Sign past tense

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Meaning of sign

to write one's name on a document, thus committing oneself to the terms stated within it.

Infinitive

Word: sign /saɪn/
Examples:
  • 1. He often signs his letters with a distinctive flourish.
  • 2. She signs up for a new art class every semester.
  • 3. The restaurant signs indicate that it is closed on Mondays.

Past Simple

Word: signed /saɪnd/
Examples:
  • 1. She signed the contract last week after thoroughly reviewing all the terms.
  • 2. He signed up for the marathon after months of hesitation.
  • 3. The famous author signed all the copies of her new book at the launch event yesterday.

Past Participle

Word: signed /saɪnd/
Examples:
  • 1. The contract was signed by all parties involved before the deadline.
  • 2. The papers have been signed, sealing the deal officially.
  • 3. The notice had been signed off by the director yesterday.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Routine Actions or Habits
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  2. Use when talking about things that happen regularly or are universally true.
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  3. General Truths
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  4. Use when stating facts or general truths.
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  5. Fixed Arrangements
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  6. Use in the context of a timetable or schedule.
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  7. Instructions and Directions
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  8. Use for giving directions or instructions.
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  9. Sports Commentary
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'
  10. Use when giving a running commentary on games or sporting events.
    Example. 'She signs all her emails with a smiley face.'
    Example. 'The document requires a witness to sign.'
    Example. 'The artist signs autographs every Sunday at noon.'
    Example. 'First, you sign your name, then enter your date of birth.'
    Example. 'He signs the ball to his teammate, who scores!'

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  2. Use to talk about actions that happened at a definite time in the past.
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  3. Series of Completed Actions
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  4. Use when listing actions that happened one after another in the past.
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  5. Past Habits
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  6. Use when talking about habits or routines that were true in the past but no longer.
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  7. Past Facts or Generalizations
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'
  8. Use when stating facts or generalizations that were true in the past.
    Example. 'She signed the contract yesterday.'
    Example. 'We met with the clients, discussed the terms, and then signed the agreement.'
    Example. 'He signed all his letters by hand before email became popular.'
    Example. 'Before digital documents, everyone signed with a pen.'

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  2. Use in present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect to talk about actions connected to the present, past or future.
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  3. Example (Present Perfect). 'I have already signed all the required documents.'
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  4. Example (Past Perfect). 'By the time we arrived, she had signed the contract.'
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  5. Example (Future Perfect). 'By tomorrow, we will have signed all the agreements.'
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  6. Passive Voice
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  7. Use to indicate that the focus is on the action, not who performed the action.
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  8. Adjectival Use
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'
  9. Use when describing the state of something after the action.
    Example. 'The bill was signed into law by the governor.'
    Example. 'The signed copy is on your desk.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Misusing Past Simple

A common mistake is using the simple past form 'signed' when the past participle form is needed, especially in perfect tenses and passive voice. For example, incorrectly saying 'I have signed the document yesterday' instead of correctly using 'I signed the document yesterday' for the simple past, or correctly using 'The document has been signed' for the past participle in a perfect tense or passive construction.

— 02

Confusing Irregular Verb Forms

Some learners might mistakenly believe 'sign' to be an irregular verb and thus incorrectly alter its past forms. They might attempt to create an irregular past form similar to 'sing/sang/sung'. An example of this mistake would be saying 'I sanged the document' instead of the correct 'I signed the document.' Both the simple past and the past participle forms of 'sign' are 'signed.'

— 03

Omitting the Past Participle

Another common error is omitting the past participle 'signed' in compound tenses, which leads to grammatically incomplete sentences. This mistake is often found in perfect tenses where the auxiliary verb is present, but the main verb's past participle is missing. For instance, saying 'The document has been' without following with 'signed' to complete the thought. The correct construction should include the past participle, as in 'The document has been signed.'

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'sign' is 'signed.' The past participle form is also 'signed.' Both forms are used to indicate actions in the past, but they are employed in different grammatical structures.

How do you use the past simple form of 'sign'?

The past simple form, 'signed,' is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. It does not matter when the action happened; the important thing is that it is no longer happening. For example. 'I signed the contract yesterday.' Еhis sentence indicates that the action of signing the contract occurred in the past, specifically yesterday, and is now complete.

How is the past participle form of 'sign' used?

The past participle form, 'signed,' is commonly used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. In perfect tenses, it helps to show an action that has been completed at the time of speaking or at a certain time in the past or future. For example. 'She has signed all the documents.' (Present Perfect) 'By the end of the day, he had signed the agreement.' (Past Perfect) In passive voice constructions, 'signed' is used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the doer. For example. 'The contract was signed by the CEO.'

Can you give an example of a sentence using both the past simple and past participle forms of 'sign'?

Yes, combining both forms in a complex sentence can provide a nuanced understanding of the sequence and completion of actions. For example. 'After I signed the lease, the document was signed and sealed by the landlord.' This sentence uses 'signed' in the past simple form to indicate the speaker's action completed at a specific moment in the past. The past participle form 'signed' is then used in a passive construction to indicate that after the speaker's action, the document underwent the process of being signed and sealed by another party, completing the transaction.