Sneak past tense

Meaning of sneak

to move quietly and stealthily to avoid detection.

Infinitive

Word: sneak /sniːk/

Examples:

1. She always tries to sneak a snack into the theater.
2. He sneaks out of the house late at night when everyone is asleep.
3. They often sneak into the back row during lectures to avoid attention.

Past Simple

Word: snuck /snʌk/

Examples:

1. They snuck past the guards without making a sound.
2. She snuck out of the house to meet her friends.
3. He snuck a cookie from the jar when no one was looking.

Past Participle

Word: sneaked /ˈsnikt/ or snuck /snʌk/

Examples:

1. The cookies were sneaked out of the jar while no one was looking.
2. The secret plans had been sneaked into the enemy's territory by the spies.
3. All evidence of the surprise party was carefully sneaked into the house before she arrived.

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Bare infinitive

To describe a habit, a universal truth, or a repeated action. Also used for routines or things that generally happen.
Example. He always sneaks a candy bar into his lunch.
Example. Cats sneak up on their prey.
To state facts.
Example. He always sneaks a candy bar into his lunch.
Example. Cats sneak up on their prey.

Past Simple

To describe an action that started and finished at a specific time in the past. The exact time can be mentioned or understood from the context.
Example. Julian snuck (or sneaked) out of the house last night.
Example. He snuck into the yard, took the bike, and rode away.
Example. In the story, the hero snuck past the guards unnoticed.
To list a series of completed actions in the past.
Example. Julian snuck (or sneaked) out of the house last night.
Example. He snuck into the yard, took the bike, and rode away.
Example. In the story, the hero snuck past the guards unnoticed.
To narrate stories or situations set in the past.
Example. Julian snuck (or sneaked) out of the house last night.
Example. He snuck into the yard, took the bike, and rode away.
Example. In the story, the hero snuck past the guards unnoticed.

Past Participle

To form the perfect aspects (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect), describing actions at unspecified times or that affect the present.
Example. Present Perfect. She has always sneaked (or snuck) into the building without a key.
Example. Past Perfect. By the time we got there, she had already snuck (or sneaked) out.
Example. Future Perfect. By tomorrow, they will have snuck (or sneaked) into the fortress.
Example. The letter was sneaked into her locker.
Example. Feeling sneaked (or snuck) upon, the bird flew away.
To form the passive voice, showing when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb.
Example. Present Perfect. She has always sneaked (or snuck) into the building without a key.
Example. Past Perfect. By the time we got there, she had already snuck (or sneaked) out.
Example. Future Perfect. By tomorrow, they will have snuck (or sneaked) into the fortress.
Example. The letter was sneaked into her locker.
Example. Feeling sneaked (or snuck) upon, the bird flew away.
As an adjective in past participle form to describe a state resulting from a previous action.
Example. Present Perfect. She has always sneaked (or snuck) into the building without a key.
Example. Past Perfect. By the time we got there, she had already snuck (or sneaked) out.
Example. Future Perfect. By tomorrow, they will have snuck (or sneaked) into the fortress.
Example. The letter was sneaked into her locker.
Example. Feeling sneaked (or snuck) upon, the bird flew away.
The forms 'snuck' and 'sneaked' are both used in American and British English, with 'snuck' being originally considered nonstandard American English but now widely accepted in informal contexts. The usage can vary based on personal or regional preference.
Example. Present Perfect. She has always sneaked (or snuck) into the building without a key.
Example. Past Perfect. By the time we got there, she had already snuck (or sneaked) out.
Example. Future Perfect. By tomorrow, they will have snuck (or sneaked) into the fortress.
Example. The letter was sneaked into her locker.
Example. Feeling sneaked (or snuck) upon, the bird flew away.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Form Usage

A frequent mistake with the word 'sneak' involves using the wrong form for its past simple and past participle. Traditionally, 'sneaked' is the correct past simple and past participle form of 'sneak.' However, the irregular form 'snuck' has become widely accepted, especially in informal American English. The mistake arises when learners or speakers are unsure which form to use and may inconsistently switch between 'sneaked' and 'snuck.'

— 02

Misapplication of Tense

Another common error is the misapplication of tense when choosing between the past simple and past participle forms. The past simple form is used for actions completed at a specific time in the past, e.g., 'Yesterday, I snuck out early.' The past participle form is used in perfect tenses and requires a helper verb, e.g., 'I have snuck out early before.' Mistaking these can lead to tense inconsistency, such as saying 'I have sneaked out early yesterday,' which incorrectly mixes the present perfect with a past time expression.

— 03

Pronunciation Errors

Pronunciation errors can occur, especially with 'snuck,' which might be pronounced incorrectly due to its irregular form. Some might mistakenly enunciate it to rhyme with 'stuck' (as in 'sn-uck') instead of the correct pronunciation that rhymes with 'duck' (as in 'sn-uck'). This mistake is less common but can affect the clarity and perceived correctness of speech, especially for English learners or individuals less familiar with irregular verb forms.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past tense and past participle forms of 'sneak'?

'Sneak' has two forms for both its past tense and past participle in modern English usage. 'sneaked' and 'snuck'. 'Sneaked' is considered the traditional form, while 'snuck' emerged more recently in the 19th century and has gained acceptance especially in informal contexts. Both forms are now considered correct, but some style guides and formal writings might prefer 'sneaked'. When should I use 'sneaked' vs. 'snuck'

Can you provide examples of sentences using both 'sneaked' and 'snuck'?

Certainly! Here are examples showcasing both forms. Using 'sneaked'. 'She sneaked out of the house to meet her friends, making sure not to make a sound.' 'He had sneaked a look at his birthday presents when no one was watching.' Using 'snuck'. 'I snuck into the kitchen late at night to grab a snack.' 'We had snuck into the abandoned building to explore.' These examples illustrate how both 'sneaked' and 'snuck' can be used interchangeably without altering the meaning of the sentences. Is there any difference in meaning between 'sneaked' and 'snuck'