Stick past tense
Meaning of stick
to attach or fasten (something) to something else by applying a substance that causes it to adhere.
Infinitive
- 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
- 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
- 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.'
Past tense quiz
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