Override past tense
Meaning of override
to cancel or set aside by exerting authority or power over something or someone.
Infinitive
- 1. The system administrator has the authority to override any settings configured by users.
- 2. In case of a conflict between local and national laws, the latter usually override the former.
- 3. The safety protocols are designed to override manual controls in the event of an emergency.
Past Simple
- 1. The manager overrode the decision made by the committee last week.
- 2. She overrode her initial reluctance and joined the project.
- 3. They overrode the computer's automatic process to fix the error manually.
Past Participle
- 1. The decision was overridden by the committee's unanimous vote.
- 2. Her previous commands had been overridden by the new update.
- 3. The system settings are often overridden by default configurations.
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Bare infinitive
- Habitual action. When referring to actions that happen regularly or habitually.Example. 'The supervisor always overrides the automated system when there is a conflict.'Example. 'The system allows administrators to override default settings.'Example. 'The new policy to override manual checks kicks in next month.'
- General truths or facts. When stating general truths or facts.Example. 'The supervisor always overrides the automated system when there is a conflict.'Example. 'The system allows administrators to override default settings.'Example. 'The new policy to override manual checks kicks in next month.'
- Scheduled future events (in contexts where the schedule is fixed like timetables or programs, often more formal or official than casual future intent).Example. 'The supervisor always overrides the automated system when there is a conflict.'Example. 'The system allows administrators to override default settings.'Example. 'The new policy to override manual checks kicks in next month.'
Past Simple
- Completed action in the past. When talking about an action that has been completed at some point in the past.Example. 'Yesterday, the committee overrode the director's decision.'Example. 'In the old system, the manager often overrode the automated recommendations, but that’s not possible anymore.'Example. 'The board reviewed the proposal, overrode the objections, and finally approved the plan last week.'
- Past habit which is no longer in practice. To talk about habits or recurring actions in the past that are not practiced in the present.Example. 'Yesterday, the committee overrode the director's decision.'Example. 'In the old system, the manager often overrode the automated recommendations, but that’s not possible anymore.'Example. 'The board reviewed the proposal, overrode the objections, and finally approved the plan last week.'
- Sequential past actions. When narrating a series of past actions, where 'overrode' signifies one of the actions that happened.Example. 'Yesterday, the committee overrode the director's decision.'Example. 'In the old system, the manager often overrode the automated recommendations, but that’s not possible anymore.'Example. 'The board reviewed the proposal, overrode the objections, and finally approved the plan last week.'
Past Participle
- Perfect tenses.Example. 'The decision has been overridden by the higher authorities.'Example. 'By the time the meeting took place, the initial instructions had already been overridden.'Example. 'By next year, the outdated protocols will have been overridden by new regulations.'Example. 'The employee's request was overridden by the management.'
- Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or actions that started in the past but continue to the present.Example. 'The decision has been overridden by the higher authorities.'Example. 'By the time the meeting took place, the initial instructions had already been overridden.'Example. 'By next year, the outdated protocols will have been overridden by new regulations.'Example. 'The employee's request was overridden by the management.'
- Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.Example. 'The decision has been overridden by the higher authorities.'Example. 'By the time the meeting took place, the initial instructions had already been overridden.'Example. 'By next year, the outdated protocols will have been overridden by new regulations.'Example. 'The employee's request was overridden by the management.'
- Future Perfect. For actions that will have been completed by a certain future point.Example. 'The decision has been overridden by the higher authorities.'Example. 'By the time the meeting took place, the initial instructions had already been overridden.'Example. 'By next year, the outdated protocols will have been overridden by new regulations.'Example. 'The employee's request was overridden by the management.'
- Passive voice. When the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action rather than the doer.Example. 'The decision has been overridden by the higher authorities.'Example. 'By the time the meeting took place, the initial instructions had already been overridden.'Example. 'By next year, the outdated protocols will have been overridden by new regulations.'Example. 'The employee's request was overridden by the management.'
Common mistakes
— 01
Confusing forms
A common mistake is using the past simple form of 'override' (overrode) when the past participle form (overridden) is needed, and vice versa. For instance, incorrectly saying 'I have overrode the decision' instead of the correct 'I have overridden the decision.'
— 02
Incorrect past participle
Some people might mistakenly create the past participle of 'override' by simply adding -ed to the base form, leading to 'overrided' instead of the correct form, 'overridden.' This error stems from misunderstanding the irregular nature of the verb.
— 03
Misuse in passive constructions
Another common mistake involves Incorrectly Using Past Simple in passive voice constructions where the past participle is required. For example, saying 'The decision was overrode by the committee' instead of the correct 'The decision was overridden by the committee.' This mistake alters the grammatical accuracy and can lead to confusion about the intended meaning.
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