Sort past tense

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Meaning of sort

arrange systematically in groups; separate according to type, class, etc.

Infinitive

Word: sort /sɔːt/
Examples:
  • 1. She sorts her clothes by color to make it easier to find what she wants to wear.
  • 2. The librarian sorts the books on the shelves alphabetically by the author's last name.
  • 3. The system sorts the data into different categories for easier analysis.

Past Simple

Word: sorted /ˈsɔːrtɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. He sorted the documents into different categories yesterday.
  • 2. They sorted the laundry by colors before washing.
  • 3. We sorted through our old photos and memories last weekend.

Past Participle

Word: sorted /ˈsɔːrtɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. By the time we arrived at the campsite, we had sorted out all the tents and allocated sleeping arrangements.
  • 2. After hours of organizing and categorizing, we had finally sorted through all the paperwork and filed it away neatly.
  • 3. Before the guests arrived, we had sorted through the decorations and set up the party venue beautifully.

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Bare infinitive

  1. To describe habitual actions or routines involving organizing or arranging items systematically into groups or separating them according to type, class, etc.
    Example. She sorts her laundry by color before washing.
    Example. This program sorts data alphabetically for easy access.
    Example. Always sort your recyclables from your non-recyclable trash.
  2. To state facts or general truths about the process of organizing or arranging.
    Example. She sorts her laundry by color before washing.
    Example. This program sorts data alphabetically for easy access.
    Example. Always sort your recyclables from your non-recyclable trash.
  3. To give instructions or advice related to the process of organizing, arranging, or separating items.
    Example. She sorts her laundry by color before washing.
    Example. This program sorts data alphabetically for easy access.
    Example. Always sort your recyclables from your non-recyclable trash.

Past Simple

  1. To talk about a specific instance in the past when items were organized or arranged into groups or separated according to type, class, etc.
    Example. We sorted the files by year and stored them in labeled boxes.
    Example. After the yard sale, they sorted the remaining items into keep and donate piles.
    Example. She sorted the puzzle pieces by edge and color before starting.
  2. To describe a series of actions in the past that involved the process of organizing, arranging, or separating.
    Example. We sorted the files by year and stored them in labeled boxes.
    Example. After the yard sale, they sorted the remaining items into keep and donate piles.
    Example. She sorted the puzzle pieces by edge and color before starting.
  3. To express a past action of organizing or arranging that is complete.
    Example. We sorted the files by year and stored them in labeled boxes.
    Example. After the yard sale, they sorted the remaining items into keep and donate piles.
    Example. She sorted the puzzle pieces by edge and color before starting.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses - To talk about actions of organizing, arranging, or separating items that have happened, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.
    Example. The donations were sorted by volunteers before distribution.
  2. Example (Present Perfect). They have sorted the applications into accepted and rejected categories.
    Example. The donations were sorted by volunteers before distribution.
  3. Example (Past Perfect). By the time the library opened, the librarian had already sorted the returned books onto the correct shelves.
    Example. The donations were sorted by volunteers before distribution.
  4. Passive voice - To describe situations where the focus is on items being organized, arranged, or separated, rather than who performed the action.
    Example. The donations were sorted by volunteers before distribution.

Common mistakes

— 01

Regular Verb Conjugation

A typical mistake is not realizing that 'sort' follows the regular verb pattern by simply adding '-ed' to form its past tense and past participle. This error might manifest as learners trying to apply irregular verb conjugation rules to 'sort,' expecting it to change more dramatically in its past forms. This misunderstanding can lead to hesitancy or incorrect verb forms when speaking or writing in the past tense.

— 02

Pronunciation

While 'sorted' is correctly pronounced /ˈsɔːrtɪd/, some learners may struggle with the pronunciation, particularly with the ending. The '-ed' in 'sorted' creates an extra syllable, 'ɪd,' which must be pronounced distinctly. Learners might either slur this ending, making it difficult to discern from the present tense, or overly stress it, disrupting the natural flow of speech. Pronouncing the past tense clearly, with the correct emphasis on the syllables, is essential for clear communication.

— 03

Incorrect Usage in Tense

Even with the straightforward past form 'sorted,' errors can occur in its application within complex tense structures or in choosing the appropriate tense for a given context. For instance, learners might misuse 'sorted' in place of the present participle 'sorting' in present continuous constructions (e.g., saying 'I am sorted' instead of 'I am sorting') or forget to use 'sorted' with auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses (e.g., 'I have sorted' or 'They had sorted'). These mistakes highlight challenges not with the formation of the past tense itself but with understanding how to correctly apply it within various grammatical constructions to convey precise meanings and time frames.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'sort'?

The past simple form of 'sort' is 'sorted'. It is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example. 'Yesterday, I sorted all my old photographs into albums.'

What is the past participle form of 'sort'?

The past participle form of 'sort' is also 'sorted'. This form is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'I have sorted the files by date.' Or in passive voice. 'The letters were sorted by the secretary.'

Can you give an example of 'sorted' being used in a sentence in the past perfect tense?

Yes, of course. The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. Here's an example with 'sorted'. 'By the time we arrived, they had already sorted the donations into categories.' In this sentence, 'had sorted' indicates that the sorting was completed before the arrival.

How do I use 'sorted' in a sentence in passive voice?

To use 'sorted' in passive voice, you need to focus on the action being done to the subject rather than who is doing the action. Here's an example. 'The applications were sorted by the committee before the meeting.' In this sentence, the emphasis is on the applications being sorted, not on who sorted them.