Sue past tense

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Meaning of sue

to initiate legal proceedings against someone or to bring a lawsuit against someone in a court of law.

Infinitive

Word: sue /suː/
Examples:
  • 1. They sue the company for negligence after the accident.
  • 2. If she doesn't fulfill her contract, I'll have no choice but to sue.
  • 3. Many consumers sue for damages when they believe a product has caused them harm.

Past Simple

Word: sued /sjud/
Examples:
  • 1. They sued the company for violating environmental regulations last year.
  • 2. After the accident, she sued for damages.
  • 3. He sued his neighbor for the noise disturbances that ruined his peace.

Past Participle

Word: sued /sjuːd/
Examples:
  • 1. The company was sued for negligence last year.
  • 2. She has been sued multiple times for copyright infringement.
  • 3. All claims against the defendant have been successfully sued out in court.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual action. When talking about actions that happen regularly or certain patterns of behavior.
    Example. Lawyers often sue companies for breach of contract.
    Example. If you breach a contract, your partner can sue you.
    Example. My attorney sues the corporation next month.
  2. General truths or facts. When stating facts that are true in the present and generally at all times.
    Example. Lawyers often sue companies for breach of contract.
    Example. If you breach a contract, your partner can sue you.
    Example. My attorney sues the corporation next month.
  3. Scheduled events in the near future (sometimes). In some contexts, especially legal or business settings, the Present Simple may denote scheduled or certainly upcoming events.
    Example. Lawyers often sue companies for breach of contract.
    Example. If you breach a contract, your partner can sue you.
    Example. My attorney sues the corporation next month.

Past Simple

  1. Completed actions in the past. When talking about actions that were done at a specific time in the past. The exact time may or may not be mentioned.
    Example. They sued the manufacturer for damages last year.
    Example. The company first sent a warning letter, then they sued.
    Example. My neighbor once sued people for the smallest reasons.
  2. Sequences of actions in the past. When narrating events that happened one after another in the past.
    Example. They sued the manufacturer for damages last year.
    Example. The company first sent a warning letter, then they sued.
    Example. My neighbor once sued people for the smallest reasons.
  3. Past habits or states. When describing habits or states that were true in the past but no longer.
    Example. They sued the manufacturer for damages last year.
    Example. The company first sent a warning letter, then they sued.
    Example. My neighbor once sued people for the smallest reasons.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.
  2. Present perfect. Talking about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.
  3. Past perfect. Talking about actions that were completed before another action or time in the past.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.
  4. Future perfect (less common with “sue” but possible in legal contexts). Discussing actions that will be completed before a specified future time.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.
  5. Passive voice. When the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.
  6. Conditional sentences. In conditions, wishes, or unlikely situations, particularly in the third conditional.
    Example. They have sued several competitors already.
    Example. They had already sued the contractor before the case was dismissed.
    Example. By next year, our company will have sued all infringing parties.
    Example. The multinational corporation was sued for pollution.
    Example. If they had sued earlier, they might have won the case.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Forms

Incorrect. He has sue for damages. Correct. He has sued for damages. Explanation. A common mistake is using the base form (sue) instead of the past participle form (sued) after auxiliary verbs such as 'has' or 'have' in perfect tenses. The correct form is 'sued' to indicate the action happened in the past and is relevant to the present.

— 02

Using the Wrong Tense

Incorrect. They sue him for copyright infringement last year. Correct. They sued him for copyright infringement last year. Explanation. Another mistake is using the base form (sue) when the past simple (sued) is needed to indicate a specific action that occurred in the past and is completed. The past simple tense is the correct choice for actions completed at a definite time in the past.

— 03

Incorrect Formation

Incorrect. Did he sue to recover the loss? Correct. Did he sue to recover the loss? Explanation. In forming questions and negatives in the past simple, the mistake often lies in adding an extra 'd' in the question form or retaining the past form in negatives. The correct way is to use the base form 'sue' after 'did' or 'didn't' because 'did' and 'didn't' already indicate past time, so the verb that follows should be in its base form.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'sue'?

The past simple form of 'sue' is 'sued.' This form is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For example, 'They sued the company last year.'

What is the past participle form of 'sue'?

The past participle form of 'sue' is also 'sued.' This form is used in perfect tenses to describe actions that were completed at some point in the past or that have relevance to the present or future. For example, in the present perfect tense, 'They have sued the company.'

How do you use 'sued' in a sentence to indicate a past action?

To indicate a past action using 'sued,' you incorporate it into the past simple tense. You simply follow the subject with 'sued' and then the object of the action. For instance, 'The customer sued the restaurant for negligence.' This sentence specifies that the suing action happened at a definite time in the past.

Can you give an example of 'sued' used in a sentence with a perfect tense?

Yes, to use 'sued' in a perfect tense, you combine it with the auxiliary verb 'have' or 'has' for the present perfect, or 'had' for the past perfect. For example, in the present perfect tense. 'The author has sued the publisher for copyright infringement.' This implies the action has relevance to the current moment. In the past perfect tense. 'By the time the case was settled, the plaintiff had already sued another party.' This indicates that the suing action was completed before another past action.