Sweep past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of sweep

to clean or clear (a space, area, or surface) by removing dirt, debris, or unwanted material using a broom or brush.

Infinitive

Word: sweep /swiːp/
Examples:
  • 1. Every morning, she sweeps the kitchen floor to keep it clean.
  • 2. He always sweeps the leaves off the sidewalk in front of his house.
  • 3. The janitor sweeps the school hallways after the students leave.

Past Simple

Word: swept /swɛpt/
Examples:
  • 1. She swept the leaves off the porch yesterday.
  • 2. The wind swept away all the papers from the table last night.
  • 3. They swept the floor clean before the guests arrived.

Past Participle

Word: swept /swɛpt/
Examples:
  • 1. The floor has been swept clean by the staff every evening.
  • 2. All the leaves were swept away by the strong wind yesterday.
  • 3. The mess in the kitchen will have been swept up before the guests arrive.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Use case. To talk about routines or general truths.
    Example. She sweeps the floor every morning.
    Example. First, sweep the room thoroughly.
  2. Use case. To give instructions.
    Example. She sweeps the floor every morning.
    Example. First, sweep the room thoroughly.

Past Simple

  1. Use case. To talk about a specific action completed in the past.
    Example. He swept the floor last night after dinner.
    Example. She swept the halls daily before she got the new job.
  2. Use case. To describe a habit or routine that took place in the past but no longer does.
    Example. He swept the floor last night after dinner.
    Example. She swept the halls daily before she got the new job.

Past Participle

  1. Use case. To form the present perfect tense, used for actions that occurred at an unspecified time or have relevance to the present moment.
    Example. They have swept all the classrooms; they are clean now.
    Example. By the time we arrived, he had already swept the entire house.
    Example. The swept streets looked cleaner than ever after the parade.
  2. Use case. To form the past perfect tense, which describes an action that was completed before another past action.
    Example. They have swept all the classrooms; they are clean now.
    Example. By the time we arrived, he had already swept the entire house.
    Example. The swept streets looked cleaner than ever after the parade.
  3. Use case. As an adjective to describe something.
    Example. They have swept all the classrooms; they are clean now.
    Example. By the time we arrived, he had already swept the entire house.
    Example. The swept streets looked cleaner than ever after the parade.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

One common mistake is confusing the past simple form 'swept' with the past participle form, which is also 'swept'. While both forms are identical for the verb 'sweep', their usage varies depending on the sentence structure. In simple past tense, 'swept' is used as the main verb to describe an action completed in the past, e.g., 'She swept the floor yesterday.' However, as a past participle, 'swept' is used in perfect tenses or passive voice, e.g., 'The floor has been swept.'

— 02

Verb Form after Auxiliaries

Another mistake is using the past simple form when a past participle is required after auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses or passive constructions. For example, incorrectly saying 'She has sweep the floor' instead of the correct 'She has swept the floor.' This mistake alters the grammatical structure and can obscure the meaning intended by the speaker or writer, leading to misunderstandings.

— 03

Forgetting Irregular Verb Forms

For learners of English, especially those whose first language has regular Misusing Past Participle, forgetting that 'sweep' is an irregular verb and mistakenly conjugating it as 'sweeped' instead of 'swept' for both past simple and past participle forms is a common error. This mistake not only reveals a misunderstanding of irregular verb patterns in English but also can confuse listeners or readers about the intended meaning.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'sweep'?

The past simple form of 'sweep' is 'swept.' You use it to describe an action that started and finished at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, I swept the floor.'

What is the past participle form of 'sweep'?

The past participle form of 'sweep' is also 'swept.' It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice sentences. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'I have swept the floor every day this week.' In a passive voice sentence, you could say, 'The floor was swept by me yesterday.'

How do I use 'swept' in a sentence correctly?

To use 'swept' correctly, you need to determine if your sentence is in the past simple tense or requires a past participle. If you're talking about a completed action in the past, use 'swept' as the verb. For example. 'He swept the leaves into a pile.' If you're using a perfect tense or constructing a passive voice sentence, 'swept' serves as the past participle. For instance. 'The leaves have been swept into a pile.'

Can you give examples of sentences using 'swept' in different tenses?

Certainly! Here are examples of 'swept' used in various tenses. Past Simple. 'She swept the kitchen floor last night.' Present Perfect. 'They have already swept the porch.' Past Perfect. 'By the time we arrived, the janitor had swept the entire building.' Passive Voice (Past Simple). 'The streets were swept clean before the parade.' Remember, the context in which you use 'swept' will determine how it fits into your sentence structure. Whether you're discussing a completed action in the past, using a perfect tense, or forming a sentence in the passive voice, 'swept' remains consistent in form but varies in application.