Outbid past tense

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Meaning of outbid

to offer a higher price than (someone) for something, especially at an auction.

Infinitive

Word: outbid /ˌaʊtˈbɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. They always outbid me at auctions whenever we're going after the same artwork.
  • 2. Our company frequently outbids rivals to secure the best advertising spots.
  • 3. I try not to let emotions control my decisions, but sometimes I outbid reason in the heat of the moment.

Past Simple

Word: outbid /ˌaʊtˈbɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. At the auction, I outbid everyone else for the rare painting, securing it for my collection.
  • 2. She outbid her competitor by a small margin, winning the contract for the new project.
  • 3. They outbid us at the last moment, taking the antique vase we dearly wanted.

Past Participle

Word: outbid /ˌaʊtˈbɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The painting was outbid at the last moment by an anonymous collector.
  • 2. My earlier offer has been outbid by a more competitive bid.
  • 3. They were outbid for the antique vase at the auction.

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Bare infinitive

  1. To describe habitual actions or routines.
    Example. Every year, I outbid my competitors at the auction.
    Example. It often outbids its rivals to secure rare items.
    Example. First, you outbid your opponent, then you confirm your final offer.
  2. To state facts.
    Example. Every year, I outbid my competitors at the auction.
    Example. It often outbids its rivals to secure rare items.
    Example. First, you outbid your opponent, then you confirm your final offer.
  3. To give instructions or directions.
    Example. Every year, I outbid my competitors at the auction.
    Example. It often outbids its rivals to secure rare items.
    Example. First, you outbid your opponent, then you confirm your final offer.

Past Simple Tense

  1. To describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
    Example. Last month, I outbid everyone at the estate sale and won the painting.
    Example. I outbid my rival, paid for the item, and then took it home.
    Example. She always outbid me whenever we found ourselves interested in the same artworks.
  2. To narrate a series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. Last month, I outbid everyone at the estate sale and won the painting.
    Example. I outbid my rival, paid for the item, and then took it home.
    Example. She always outbid me whenever we found ourselves interested in the same artworks.
  3. To mention habits in the past.
    Example. Last month, I outbid everyone at the estate sale and won the painting.
    Example. I outbid my rival, paid for the item, and then took it home.
    Example. She always outbid me whenever we found ourselves interested in the same artworks.

Past Participle Tense

  1. In perfect tense constructions to indicate completed actions at unspecified times.
    Example. The final bid was outbid by an anonymous buyer last night.
    Example. The outbid competitor looked disheartened.
  2. Example in Present Perfect. I have outbid many competitors over the years.
    Example. The final bid was outbid by an anonymous buyer last night.
    Example. The outbid competitor looked disheartened.
  3. In passive voice constructions to describe actions done to the subject.
    Example. The final bid was outbid by an anonymous buyer last night.
    Example. The outbid competitor looked disheartened.
  4. As an adjective to describe a state resulting from an action.
    Example. The final bid was outbid by an anonymous buyer last night.
    Example. The outbid competitor looked disheartened.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Forms

A common mistake is confusing the past simple form of a verb with its past participle form. For the verb 'outbid', the past simple is 'outbid' (I outbid my competitor yesterday), and the past participle is also 'outbid' (I have outbid everyone at the auction). Some learners mistakenly use the past participle form when they should use the past simple, or vice versa, because they are the same for this verb. However, the confusion usually arises with verbs that have distinct forms.

— 02

Incorrect Past Participle

Another mistake involves Incorrect Past Participle of 'outbid' by adding an unnecessary '-ed' ending, resulting in the incorrect 'outbidded'. This error stems from the general rule that many English verbs form their past participle by adding '-ed'. However, 'outbid' is irregular, and its past participle does not follow this rule. The correct past participle is 'outbid'.

— 03

Misuse in Perfect Tenses

Learners often misuse the past participle in perfect tense constructions. For example, they might say “I have outbid yesterday” instead of the correct “I outbid someone yesterday” or “I have outbid someone.” The mistake here is failing to recognize that the present perfect tense ('have outbid') connects past actions to the present and should not typically be used with specific time expressions that point to a completed action in the past.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'outbid' is 'outbid,' and the past participle form is also 'outbid.' This verb does not change form between its past simple and past participle uses, making it easier to remember.

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

To use 'outbid' in the past simple tense, you are referring to a specific time in the past when one party offered more money than another for an item, typically in an auction setting. For example, 'Last year, I outbid everyone at the charity auction for the antique vase.' In this sentence, 'outbid' describes a completed action that happened at a definite time in the past.

How is 'outbid' used in a sentence with a past participle form?

The past participle form of 'outbid' is often used in perfect tenses to talk about actions that have been completed at some point before now. For instance, in the sentence, 'I have outbid my competitor for the painting,' 'have outbid' is the present perfect tense, indicating an action that has relevance to the present moment. Similarly, 'had outbid' can be used for the past perfect tense, as in 'By the time the auction ended, I had outbid everyone else.'

Can 'outbid' be used in a passive voice? How?

Yes, 'outbid' can be used in the passive voice, utilizing its past participle form. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action. For example, 'The rare book was outbid by an anonymous collector.' This sentence focuses on the book being the object of the action, with the bidding done by someone else. In passive constructions, it's common to use 'was' or 'were' with the past participle 'outbid' to indicate the action.