Learn past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of learn

to gain knowledge or skill in a subject by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing.

Infinitive

Word: learn /lɜːn/
Examples:
  • 1. Every day, I learn something new in my class.
  • 2. She learns French by practicing with a tutor twice a week.
  • 3. They learn quickly when they are interested in the subject.

Past Simple

Word: learned /ˈlɜːrnd/ or learnt /lɜːnt/
Examples:
  • 1. Yesterday, I learned a new recipe from my grandmother.
  • 2. She learned to ride a bike when she was just five years old.
  • 3. We learned the importance of teamwork during the project.

Past Participle

Word: learned or learnt /ˈlɜrnd/ or /lɜnt/
Examples:
  • 1. The course had been learned thoroughly by the students by the end of the semester.
  • 2. Every lesson was carefully learned by her before moving on to the next.
  • 3. The ancient texts have been learned and preserved by scholars for generations.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual actions or routines.
    Example. I learn something new every day.
    Example. He learns quickly.
    Example. The new course learns at 8 AM tomorrow.
  2. General truths or facts.
    Example. I learn something new every day.
    Example. He learns quickly.
    Example. The new course learns at 8 AM tomorrow.
  3. Fixed arrangements in the near future (usually for timetable or schedule).
    Example. I learn something new every day.
    Example. He learns quickly.
    Example. The new course learns at 8 AM tomorrow.

Past Simple

  1. Actions completed in the past at a specific time.
    Example. I learned French in high school.
    Example. She learned to drive and then bought a car.
    Example. We learned the news yesterday.
  2. A sequence of actions in the past.
    Example. I learned French in high school.
    Example. She learned to drive and then bought a car.
    Example. We learned the news yesterday.
  3. With expressions of time indicating when the action took place.
    Example. I learned French in high school.
    Example. She learned to drive and then bought a car.
    Example. We learned the news yesterday.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.
  2. Present Perfect. He has just learned the truth.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.
  3. Past Perfect. By the time the news came out, he had already learned about it.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.
  4. Future Perfect. By next year, I will have learned all the basics of coding.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.
  5. Passive voice.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.
  6. As an adjective to describe a state resulting from an action.
    Example. The lesson was learned the hard way by the team.
    Example. He is a learned man in his field.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect past simple

A common mistake is to use the simple past form of the verb 'learn' in situations where the past participle is required. The simple past form of 'learn' is 'learned' (or 'learnt' in British English), which is the same as its past participle form for regular verbs. However, people often incorrectly use just the simple past form without auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses.

— 02

Confusing 'learned' with 'learnt'

In American English, 'learned' is the universally accepted past simple and past participle form of 'learn.' However, in British English, both 'learned' and 'learnt' are acceptable, but they are often used interchangeably without regard to regional norms. This can lead to confusion or the appearance of a mistake if one strictly follows one variant of English. For instance, an American might consider 'learnt' incorrect, while a British person might use both forms interchangeably.

— 03

Omitting auxiliary verbs

For the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses, the auxiliary verb 'have' is necessary. A frequent error is omitting 'have' and using just the past participle form, leading to sentences that are grammatically incorrect. For example, saying 'I learned this yesterday' when meaning to use the present perfect tense, instead of the correct form 'I have learned this yesterday' to indicate an action that has relevance to the present moment.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'learn' is 'learned' or 'learnt' (the latter being more commonly used in British English). Both forms are correct, but their usage might vary depending on the region. The past participle form is also 'learned' or 'learnt' depending on the variant of English you are using.

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

The past simple form is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. For example. 'I learned French in high school.' (American English) 'I learnt French in high school.' (British English). In these sentences, 'learned' or 'learnt' indicates that the action of learning French was completed in the past, during the speaker's high school years.

How is the past participle form of 'learn' used in sentences?

The past participle form is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or the passive voice. For example. Present Perfect. 'I have learned a lot from this experience.' or 'I have learnt a lot from this experience.' Past Perfect. 'By the time the course ended, I had learned so much.' or 'By the time the course ended, I had learnt so much.' Passive Voice. 'A lot was learned from the experiment.' or 'A lot was learnt from the experiment.' In each case, 'learned' or 'learnt' works with another verb to indicate an action relating to learning that has been completed in the past.

Can you provide an example of when it's incorrect to use 'learned' or 'learnt'?

Yes, it would be incorrect to use 'learned' or 'learnt' when referring to an action that is ongoing or in the present. For instance. Incorrect. 'I learned studying every day.' (If the action is ongoing) Correct. 'I learn by studying every day.' (For ongoing actions, use the present simple) Always ensure that the tense you use accurately reflects the time frame of the action you're describing. For continuous or ongoing learning, stick with the present simple ('learn') instead of using the past forms.