Stick past tense

Meaning of stick

to attach or fasten (something) to something else by applying a substance that causes it to adhere.

Infinitive

Word: stick /stɪk/

Examples:

1. She always sticks her notes on the refrigerator for easy reminder.
2. This type of glue sticks almost instantly, making it great for crafts.
3. If you stick to the plan, everything should work out fine.

Past Simple

Word: stuck /stʌk/

Examples:

1. He stuck the poster to the wall with some tape.
2. She stuck a note on the fridge reminding everyone about the meeting.
3. They stuck to their plan despite the unexpected challenges.

Past Participle

Word: stuck /stʌk/

Examples:

1. The note was stuck on the fridge.
2. The posters had been stuck on the wall with care.
3. The gum has been stuck under the table for weeks.

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Bare infinitive

Habitual actions. When describing activities or habits that are recurring or general truths.
Example. 'She sticks to her routine every morning.'
Example. 'Glue sticks things together.'
Example. 'The meeting sticks to the schedule set last week.'
General statements. For facts or situations that are always true.
Example. 'She sticks to her routine every morning.'
Example. 'Glue sticks things together.'
Example. 'The meeting sticks to the schedule set last week.'
Scheduled events (in the near future). Particularly in some formal contexts or timetables.
Example. 'She sticks to her routine every morning.'
Example. 'Glue sticks things together.'
Example. 'The meeting sticks to the schedule set last week.'

Past Simple

Completed actions. For actions that started and finished in the past at a specific time.
Example. 'The key stuck in the lock yesterday.'
Example. 'She stuck to a strict diet last year.'
Example. 'He stuck the poster on the wall and then left the room.'
Past habits. When talking about habits or routines that were true in the past but not anymore.
Example. 'The key stuck in the lock yesterday.'
Example. 'She stuck to a strict diet last year.'
Example. 'He stuck the poster on the wall and then left the room.'
Sequences of actions. To describe a series of actions in the past.
Example. 'The key stuck in the lock yesterday.'
Example. 'She stuck to a strict diet last year.'
Example. 'He stuck the poster on the wall and then left the room.'

Past Participle

Perfect tenses.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'
Present Perfect. For actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or actions that began in the past and continue in the present.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'
Past Perfect. When talking about actions that were completed before another action in the past.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'
Future Perfect. To express actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'
Passive voice. When the focus is on the action rather than who or what is performing the action.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'
Past participles as adjectives. Sometimes used to describe the state of something.
Example. 'I have stuck to this brand for years.'
Example. 'She had already stuck the notes on the fridge when he arrived.'
Example. 'By 2025, he will have stuck to his plan for a decade.'
Example. 'The posters were stuck on every wall in the city.'
Example. 'He was stuck in traffic for hours.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is not recognizing that 'stuck' serves as both the past simple and past participle form of 'stick.' People often mistakenly try to apply a regular verb pattern to it, resulting in incorrect forms like 'sticked' for the past tense or 'have sticked' for the past participle usage. Correct usage examples are. 'Yesterday, I stuck a note on the fridge' (past simple) and 'I have stuck notes on the fridge before' (past participle).

— 02

'Stuck' with the auxiliary 'did'

Another common mistake is the redundant use of 'did' with 'stuck' in the past simple form. Since 'did' already indicates the past tense, using 'stuck' in its past form immediately after 'did' is incorrect. The correct form is to use the base form of the verb following 'did.' Incorrect. 'I did stuck the photo to the wall.' Correct. 'I did stick the photo to the wall.'

— 03

Past form in sentences

People often mistakenly use 'did not' with 'stuck' or invert 'did' and 'stuck' in questions. The correct construction involves using 'did not' or 'didn’t' followed by the base form 'stick,' not 'stuck,' for negatives. For questions, 'Did' precedes 'stick.' Incorrect. 'Did you stuck the label on the package?' Correct. 'Did you stick the label on the package?' and incorrect. 'I didn’t stuck the label on the package.' Correct. 'I didn’t stick the label on the package.'

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Frequently asked questions

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

Past Simple. Stuck. Past Participle. Stuck. 'Stick' is an irregular verb, so its past simple and past participle forms do not follow the regular -ed ending pattern and are the same. 'stuck.'

How do I use the past simple form of 'stick'?

The past simple form 'stuck' is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. It does not matter how long the action took, but it is no longer happening. Example. Yesterday, my key stuck in the lock, and I couldn't open the door.

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

The past participle form 'stuck' is commonly used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. In Perfect Tenses. It works with auxiliary verbs (have/has/had) to describe actions that happened at an unspecified time or have relevance to the present or past. Example. I have stuck to my resolution to exercise every day this year. In Passive Voice. It describes an action where the focus is on the action or the object of the action, not who or what is performing the action.Example. The poster was stuck on the wall by an unknown person.

Can you give an example of a sentence where 'stick' is used in both its past simple and past participle forms?

Certainly! Here's a sentence that uses both forms to illustrate the difference. Past Simple Usage. Last night, I stuck a note on the fridge so I wouldn't forget to buy milk. Past Participle Usage in Perfect Tense. By the time we left the house, we had stuck notes all over the apartment to remind ourselves of things to do. Remember, the context in which you're using the verb 'stick' will determine whether the past simple or past participle form is appropriate.