had already held three meetings.
    Example. The annual festival was held in July last year.
    Example. If she had held her temper, the argument might have been avoided.
    Example. By the end of the day, we will have held discussions with all parties involved.
  2. Past Perfect Tense. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. She has held many prestigious awards throughout her career.
    Example. By the time the award ceremony started, he had already held three meetings.
    Example. The annual festival was held in July last year.
    Example. If she had held her temper, the argument might have been avoided.
    Example. By the end of the day, we will have held discussions with all parties involved.
  3. Passive Voice. Used in the passive voice to show that an action was done to the subject rather than the subject doing the action.
    Example. She has held many prestigious awards throughout her career.
    Example. By the time the award ceremony started, he had already held three meetings.
    Example. The annual festival was held in July last year.
    Example. If she had held her temper, the argument might have been avoided.
    Example. By the end of the day, we will have held discussions with all parties involved.
  4. Conditional Sentences. In the conditional form, to indicate hypothetical situations.
    Example. She has held many prestigious awards throughout her career.
    Example. By the time the award ceremony started, he had already held three meetings.
    Example. The annual festival was held in July last year.
    Example. If she had held her temper, the argument might have been avoided.
    Example. By the end of the day, we will have held discussions with all parties involved.
  5. Future Perfect Tense. To describe actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future.
    Example. She has held many prestigious awards throughout her career.
    Example. By the time the award ceremony started, he had already held three meetings.
    Example. The annual festival was held in July last year.
    Example. If she had held her temper, the argument might have been avoided.
    Example. By the end of the day, we will have held discussions with all parties involved.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Verb Forms

One of the most common mistakes involves using the wrong form of the past simple and past participle for irregular verbs. Unlike regular verbs that typically end in '-ed' for both their past simple and past participle forms, irregular verbs have unique forms that must be memorized. For example, the verb 'hold' has 'held' as both its past simple and past participle forms. A common mistake is applying the regular verb rule and saying or writing 'holded' instead of 'held' for its past tense and past participle.

— 02

Misuse in Perfect Tenses

Another frequent error is the misuse of the past participle in perfect tenses. The present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses require the use of the past participle form of the verb. However, learners often mistakenly use the past simple form instead. For instance, in the sentence 'I have held the meeting yesterday,' the correct form is 'I held the meeting yesterday' if intending to use the simple past, or 'I have held the meeting' if the action's relevance to the present is being emphasized without specifying the time.

— 03

Confusing forms in passive

In passive voice constructions, the past participle form is needed. A common mistake is using the past simple form instead of the past participle. For instance, 'The book was hold by her' instead of the correct 'The book was held by her.' This error alters the grammatical structure and can lead to confusion regarding the intended meaning of the sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'hold'?

The past simple form of 'hold' is 'held'. It is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, I held a meeting with the team to discuss our project progress.'

What is the past participle form of 'hold'?

The past participle form of 'hold' is also 'held'. It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For instance, in the sentence 'The record has been held by the same athlete for a decade,' 'held' is the past participle form used in the present perfect tense.

How do I use the past participle of 'hold' in a sentence?

The past participle of 'hold', which is 'held', can be used in several ways. In perfect tenses. To describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past relative to another time. Example. 'She has held many prestigious positions in her career.' In passive voice. To indicate that the subject of the sentence is acted upon. Example. 'The annual festival was held in the city center.'

Can you give an example of a sentence that uses both the past simple and past participle forms of 'hold'?

Yes, here's an example that combines both forms in different parts of the sentence. 'Last year, our team held a successful fundraising event that has since been held as the standard for future events.' In this sentence, 'held' is first used in the past simple form to describe the action of conducting the event in the past. The second 'held' is used as a past participle in a present perfect construction to describe the ongoing impact of the event.