Tap past tense

Meaning of tap

to draw liquid from a tap or another source.

Infinitive

Word: tap /tæp/

Examples:

1. Every morning, she taps her desk lightly to check if it's stable.
2. He often taps his fingers on the table when he's deep in thought.
3. They tap the maple trees in their backyard to collect sap for syrup.

Past Simple

Word: tapped /tæpt/

Examples:

1. I tapped on the window gently to get her attention.
2. She tapped her fingers on the desk while waiting for the call.
3. We tapped the keg and the party officially started.

Past Participle

Word: tapped /ˈtæpt/

Examples:

1. The song was tapped out rhythmically by the dancer's feet.
2. The secret code had been tapped into the device by the spy.
3. The maple tree was tapped for its sap early in the spring.

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Bare infinitive

Habitual actions or routines.
Example. She taps her pen on the desk when she's thinking.
Example. Water taps are essential in every household.
Example. He taps the microphone before his speech tomorrow.
Example. First, you tap the button to start the machine.
Example. Tap your card on the reader to pay.
Universal truths or facts.
Example. She taps her pen on the desk when she's thinking.
Example. Water taps are essential in every household.
Example. He taps the microphone before his speech tomorrow.
Example. First, you tap the button to start the machine.
Example. Tap your card on the reader to pay.
Fixed arrangements in the near future (often with a time reference).
Example. She taps her pen on the desk when she's thinking.
Example. Water taps are essential in every household.
Example. He taps the microphone before his speech tomorrow.
Example. First, you tap the button to start the machine.
Example. Tap your card on the reader to pay.
Instructions or directions.
Example. She taps her pen on the desk when she's thinking.
Example. Water taps are essential in every household.
Example. He taps the microphone before his speech tomorrow.
Example. First, you tap the button to start the machine.
Example. Tap your card on the reader to pay.
Immediate actions (often with imperatives).
Example. She taps her pen on the desk when she's thinking.
Example. Water taps are essential in every household.
Example. He taps the microphone before his speech tomorrow.
Example. First, you tap the button to start the machine.
Example. Tap your card on the reader to pay.

Past Simple

Completed actions at a specific time in the past.
Example. She tapped on the window yesterday to get his attention.
Example. He tapped the screen, entered his password, and accessed his emails.
Example. We always tapped our feet to the rhythm when we were younger.
Example. Before smartphones, people tapped on physical keyboards to send texts.
A series of completed actions in the past.
Example. She tapped on the window yesterday to get his attention.
Example. He tapped the screen, entered his password, and accessed his emails.
Example. We always tapped our feet to the rhythm when we were younger.
Example. Before smartphones, people tapped on physical keyboards to send texts.
Habits or situations in the past.
Example. She tapped on the window yesterday to get his attention.
Example. He tapped the screen, entered his password, and accessed his emails.
Example. We always tapped our feet to the rhythm when we were younger.
Example. Before smartphones, people tapped on physical keyboards to send texts.
Past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
Example. She tapped on the window yesterday to get his attention.
Example. He tapped the screen, entered his password, and accessed his emails.
Example. We always tapped our feet to the rhythm when we were younger.
Example. Before smartphones, people tapped on physical keyboards to send texts.

Past Participle

Perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect).
Example. I have tapped on the door, but there's no answer.
Example. She had just tapped out the message when the phone rang.
Example. By the time you arrive, he will have tapped into the system.
Example. The documentary was tapped by an awardwinning director.
Example. Feeling tapped of energy, she decided to cancel her evening plans.
Passive voice to indicate an action performed by someone or something.
Example. I have tapped on the door, but there's no answer.
Example. She had just tapped out the message when the phone rang.
Example. By the time you arrive, he will have tapped into the system.
Example. The documentary was tapped by an awardwinning director.
Example. Feeling tapped of energy, she decided to cancel her evening plans.
Describing conditions or states resulting from earlier actions.
Example. I have tapped on the door, but there's no answer.
Example. She had just tapped out the message when the phone rang.
Example. By the time you arrive, he will have tapped into the system.
Example. The documentary was tapped by an awardwinning director.
Example. Feeling tapped of energy, she decided to cancel her evening plans.

Common mistakes

— 01

Failure to Double

A prevalent mistake is not doubling the final consonant before adding the '-ed' ending. Learners might incorrectly write or say 'tapd' or 'taped' instead of the correct 'tapped.' This error typically arises from confusion over the rule that requires doubling the final consonant when a one-syllable verb ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant, and the action is stressed on the last syllable.

— 02

Using the Base Form

Another common error is using the base form 'tap' instead of the past simple or past participle form 'tapped' when the context clearly indicates a past action. For example, saying 'Yesterday, I tap on the window' instead of 'Yesterday, I tapped on the window.' This mistake reflects a misunderstanding of when to use the past tense to denote completed actions.

— 03

Omitting the Past Participle

In perfect tense constructions, the past participle 'tapped' should be used with an auxiliary verb to indicate actions that have been completed. A frequent mistake is omitting the past participle or using the base form, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences. For instance, saying 'I have tap on the door' instead of the correct 'I have tapped on the door.'

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'tap'?

The past simple form of 'tap' is 'tapped.' It is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, I tapped my friend on the shoulder to get his attention.' Is the past participle form of 'tap' different from its past simple form

How do I use 'tapped' in a sentence to describe a past habit?

To describe a past habit with 'tapped,' you would typically use the past simple form. You might include adverbs of frequency such as 'often,' 'usually,' or 'sometimes' to indicate the habitual nature of the action. For example, 'When I was a child, I often tapped my pencils on the desk while doing homework.'

Can 'tapped' be used figuratively, and how?

Yes, 'tapped' can be used figuratively to imply drawing upon a resource or quality. In this context, 'tapped' is often used in its past participle form. For example, 'The team tapped into their reserve energy to finish the project on time.' This sentence suggests that the team used or utilized their extra energy, akin to tapping a tree for sap, to accomplish their goal.