Stir past tense

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Meaning of stir

to mix (something) by making circular movements in it with a spoon or similar object.

Infinitive

Word: stir /stɜːr/
Examples:
  • 1. He always stirs his coffee carefully before taking the first sip.
  • 2. She stirs the soup to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  • 3. The teacher stirs interest in the students by introducing new and exciting topics.

Past Simple

Word: stirred /stɜːrd/
Examples:
  • 1. She stirred her tea gently before taking a sip.
  • 2. Last night, he stirred the sauce every few minutes to prevent it from sticking.
  • 3. They stirred at the sound of the alarm, quickly jumping out of bed.

Past Participle

Word: stirred /stɜrd/
Examples:
  • 1. The pot of soup has been stirred thoroughly by the chef.
  • 2. The ingredients were stirred into the mixture slowly to avoid lumps.
  • 3. By the time we arrived, the cocktail had been stirred and was ready to be served.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions or Routines
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.
  2. To describe an action that occurs on a regular basis.
    Example. I stir my coffee every morning before I drink it.
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.
  3. General Truths or Laws of Nature
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.
  4. To express facts or truths that are always valid.
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.
  5. Scheduled Events in the Near Future (contextspecific)
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.
  6. To talk about scheduled events, primarily in formal contexts or timetables.
    Example. Stirring increases the rate at which sugar dissolves in water.
    Example. The cooking class stirs the soup at 3 PM today.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Action in the Past
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  2. To describe an action that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  3. A Series of Completed Actions
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  4. To list actions that were completed one after another in the past.
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  5. Habit in the Past
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  6. To describe habits that are no longer current.
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  7. Past Facts or Generalizations that are no Longer True
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.
  8. To state facts or general knowledge that was true at some point in the past but not anymore.
    Example. I stirred the soup until it was evenly heated yesterday evening.
    Example. I stirred the mixture, tasted it, and then added more salt.
    Example. When I was a child, I always stirred my hot chocolate vigorously to cool it down.
    Example. He stirred his tea with his left hand before he injured it.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  2. Present Perfect. To describe actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  3. Past Perfect. To describe an action that was completed before another took place.
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  4. Future Perfect. To describe an action that will have been completed before a specified future time.
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  5. Passive Voice
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  6. To describe actions where the focus is on the action itself and not who or what is performing the action.
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  7. Adjectival Use
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.
  8. To use the Past Participle as an adjective to describe a state or condition resulting from an action.
    Example. I have stirred the sauce several times already.
    Example. By the time they arrived, I had already stirred the ingredients into the mixture.
    Example. By the end of the hour, the machine will have stirred the mixture thoroughly.
    Example. The potion was stirred exactly twelve times, as the recipe dictated.
    Example. Moved by the speech, the previously complacent crowd was stirred into action.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Verb Form Usage

One of the most common mistakes is using the past simple form of a verb when the past participle form is needed, and vice versa. For the verb 'stir,' the past simple form is 'stirred,' and the past participle form is also 'stirred.' However, learners often mistakenly use the past simple form in perfect tenses or passive voice constructions where the past participle is required. For example, they might incorrectly say, 'I have stirred the soup yesterday,' instead of the correct form, 'I stirred the soup yesterday,' mixing up the use of the simple past in a scenario that doesn't require a perfect tense.

— 02

Misunderstanding Irregular Forms

Although 'stir' is a regular verb, a common mistake with verbs, in general, is treating irregular verbs as if they were regular. This misunderstanding leads to incorrectly applying the '-ed' ending for the past participle and past simple forms. For verbs that are actually irregular, this mistake alters their forms incorrectly. With 'stir,' the mistake would be assuming it doesn't follow the regular '-ed' pattern for its past forms due to confusion with irregular verbs, potentially leading to invented forms like 'stor' (past) or 'storen' (participle), mimicking patterns of actual irregular verbs.

— 03

Omitting the Double 'r'

A specific mistake with 'stir' is forgetting to double the 'r' in its past forms. Since 'stir' ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel, the correct past simple and past participle form is 'stirred,' doubling the 'r.' Learners sometimes miss this rule and write or say 'stired,' incorrectly using a single 'r.' This error not only affects the spelling but can also lead to pronunciation mistakes, undermining the clarity and correctness of communication.

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Frequently asked questions

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

The past simple form of 'stir' is 'stirred,' and the past participle form is also 'stirred.' These forms are used to indicate actions that happened in the past or have been completed.

How do you use the past simple form of 'stir' in a sentence?

The past simple form, 'stirred,' is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example. 'Yesterday, I stirred the soup to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.' In this sentence, 'stirred' indicates a completed action that occurred yesterday.

How is the past participle form of 'stir' used in sentences?

The past participle form, 'stirred,' is often used in perfect tenses or passive voice constructions. For example. Present Perfect. 'I have stirred the mixture thoroughly.' Passive Voice. 'The mixture was stirred thoroughly by the chef.' In the first example, 'have stirred' indicates an action that has occurred at an unspecified time in the past and may still have relevance. In the second example, 'was stirred' indicates a past action performed by someone else (the chef), focusing on the action rather than the doer.

Can you provide an example of a sentence using both the past simple and past participle forms of 'stir'?

Yes, it's possible to use both forms in a more complex sentence, often involving more than one clause. For example. 'After I had stirred the sauce for several minutes, I realized it had already been stirred by someone else.' In this sentence, 'had stirred' is the past perfect form (using the past participle 'stirred'), indicating an action completed before another action in the past ('realized'). The phrase 'had already been stirred' uses the past participle in a passive voice construction to indicate an action completed earlier by an unspecified agent.