Sense past tense

Meaning of sense

to perceive or detect something.

Infinitive

Word: sense /sɛns/

Examples:

1. I always sense a change in the air when autumn approaches.
2. She senses danger whenever she walks alone at night through the park.
3. Animals often sense an earthquake before it happens.

Past Simple

Word: sensed /sɛnst/

Examples:

1. She sensed something was wrong the moment she entered the room.
2. He sensed a change in the atmosphere during the meeting, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
3. They sensed the tension between the two groups and decided to leave early.

Past Participle

Word: sensed /sɛnst/

Examples:

1. The book has been sensed by critics as a groundbreaking work.
2. The change in the room's atmosphere was immediately sensed by everyone present.
3. All subtle nuances in the music were keenly sensed by the audience.

Learn more words on the go

Master verb forms with Promova!

Download the app

Bare infinitive

To describe habitual actions or routines involving the perception or detection of something.
Example. She can sense when her friend is upset without a word being said.
Example. Animals often sense changes in the weather before they happen.
Example. Always trust your instincts; if you sense danger, leave the area immediately.
To state facts or general truths about the ability to perceive or detect.
Example. She can sense when her friend is upset without a word being said.
Example. Animals often sense changes in the weather before they happen.
Example. Always trust your instincts; if you sense danger, leave the area immediately.
To give instructions or advice related to the act of sensing or detecting nuances, changes, or specific conditions.
Example. She can sense when her friend is upset without a word being said.
Example. Animals often sense changes in the weather before they happen.
Example. Always trust your instincts; if you sense danger, leave the area immediately.

Past Simple

To talk about a specific instance in the past when something was perceived or detected.
Example. He sensed a shift in the room's atmosphere as soon as he mentioned the topic.
Example. During the hike, she sensed that they were not alone and soon spotted a deer.
Example. At that moment, I sensed that something was wrong.
To describe a series of events or actions in the past where sensing or detecting played a role.
Example. He sensed a shift in the room's atmosphere as soon as he mentioned the topic.
Example. During the hike, she sensed that they were not alone and soon spotted a deer.
Example. At that moment, I sensed that something was wrong.
To express a past action of sensing that is complete.
Example. He sensed a shift in the room's atmosphere as soon as he mentioned the topic.
Example. During the hike, she sensed that they were not alone and soon spotted a deer.
Example. At that moment, I sensed that something was wrong.

Past Participle

Perfect tenses - To talk about actions of perceiving or detecting that have happened, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.
Example (Present Perfect). I have sensed a growing tension in the team over the last few weeks.
Example (Past Perfect). By the time the meeting ended, she had already sensed the client's hesitation.
Passive voice - While the passive voice might be less commonly used with the act of sensing (since sensing is an internal, subjective experience), it can be constructed to focus on the reception or effect of being perceived or detected.

Common mistakes

— 01

Addition of '-ed'

When transitioning from 'sense' to 'sensed,' the correct approach is simply to add '-ed' to the base form. However, learners might mistakenly believe that more complex changes are needed due to confusion with irregular verbs or those that require modifications (e.g., verbs ending in 'y' where 'y' changes to 'ied'). This misunderstanding can lead to incorrectly formed past tense and participle forms, though 'sense' follows the straightforward rule of adding '-ed' for regular verbs.

— 02

Pronunciation

The correct pronunciation of 'sensed' is /sɛnst/, with the 'ed' ending pronounced as a 't' sound, closely blending with the preceding consonant. Learners may err by pronouncing the 'ed' too distinctly, as in /sɛnsɛd/ or /sɛnsɪd/, which diverges from the natural flow of English pronunciation. The challenge often lies in recognizing that the 'ed' ending can be pronounced differently based on the final sounds of the base verb, and in the case of 'sense,' it blends seamlessly as a 't' sound.

— 03

Inappropriate Use in Tense

Despite 'sensed' serving correctly as both the past simple and past participle, errors can occur in its application within various tense structures or when selecting the appropriate tense for a given context. For instance, misusing 'sensed' in present tense sentences due to a lack of understanding of tense forms or failing to use it correctly with auxiliary verbs in perfect tense constructions (e.g., 'I have sensed,' 'They had sensed') can lead to grammatical inaccuracies. Additionally, misapplying 'sensed' in place of 'sensing' in continuous or progressive tenses (e.g., saying 'I am sensed' instead of 'I am sensing') demonstrates a misunderstanding of the distinctions between past participle and present participle forms. Addressing these common errors involves a clear understanding of verb conjugation rules and the correct application of tense and aspect in English.

Past tense quiz

Check your skills and find areas for improvement

Take quiz

Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'sense'?

The past simple form of 'sense' is 'sensed.' It is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example, 'I sensed something was wrong when I entered the room yesterday.'

What is the past participle form of 'sense'?

The past participle form of 'sense' is also 'sensed.' Past participles are used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses. For example, in the sentence 'She has always sensed the mood of the room accurately,' 'sensed' is the past participle used with the auxiliary verb 'has' to form the present perfect tense.

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

To indicate a past action using 'sensed,' you'll typically use the past simple form. You can structure your sentence by mentioning the subject, followed by 'sensed,' and then the object or experience. For example. 'He sensed danger before it became apparent to others.' This sentence indicates that the sensing of danger happened at a specific moment in the past.

Can you give an example of a sentence using 'sensed' in the past perfect tense?

Certainly! In the past perfect tense, 'sensed' is used to talk about an action that was completed before another action or time in the past. For example. 'By the time the meeting started, the manager had already sensed the team's reluctance.' In this sentence, 'had sensed' is the past perfect form, indicating that the sensing occurred before the meeting started.