Label past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of label

to assign a name, category, or description to someone or something.

Infinitive

Word: label /ˈleɪ.bəl/
Examples:
  • 1. The museum guide carefully labels each artifact to provide visitors with detailed information.
  • 2. The teacher labels each drawer to keep all the supplies organized.
  • 3. The new software automatically labels emails as important based on your reading habits.

Past Simple

Word: labeled /ˈleɪbəld/
Examples:
  • 1. Yesterday, I labeled all the boxes in the attic to make finding things easier.
  • 2. She labeled the jars with the names of the spices to keep the kitchen organized.
  • 3. They labeled their luggage carefully before heading to the airport to avoid any mix-ups.

Past Participle

Word: labeled /ˈleɪbəld/
Examples:
  • 1. By the end of the project, they had labeled all the boxes, making unpacking much easier.
  • 2. She had labeled each photograph with names and dates, preserving the family history.
  • 3. The museum had labeled every exhibit meticulously, offering visitors a comprehensive learning experience.

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Bare infinitive

  1. To describe habitual actions or routines involving assigning names, categories, or descriptions.
    Example. She labels all her notebooks by subject.
    Example. This software automatically labels emails as 'Important' based on content.
    Example. To stay organized, label each box before moving.
  2. To state facts or general truths about the act of labeling.
    Example. She labels all her notebooks by subject.
    Example. This software automatically labels emails as 'Important' based on content.
    Example. To stay organized, label each box before moving.
  3. To give instructions or advice related to the process of labeling.
    Example. She labels all her notebooks by subject.
    Example. This software automatically labels emails as 'Important' based on content.
    Example. To stay organized, label each box before moving.

Past Simple

  1. To talk about a specific instance in the past when someone assigned a name, category, or description.
    Example. He labeled the folders yesterday to tidy up his desk.
    Example. We labeled all the products and then arranged them on the shelves.
    Example. Before the digital age, librarians manually labeled each book.
  2. To describe a series of actions in the past involving labeling.
    Example. He labeled the folders yesterday to tidy up his desk.
    Example. We labeled all the products and then arranged them on the shelves.
    Example. Before the digital age, librarians manually labeled each book.
  3. To express a past habit or state of labeling that is no longer current.
    Example. He labeled the folders yesterday to tidy up his desk.
    Example. We labeled all the products and then arranged them on the shelves.
    Example. Before the digital age, librarians manually labeled each book.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses - To talk about actions of labeling that have happened, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.
    Example. The packages were labeled with care to ensure proper delivery.
  2. Example (Present Perfect). All the ingredients have been labeled clearly in the kitchen.
    Example. The packages were labeled with care to ensure proper delivery.
  3. Example (Past Perfect). By the time the conference started, the team had labeled each attendee's seat.
    Example. The packages were labeled with care to ensure proper delivery.
  4. Passive voice - To describe situations where the focus is on someone or something being assigned a name, category, or description, rather than who did the labeling.
    Example. The packages were labeled with care to ensure proper delivery.

Common mistakes

— 01

Inconsistent Doubling

One common mistake is confusion over whether to double the final consonant when adding the '-ed' ending, leading to inconsistencies like 'labeleled' or failing to double the consonant where it is standard in British English, resulting in 'labeled' instead of 'labelled.' This mistake stems from uncertainty about the rules for doubling consonants in verb conjugation, which can vary between American and British English.

— 02

Using the Base Form

Another frequent error is using the base form 'label' instead of the correct past simple or past participle form 'labeled' or 'labelled' in contexts that clearly refer to past events. For example, saying 'Yesterday, I label the boxes' instead of 'Yesterday, I labeled (or labelled) the boxes.' This mistake reflects a lack of understanding of tense usage and the need to modify the verb form to match the past tense.

— 03

Omitting the Past Participle

When forming perfect tense constructions, it's necessary to use the past participle form 'labeled' or 'labelled' with an auxiliary verb. A common mistake involves omitting the past participle form or using the wrong tense, leading to sentences that are grammatically incorrect. An example of this error might be 'I have label all the products' instead of the correct 'I have labeled (or labelled) all the products.' This error usually results from a misunderstanding of how to form perfect tenses or a simple oversight.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'label'?

The past simple form of 'label' is 'labeled' or 'labelled'. Both spellings are correct, but 'labeled' is preferred in American English, while 'labelled' is preferred in British English. The past participle form is the same as the past simple form, so it's either 'labeled' or 'labelled' depending on the variant of English you are using.

How do I use the past simple form of 'label' in a sentence?

The past simple form of 'label' is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example. American English. 'Yesterday, I labeled all the boxes in the attic.' British English. 'Yesterday, I labelled all the jars in the kitchen.' In each case, the action of labeling something happened in the past and is now completed.

How is the past participle form of 'label' used?

The past participle form of 'label' is used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. Here are examples for each case. Perfect Tense Example. 'I have labeled/lavelled all the products before the store opened.' This sentence uses the present perfect tense to indicate an action completed before a specific time. Passive Voice Example. 'The packages were labeled/lavelled carefully by the staff.' This sentence is in the passive voice, indicating that the action of labeling was performed on the packages by someone.

Can you give me an example of a mistake people often make with the past simple or past participle form of 'label'?

A common mistake is using the base form 'label' instead of the past simple or past participle form when the sentence requires a past tense or perfect tense construction. For example. Incorrect. 'I label all my clothes yesterday.' Correct. 'I labeled/lavelled all my clothes yesterday.' Another mistake is forgetting to maintain consistency in American or British spelling, especially in formal writing. It's important to choose one spelling variant and stick with it throughout your text.