Sunburn past tense

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Meaning of sunburn

to become sunburned by exposure to the sun.

Infinitive

Word: sunburn /ˈsʌnbɜːrn/
Examples:
  • 1. Prolonged exposure to the sun often causes sunburn.
  • 2. If you don't apply sunscreen, you risk getting a sunburn during your day at the beach.
  • 3. A severe sunburn can lead to more serious health problems, so it's important to protect your skin.

Past Simple

Word: sunburned /ˈsʌn.bɜːnd/
Examples:
  • 1. She sunburned her shoulders badly during the beach volleyball tournament.
  • 2. He realized he had sunburned his nose after falling asleep in the sun without sunscreen.
  • 3. They sunburned their feet walking on the hot sand without any protection.

Past Participle

Word: sunburnt or sunburned /ˈsʌnbɜːnt/ or /ˈsʌnbɜːrnd/
Examples:
  • 1. She was sunburned after spending the whole day at the beach.
  • 2. The tourists had been sunburned despite applying sunscreen.
  • 3. He will have been sunburned if he doesn’t seek shade soon.

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Bare infinitive

  1. General truths or facts about getting sunburned
    Example. People sunburn easily without proper sunscreen protection.
    Example. She always sunburns during summer vacations.
  2. To state an unchanging fact related to sunburn.
    Example. People sunburn easily without proper sunscreen protection.
    Example. She always sunburns during summer vacations.
  3. Habitual actions regarding sunburn
    Example. People sunburn easily without proper sunscreen protection.
    Example. She always sunburns during summer vacations.
  4. When referring to regular or habitual actions associated with getting sunburned.
    Example. People sunburn easily without proper sunscreen protection.
    Example. She always sunburns during summer vacations.

Past Simple

  1. Specific instances in the past
    Example. He sunburned badly at the beach last year.
    Example. They sunburned on the first day of their holiday, which ruined the rest of their trip.
  2. When referring to a specific instance or instances when someone got sunburned.
    Example. He sunburned badly at the beach last year.
    Example. They sunburned on the first day of their holiday, which ruined the rest of their trip.
  3. Completed actions in the past
    Example. He sunburned badly at the beach last year.
    Example. They sunburned on the first day of their holiday, which ruined the rest of their trip.
  4. To describe actions that were completed in the past related to getting sunburned.
    Example. He sunburned badly at the beach last year.
    Example. They sunburned on the first day of their holiday, which ruined the rest of their trip.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect aspects
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.
  2. When forming present or past perfect tense sentences to refer to actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or other actions in the past.
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.
  3. Example (Present Perfect). I have never sunburned as badly as I did last summer.
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.
  4. Example (Past Perfect). By the time we left the beach, I had already sunburned.
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.
  5. Passive voice
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.
  6. To describe a state of being sunburned caused by an action, often when the doer is not the focus.
    Example. She was sunburned after falling asleep in the sun.

Common mistakes

— 01

Incorrect Verb Form Usage

One common mistake is using the incorrect form of the verb 'sunburn' in its past simple and past participle forms. The past simple form is 'sunburned' and the past participle form is also 'sunburned' (or 'sunburnt' in British English). However, people often mistakenly use 'sunburnt' as the past simple form in American English or confuse the two forms, leading to sentences like 'I sunburn last weekend' instead of the correct 'I sunburned last weekend.'

— 02

Misapplication in Perfect Tenses

Another mistake involves misapplying the past participle form when constructing perfect tenses. The correct construction for the present perfect tense is 'have/has sunburned,' as in 'I have sunburned easily since I was a child.' However, a common error is neglecting the auxiliary verb or using the past simple form instead, resulting in incorrect sentences like 'I have sunburn last summer' instead of 'I have sunburned last summer.'

— 03

Redundancy in Expression

A further mistake is the redundant use of the past participle form in expressions that already imply a past action. For example, saying 'I got sunburned' when simply 'I sunburned' suffices. While not grammatically incorrect, the addition of 'got' is unnecessary and can make the sentence sound awkward or overly wordy, especially in contexts where the past action is clear.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'sunburn'?

The past simple form of 'sunburn' is 'sunburned' or 'sunburnt'. Both forms are correct, but 'sunburned' is more commonly used in American English, while 'sunburnt' is preferred in British English. Example. 'I sunburned my shoulders yesterday at the beach.'

How do you use the past participle form of 'sunburn'?

The past participle form of 'sunburn' is also 'sunburned' or 'sunburnt', similar to its past simple form. This form is used in perfect tenses. Example in present perfect tense. 'I have sunburned my back severely.' Or, 'I have sunburnt my back severely.'

Can you provide an example sentence using the past simple form of 'sunburn'?

Sure! Using the past simple form. 'She sunburned her nose during the picnic last weekend.' This sentence indicates that the action of getting sunburned happened at a specific time in the past, which was last weekend.

How can I use 'sunburn' in a sentence with a past participle form?

An example sentence using the past participle form would be. 'He has never sunburned so badly before.' This sentence uses the present perfect tense to indicate an experience up to the present. Another example, in a passive voice, could be. 'My arms were sunburnt after falling asleep in the sun.' Remember, whether you choose 'sunburned' or 'sunburnt,' consistency in your choice of form is key, especially within the same piece of writing or conversation.