Sink past tense

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Meaning of sink

to descend from a higher to a lower position; to go down or become submerged in liquid.

Infinitive

Word: sink /sɪŋk/
Examples:
  • 1. Water quickly sinks into dry soil after a long drought.
  • 2. A heavy stone always sinks in water.
  • 3. The sun sinks below the horizon at the end of the day.

Past Simple

Word: sank /sæŋk/
Examples:
  • 1. The ship sank quickly after hitting the iceberg.
  • 2. My heart sank when I heard the bad news.
  • 3. They sank the old well when it ran dry.

Past Participle

Word: sunk /sʌŋk/
Examples:
  • 1. The ship was sunk by a massive iceberg in the Arctic.
  • 2. All the dirty dishes have been sunk into the soapy water for cleaning.
  • 3. The realization of her mistake had sunk in by the time the meeting concluded.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions. When referring to habits or actions that happen regularly.
    Example. I sink into my bed at exactly 10 PM every night.
    Example. Objects heavier than water sink.
    Example. The ferry sinks if the weight limit exceeds during the safety drill next Thursday. (Though technically incorrect since a ferry is not supposed to sink, it represents the structure of using the present simple for scheduled events)
  2. General Truths. To state facts or general truths.
    Example. I sink into my bed at exactly 10 PM every night.
    Example. Objects heavier than water sink.
    Example. The ferry sinks if the weight limit exceeds during the safety drill next Thursday. (Though technically incorrect since a ferry is not supposed to sink, it represents the structure of using the present simple for scheduled events)
  3. Fixed Arrangements. For scheduled events in the near future (often with a present time indicator).
    Example. I sink into my bed at exactly 10 PM every night.
    Example. Objects heavier than water sink.
    Example. The ferry sinks if the weight limit exceeds during the safety drill next Thursday. (Though technically incorrect since a ferry is not supposed to sink, it represents the structure of using the present simple for scheduled events)

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past. When referring to actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
    Example. The Titanic sank in 1912.
    Example. The boat hit a rock, took on water quickly, and finally sank within minutes.
    Example. I always sank into a deep sleep listening to stories in my childhood.
    Example. Years ago, many believed that unsinkable ships sank due to curses.
  2. A Series of Completed Actions. To narrate a sequence of completed actions in the past.
    Example. The Titanic sank in 1912.
    Example. The boat hit a rock, took on water quickly, and finally sank within minutes.
    Example. I always sank into a deep sleep listening to stories in my childhood.
    Example. Years ago, many believed that unsinkable ships sank due to curses.
  3. Past Habits. For actions that were habits in the past but not anymore.
    Example. The Titanic sank in 1912.
    Example. The boat hit a rock, took on water quickly, and finally sank within minutes.
    Example. I always sank into a deep sleep listening to stories in my childhood.
    Example. Years ago, many believed that unsinkable ships sank due to curses.
  4. Past Facts. To state facts or general truths in the past, which may not be true now.
    Example. The Titanic sank in 1912.
    Example. The boat hit a rock, took on water quickly, and finally sank within minutes.
    Example. I always sank into a deep sleep listening to stories in my childhood.
    Example. Years ago, many believed that unsinkable ships sank due to curses.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.
  2. Present Perfect. For actions that have happened at some time in the past and are relevant to the present.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.
  3. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before a certain moment in the past.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.
  4. Future Perfect. For actions that will be completed by a certain future point.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.
  5. Passive Voice. To describe an action done to the subject, rather than by the subject.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.
  6. Adjectives/Participial Phrases. As a descriptor stemming from the verb.
    Example. The old battleship has finally sunk after years of service.
    Example. The divers realized that the treasure had already sunk too deep to be recovered when they reached the spot.
    Example. By next year, the new artificial reefs will have sunk to the ocean floor.
    Example. The cargo was sunk by enemy submarines during the war.
    Example. The sunk cost of the project was enormous, but we had to abandon it.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is using 'sunk' when the simple past tense 'sank' is needed, and vice versa. The correct usage would be 'The boat sank yesterday' for the simple past, indicating a completed action in the past. For the past participle, which is used in perfect tenses, the correct form is 'sunk,' as in 'The boat has sunk.' Mixing these two forms can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences.

— 02

Using 'sunk' without auxiliaries

Another mistake is using 'sunk' as if it were the simple past tense, without the necessary auxiliary verb for forming the perfect tenses. For example, saying 'The boat sunk last week' instead of the correct form 'The boat has sunk last week' or correctly using the simple past 'The boat sank last week.' The past participle 'sunk' should be used with an auxiliary verb such as 'has,' 'have,' or 'had' to form the perfect aspects correctly.

— 03

Regular Verb Patterns

Many English learners mistakenly apply the regular verb pattern (adding -ed to the base form) to all verbs, including irregular verbs like 'sink.' They might incorrectly form the past simple and past participle as 'sinked' instead of the correct 'sank' and 'sunk.' This error stems from overgeneralizing the rule that applies to regular verbs without recognizing the exceptions that irregular verbs like 'sink' present.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'sink' is 'sank.' This form is used to describe an action that occurred and was completed in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, the boat sank in the lake.' The past participle form of 'sink' is 'sunk.' This form is often used in perfect tenses or as an adjective. For instance, in the sentence 'The boat has sunk,' 'sunk' is used as part of the present perfect tense. It can also be used in passive voice constructions, like 'The treasure was sunk to the bottom of the ocean.'

How do I use 'sank' and 'sunk' in a sentence correctly?

To use 'sank' correctly, you should be referring to a single, completed action in the past. For example. 'The ship sank quickly after hitting the iceberg.' 'Sunk' is used either in the perfect tenses or as an adjective. When forming a perfect tense, you pair 'sunk' with a form of the auxiliary verb 'have'. For example, 'The pirates have sunk many ships in these waters.' As an adjective, it might appear in a sentence like, 'The sunk ship remains a mystery.'

Can 'sunk' ever be used in place of 'sank'?

Traditionally, 'sank' is the correct past simple form, and 'sunk' is reserved for the past participle. However, in informal speech, some people might use 'sunk' interchangeably with 'sank.' This usage is considered incorrect in formal writing and speech, so it's best to stick to the standard rules. 'sank' for the past simple and 'sunk' for the past participle. Are there any exceptions to these rules