Undergo past tense

Meaning of undergo

to experience or be subjected to something.

Infinitive

Word: undergo /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/

Examples:

1. Every year, the park undergoes a thorough cleaning to prepare for the summer tourists.
2. Students undergo training in basic life support as part of their curriculum.
3. The software undergoes constant updates to ensure it remains secure against new threats.

Past Simple

Word: underwent /ˌʌndərˈwɛnt/

Examples:

1. She underwent a major surgery last year to resolve her health issues.
2. The building underwent significant renovations to restore its historical beauty.
3. The proposal underwent a thorough review process before it was finally approved.

Past Participle

Word: undergone /ˌʌndərˈɡɒn/

Examples:

1. The documents have undergone careful review by the committee.
2. The bridge undergone repairs last month.
3. The patient had undergone surgery before the symptoms improved.

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Bare infinitive

Habitual Actions or States
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
To discuss habits, routines, or situations that are permanent or true for an indefinite period.
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
General Truths or Natural Facts
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
To state facts or truths that are generally accepted or that describe natural phenomena.
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
Scheduled Events (in the near future)
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
To talk about scheduled or planned events, often in formal contexts such as timetables or itineraries.
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
Instructions or Directions
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.
To give instructions, directions, or orders.
Example. She undergoes dialysis three times a week.
Example. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience fatigue.
Example. The building is set to undergo renovation next month.
Example. Please undergo a security check before entering the hall.

Past Simple

Completed Actions in the Past
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.
To express actions that happened and were completed at a definite time in the past.
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.
Sequences of Past Actions
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.
To describe a series of completed actions or events that happened one after another in the past.
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.
Habits in the Past
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.
To talk about habits or repeated actions that were true in the past but no longer happen.
Example. Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.
Example. She underwent a serious operation, stayed in the hospital for a week, and then recovered at home.
Example. As a child, he underwent speech therapy sessions.

Past Participle

Present Perfect Tense
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.
To discuss actions or events that happened at an unspecified time in the past and are still relevant or continue into the present.
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.
Past Perfect Tense
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.
To talk about an action or situation that was completed before another action or time in the past.
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.
Passive Voice
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.
To form sentences where the focus is on the action itself, rather than who or what is performing the action.
Example. She has undergone a considerable transformation in her lifestyle.
Example. By the time the new hospital was built, the old one had already undergone extensive refurbishment.
Example. The manuscript has been undergone rigorous review by several experts.

Common mistakes

— 01

Use of the Past Simple Form

A common mistake is using the base form of the verb 'undergo' as its past simple form. The correct past simple form of 'undergo' is 'underwent,' not 'undergoed.' For example, the correct usage is 'She underwent surgery last year,' not 'She undergoed surgery last year.' This error stems from the general but incorrect assumption that forming the past tense of a verb always involves adding -ed to its base form, which is not the case for irregular verbs like 'undergo.'

— 02

Misusing the Past Participle

Another frequent error is misusing the past participle form of 'undergo,' which is 'undergone,' not 'underwent' or 'undergoed.' The past participle is essential in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For instance, 'He has undergone extensive training' is correct, while 'He has underwent extensive training' is incorrect. This mistake often occurs because learners confuse the past simple form with the past participle form, not recognizing that irregular verbs can have entirely different forms for each.

— 03

Omitting Auxiliary Verbs

The incorrect omission of auxiliary verbs when using the past participle 'undergone' in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions is a third common mistake. For example, saying 'He undergone surgery' instead of the correct 'He has undergone surgery' omits the necessary auxiliary verb 'has' for the present perfect tense. Similarly, in passive voice constructions, it's incorrect to say 'The procedure was undergone by her' instead of using an appropriate verb form like 'The procedure was undergone by her.'

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'undergo'?

The past simple form of 'undergo' is 'underwent'. It is used to describe an action that was completed in the past. For example. 'Last year, the bridge underwent major repairs.'

How is the past participle form of 'undergo' used?

The past participle form of 'undergo' is 'undergone'. It is often 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. 'The building has undergone significant changes since it was built.'

Can you give an example of 'underwent' and 'undergone' in sentences?

Yes, certainly. For 'underwent'. 'The patient underwent surgery last week.' This sentence uses the past simple to indicate that the surgery happened at a specific time in the past. For 'undergone'. 'The manuscript has undergone several revisions.' This sentence uses the past participle in the present perfect tense to indicate that the revisions happened at unspecified times in the past, with relevance to its current state. Is it common to confuse the use of 'underwent' and 'undergone'