Transfer past tense

Meaning of transfer

to move from one place, person, or thing to another.

Infinitive

Word: transfer /ˈtræns.fɜːr/

Examples:

1. Every month, she transfers a portion of her salary into her savings account for future use.
2. The company transfers employees between departments to promote cross-functional skills.
3. This bank app allows you to transfer money to friends and family instantly.

Past Simple

Word: transferred /trænsˈfɜrd/

Examples:

1. Yesterday, I transferred money to my friend's bank account because she was in urgent need.
2. Last month, we transferred our old family photos from paper to digital format to preserve them better.
3. She transferred schools midway through the year due to her father's job relocation.

Past Participle

Word: transferred /trænsˈfɜːrd/

Examples:

1. The funds have been transferred to your account successfully.
2. All responsibilities were transferred to the new team leader last month.
3. The data has been transferred to the new system without any issues.

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Bare infinitive

The Present Simple form of 'transfer' is used in the following cases.
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
a. Regular, Habitual Actions or Facts
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
When describing actions that occur on a regular basis or stating facts.
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
b. Universal Truths or Laws
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
For stating universal truths or laws.
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
c. Scheduled Events in the Near Future (Especially in Timetables)
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
For scheduled or timetabled events.
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
d. Instructions or Directions
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.
When giving instructions or explaining procedures.
Example. He transfers money to his savings account every month.
Example. Energy transfers from one object to another according to basic principles of physics.
Example. The bus transfers passengers to the airport every hour on the hour.
Example. First, you transfer the call, then press the hold button.

Past Simple

The Past Simple form of 'transfer' is used in the following cases.
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
a. Completed Actions in the Past
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
For actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
b. A Series of Completed Actions
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
When describing a series of completed actions that happened one after another in the past.
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
c. Past Facts or Generalizations
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.
For stating facts or generalizations about the past.
Example. She transferred to a new school last year.
Example. He packed his bags, transferred the funds, and left the country.
Example. They always transferred the calls directly to the manager.

Past Participle

The Past Participle form of 'transfer' is 'transferred' and it is used in the following cases.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
a. Present Perfect Tense
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
For actions that occurred at an indefinite time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
b. Past Perfect Tense
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
For actions that were completed before another action or time in the past.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
c. Passive Voice
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
When describing an action done to the subject rather than by the subject.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
d. Perfect Continuous Tenses (rarely with 'transfer' but applicable for other verbs)
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
For actions that were happening before and up until another action in the past or present.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.
This specific use is less common with 'transfer' and more applicable to verbs that describe ongoing or continuous actions.
Example. She has transferred all her data to the new computer.
Example. By the time the meeting started, the reports had already been transferred.
Example. The patient was transferred to another hospital for further treatment.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing Irregular Verbs

One of the most common mistakes in using the past simple and past participle forms of the word 'transfer' stems from treating it as an irregular verb. Unlike irregular verbs that change their form entirely in the past tense (e.g., go/went/gone), 'transfer' is a regular verb and follows the standard rule of adding '-ed' for both its past simple and past participle forms (transferred/transferred). People often mistakenly look for an irregular form due to the complexity of English verb forms, leading to incorrect variations such as 'transfered' (missing an 'r') or even entirely made-up forms in an attempt to mirror irregular patterns.

— 02

Doubling the consonant

One common mistake with the word 'transfer' in its past simple and past participle forms is failing to double the final 'r' before adding the '-ed' suffix, resulting in 'transfered' instead of the correct 'transferred.' This error stems from misunderstanding the rule that in English, when a verb ends in a consonant preceded by a single vowel and the stress is on the final syllable, the final consonant is doubled before adding '-ed' or '-ing.'

— 03

Misuse in Perfect Tenses

The past participle form 'transferred' is correctly used in perfect tenses; however, a common mistake is using the past simple form 'transferred' in place of the past participle in perfect tense constructions. For example, saying 'I have transferred to a new school last year' instead of the correct 'I transferred to a new school last year' for simple past, or correctly using 'I have transferred to a new school' for present perfect. Understanding the distinction between the use of past simple for completed actions at a specific time in the past and past participle with 'have' for actions affecting the present is crucial to avoid this mistake.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'transfer'?

The past simple form of 'transfer' is 'transferred'. It is used to describe an action that was completed in the past. For example, 'Last year, I transferred to a new school.'

What is the past participle form of 'transfer'?

The past participle form of 'transfer' is also 'transferred'. It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice. For example, in the sentence 'The files have been transferred to the new computer,' 'transferred' is the past participle form, indicating an action that has been completed.

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

To indicate a past action using 'transferred,' you integrate it into the sentence structure where the action has already been completed. For instance. Simple Past. 'She transferred the call to the manager yesterday.' Present Perfect. 'He has already transferred the money into your account.' Past Perfect. 'Before moving, they had transferred their utilities to the new address.'

Can 'transferred' be used for both objects and people?

Yes, 'transferred' can be used for both objects and people. The context of the sentence usually makes it clear what or who is being transferred. For example. For objects. 'The data was successfully transferred to the external hard drive.' For people. 'After the merger, many employees were transferred to different departments.'