Mimic past tense

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Meaning of mimic

imitate (someone or their actions or words), typically in order to entertain or ridicule.

Infinitive

Word: mimic /ˈmɪm.ɪk/
Examples:
  • 1. Parrots can mimic human speech remarkably well.
  • 2. She has the ability to mimic any accent after hearing it just once.
  • 3. Many comedians mimic famous personalities as part of their act.

Past Simple

Word: mimicked /ˈmɪmɪkt/
Examples:
  • 1. She perfectly mimicked her teacher's voice, leaving the class in fits of laughter.
  • 2. He mimicked the intricate dance steps after only watching them once.
  • 3. They mimicked the expressions and mannerisms of their parents for the play, earning applause for their attention to detail.

Past Participle

Word: mimicked /ˈmɪmɪkt/
Examples:
  • 1. The unique song of the bird had been closely mimicked by the clever parrot.
  • 2. The ancient ritual was perfectly mimicked by the actors during the reenactment.
  • 3. Every movement of the master was faithfully mimicked by the apprentice throughout the training session.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual or general truths. Used to describe actions that are habitual or general truths.
    Example. She often mimics her teacher's accent for fun.
    Example. The class that teaches students how to mimic bird calls starts next Thursday.
  2. Fixed arrangements in the near future. Occasionally, especially in informal English, used to refer to scheduled future events, typically in a program or timetable.
    Example. She often mimics her teacher's accent for fun.
    Example. The class that teaches students how to mimic bird calls starts next Thursday.

Past Simple

  1. Completed actions in the past. Used to express actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
    Example. He mimicked the professor's speech perfectly at the party last night.
    Example. She mimicked the sound, then laughed, and everyone in the room turned to look.
    Example. As children, they often mimicked their elder's mannerisms but have since developed their unique styles.
  2. A sequence of actions in the past. To describe a series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. He mimicked the professor's speech perfectly at the party last night.
    Example. She mimicked the sound, then laughed, and everyone in the room turned to look.
    Example. As children, they often mimicked their elder's mannerisms but have since developed their unique styles.
  3. Habits in the past. For describing habits or situations that were true in the past but are no longer true.
    Example. He mimicked the professor's speech perfectly at the party last night.
    Example. She mimicked the sound, then laughed, and everyone in the room turned to look.
    Example. As children, they often mimicked their elder's mannerisms but have since developed their unique styles.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses. Used in perfect tenses to talk about actions that have a connection to the present or future.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.
  2. Present Perfect. Describes an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that has relevance to the present.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.
  3. Past Perfect. Talks about an action that was completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.
  4. Future Perfect. Describes an action that will be completed before a specified future time or action.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.
  5. Passive voice. To express actions in passive voice, focusing on the action or the recipient rather than who performs the action.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.
  6. Exploring the usage of 'mimic' across these tenses allows for a comprehensive understanding of its application in various contexts, enhancing both written and spoken communication.
    Example. She has successfully mimicked many famous personalities in her career.
    Example. By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already mimicked each other's handwriting.
    Example. By this time next year, he will have mimicked the styles of all the great painters.
    Example. The renowned artist's style was widely mimicked by newcomers in the art world.

Common mistakes

— 01

Failing to double

One common mistake is not doubling the 'c' in 'mimic' when forming the past simple and past participle, resulting in 'mimiced' instead of the correct 'mimicked.' This error arises from misunderstanding the rule that, in English, when a verb ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant (and the stress is on the final syllable or with short verbs), the final consonant should be doubled before adding '-ed.'

— 02

Incorrect pronunciation

Pronouncing 'mimicked' correctly (/ˈmɪmɪkt/) can be challenging for learners who might add an extra syllable, saying it as 'mimi-cked' instead of the correct two-syllable pronunciation. This mistake stems from the visual appearance of the doubled consonant and the '-ed' ending, misleading learners into thinking an additional vowel sound should be inserted between the consonant and the suffix.

— 03

Using 'mimicked' inappropriately

Some learners might use 'mimicked' incorrectly because they confuse its tense or aspect, perhaps using it when a present participle or gerund form is more appropriate. For example, saying 'I was mimicked to do it yesterday' instead of the more accurate 'I was mimicking to do it yesterday' or 'I mimicked it yesterday.' This mistake reflects a broader challenge in understanding the nuanced differences between simple past actions and ongoing or habitual actions in the past, especially when the verb form does not change dramatically across different uses.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'mimic' is 'mimicked.' This form is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. The past participle form is also 'mimicked.' This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions.

How do you use 'mimicked' in a past simple sentence?

To use 'mimicked' in a past simple sentence, you structure your sentence to reflect an action that was completed in the past. For example. 'She mimicked his accent perfectly at the party last night.' In this sentence, 'mimicked' describes an action that occurred and was completed in the past.

Can you give an example of 'mimicked' used as a past participle in a sentence?

Yes, when 'mimicked' is used as a past participle, it often appears in perfect tense constructions or in the passive voice. For instance, in the sentence, 'The comedian's style has been mimicked by many newcomers,' 'mimicked' is used as a past participle in a passive voice construction, indicating an action performed on the subject (the comedian's style) by someone else (many newcomers). Is there a difference in pronunciation or spelling between the past simple and past participle forms of 'mimic'