Seek-out past tense

Meaning of seek-out

to look for; to search for someone or something.

Infinitive

Word: seek /siːk/

Examples:

1. They always seek out the best spots for camping during their summer trips.
2. Our team seeks out innovative solutions to challenging problems.
3. She seeks out vintage clothing stores wherever she travels.

Past Simple

Word: sought out: /sɔːt aʊt/

Examples:

1. After getting lost in the woods, they sought out shelter before nightfall.
2. She sought out her old teacher to thank him for his mentorship years ago.
3. They sought out rare books for their collection at antique shops across the city.

Past Participle

Word: sought out /sɔːt aʊt/

Examples:

1. The ancient texts were sought out by the researcher for years before they were finally discovered.
2. Every possible clue has been sought out by the detectives in the attempt to solve the mysterious case.
3. The rare ingredients were sought out by the chef for his signature dish, making it an unforgettable dining experience.

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Bare infinitive

General facts or habitual actions.
Example. She always seeks out the best deals when shopping online.
Example. The committee seeks a resolution by next week.
Fixed arrangements in the near future (often found in a timetable or schedule).
Example. She always seeks out the best deals when shopping online.
Example. The committee seeks a resolution by next week.

Past Simple

Actions completed at a specific time in the past.
Example. He sought her advice on the matter yesterday.
Example. They sought shelter, found a cave, and stayed there till the storm passed.
Example. In his youth, he frequently sought the thrill of skydiving.
A series of completed actions in the past.
Example. He sought her advice on the matter yesterday.
Example. They sought shelter, found a cave, and stayed there till the storm passed.
Example. In his youth, he frequently sought the thrill of skydiving.
Past habits or states.
Example. He sought her advice on the matter yesterday.
Example. They sought shelter, found a cave, and stayed there till the storm passed.
Example. In his youth, he frequently sought the thrill of skydiving.

Past Participle

Perfect tenses (Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect).
Example (Present Perfect). She has always sought out opportunities for growth.
Example (Past Perfect). By the time they arrived, we had already sought permission from the local council.
Example (Future Perfect). By next month, they will have sought all the necessary approvals.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Forms

A common mistake is using the past simple form of a verb when the past participle is required, or vice versa. For regular verbs, the past simple and past participle forms are the same, but for irregular verbs, they can be quite different. For example, the verb 'seek' has the past simple form 'sought' and the same past participle form 'sought.' Mistakes occur when learners treat irregular verbs like regular ones, incorrectly using 'seeked' instead of 'sought' for both the past simple and past participle forms.

— 02

Incorrect Use in Perfect Tenses

The past participle form is crucial for constructing perfect tenses, yet learners often mistakenly use the past simple form instead. This error disrupts the grammatical structure and meaning of sentences. For instance, the correct construction in the present perfect tense is 'I have sought,' not 'I have seeked.' Misusing the past simple 'sought' in place of the past participle 'sought' in perfect tenses like present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect can significantly alter the intended time reference and meaning of the sentence.

— 03

Neglecting the Auxiliary Verb

Another frequent mistake is omitting the auxiliary verb (be or have) when using the past participle in passive voice constructions or perfect aspect sentences. Forgetting the auxiliary verb leads to grammatically incomplete sentences. For example, the correct passive voice construction is 'The solution was sought by the team,' not 'The solution sought by the team.' Similarly, in perfect aspects, the correct form is 'They have sought a new method,' not 'They sought a new method' when intending to use the present perfect tense.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'seek out'?

The verb 'seek out' follows the same conjugation pattern as 'seek.' Therefore, the past simple form is 'sought out,' and the past participle form is also 'sought out.'

How do I use 'sought out' in a past simple sentence?

When using 'sought out' in the past simple tense, you are referring to a specific action that was completed at a definite time in the past. For example. 'Last year, I sought out the best coffee shop in town.' This sentence indicates that the action of finding the best coffee shop occurred and was completed in the past.

How is 'sought out' used in a sentence with a past participle?

The past participle form 'sought out' is often used in perfect tenses or passive voice constructions. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'I have always sought out opportunities to learn new languages.' Or in a passive voice construction. 'The hidden treasures were sought out by adventurers from all over the world.' In both cases, 'sought out' refers to actions that were completed in the past, but the focus is more on the result or state created by the action, rather than when the action happened.

Can you provide an example of 'sought out' in a sentence using the past perfect tense?

Yes, the past perfect tense is used to talk about an action that was completed before another action or time in the past. Using 'sought out' in the past perfect tense emphasizes that the seeking out occurred before another past event. For example. 'By the time the meeting started, I had already sought out all the necessary information.' This sentence implies that the action of seeking out the information was completed before the meeting began.