Open past tense

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Meaning of open

move (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and view.

Infinitive

Word: open /ˈoʊ.pən/
Examples:
  • 1. Every morning, I open the windows to let in fresh air.
  • 2. They always open their store at 8:00 AM sharp.
  • 3. The local library opens its doors to the community seven days a week.

Past Simple

Word: opened /ˈoʊ.pənd/
Examples:
  • 1. She opened the door gently to avoid waking the baby.
  • 2. They opened a new restaurant downtown last month.
  • 3. He opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Past Participle

Word: opened /ˈoʊpənd/
Examples:
  • 1. The book has been opened on the table for hours.
  • 2. The door was opened by a gentle push.
  • 3. All the gifts had been opened before midnight.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions or Routines
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  2. Describe actions done on a regular basis.
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  3. General Truths
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  4. To state facts or things which are generally true.
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  5. Fixed Arrangements
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  6. To talk about a scheduled event or something decided.
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  7. Immediate Future (in some contexts)
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.
  8. To talk about scheduled events, particularly in timetables, programs, etc.
    Example. She opens her store at 9 am every day.
    Example. The museum opens to the public on all weekdays.
    Example. The conference opens with a keynote at 8 am sharp.
    Example. The new theater opens next month.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  2. To talk about actions that started and finished in the past.
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  3. Past Habits
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  4. To describe habits or routines that were true in the past but not anymore.
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  5. Sequential Actions in the Past
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  6. To describe actions that followed one after another in the past.
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  7. Past Facts or Generalizations
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.
  8. To state facts or generalizations that were true in the past.
    Example. She opened her first bakery in 200
    Example. He opened his emails first thing in the morning when he was the project manager.
    Example. She opened the letter, read it, and then cried.
    Example. This shop opened at 8 am before the new law came into effect.

Past Participle

  1. Present Perfect
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  2. To talk about actions or situations that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or that have relevance to the present moment.
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  3. Past Perfect
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  4. To discuss an action that was completed before another action in the past.
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  5. Passive Voice
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  6. To describe an action where the focus is on the action or the result of the action rather than who or what is performing it.
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  7. Perfect Participle Phrases
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.
  8. To show reason, time, or condition, often used at the beginning of a sentence.
    Example. They have just opened a new restaurant in town.
    Example. By the time I arrived, the meeting had already opened.
    Example. The letter was opened by the secretary.
    Example. Having opened all the windows, she felt a fresh breeze fill the room.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Forms

One of the most common mistakes is confusing the past simple form 'opened' with the past participle form, which is also 'opened,' in the context of perfect tenses or passive voice. While the forms are identical in this case, their usage is different. For example, incorrectly using the simple past in a perfect tense construction. 'I have opened the door yesterday' (incorrect) instead of correctly placing it in a simple past context. 'I opened the door yesterday.'

— 02

Incorrect Use in Perfect Tenses

Another mistake involves misusing the past participle form in perfect tense constructions. Since 'opened' serves as both the past simple and past participle form, it might lead to misunderstanding its role in creating perfect tenses. A common error is not using the auxiliary verb 'have' (or 'has' for third person singular) with the past participle for present perfect constructions, resulting in sentences like 'I opened the book already' instead of the correct 'I have opened the book already.'

— 03

Misapplying in Passive Voice

The third common mistake is the improper use of 'opened' in passive voice sentences. The past participle form is necessary for constructing passive voice sentences, but errors occur when it is used without the appropriate form of the verb 'to be.' For example, saying 'The door was open by me' instead of the correct 'The door was opened by me.' This mistake not only involves the confusion between 'open' (an adjective in this incorrect example) and 'opened' (the correct past participle) but also the incorrect construction of the passive voice itself.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'open' is 'opened.' This form is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. The past participle form is also 'opened.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences to indicate actions that have been completed at an unspecified time or that describe a current state resulting from a past action.

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

To use 'opened' in a sentence to indicate a past action, you should be referring to an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example. 'She opened the store at 8 AM yesterday.' This sentence uses the past simple form 'opened' to describe an action that was completed at a specific time (yesterday at 8 AM).

Can you give an example of how to use 'opened' as a past participle in a sentence?

Certainly! When using 'opened' as a past participle, it can appear in perfect tense constructions or in passive voice sentences. Here are examples for both. Perfect tense example. 'They have already opened the gifts.' In this sentence, 'opened' is used with 'have' to form the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of opening the gifts was completed at some unspecified time before now. Passive voice example. 'The museum was opened last year.' Here, 'opened' is used in a passive construction to indicate that the action (opening the museum) was completed in the past, with the focus on the museum rather than who opened it. Is there a difference in meaning when using 'opened' in different tenses or constructions