Mastering English Grammar: The Past Tense of Build Explained

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Posted on Last updated: August 15, 2023

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The past tense of “build” is a crucial aspect of English grammar that every learner must understand. In this article, we’ll explore the different forms of the past tense of “build,” we’ll also provide plenty of examples to help you better understand how to use them in context.

Don’t worry if this seems overwhelming at first. With practice and repetition, you’ll soon become familiar with all the different forms of the past tense of “build.” So, let’s dive in and explore this topic in more detail.

Past Tense of Build

Contents

The Verb ‘Build’

The verb ‘build’ is a common word used to describe the process of constructing or creating something. It is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the standard rules for forming the past tense in English.

Past Tense Forms

The past tense of ‘build’ is ‘built’. This form is used when referring to actions that took place in the past. For example:

I built a sandcastle on the beach yesterday.
The company built a new factory last year.

Present Participle and Past Participle Forms

The present participle of ‘build’ is ‘building’. This form is used when describing ongoing actions or actions that are happening at the same time as another action. For example:

I am building a model airplane while watching TV.
The workers are building a new bridge over the river.

The past participle of ‘build’ is also ‘built’. This form is used when forming the present perfect tense, which is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. For example:

I have built many sandcastles over the years.
The company has built several factories in different countries.

Examples and Exercises

Here are some additional examples of the past tense form of ‘build’ in context:

She built a treehouse for her kids in the backyard.
They built a snowman in the park last winter.
He built a computer from scratch using spare parts.

Now it’s your turn to practice using the past tense form of ‘build’ in sentences of your own. Try to use different subjects, objects, and tenses to make your sentences more varied and interesting.

The Past Tense of Build

In English, the past tense of “build” is “built.” It is an irregular verb, which means that it does not follow the usual pattern for forming past tense verbs by adding “-ed” to the base form.

Formation of the Past Tense

To form the past tense of “build,” you simply add the word “built” after the subject and auxiliary verb, if there is one. For example:

I built a sandcastle on the beach yesterday.
She built a treehouse in her backyard.
They built a bridge across the river.

As you can see from the examples, the past tense of ‘build’ is used to describe a completed action in the past.

It is important to note that the word ‘builded’ is not a correct past tense form of the verb ‘build’.

Examples of the Past Tense

Here are some more examples of “built” being used in the past tense:

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.
He built a model airplane from scratch.
We built a fire to keep warm.

Exercises

Practice forming the past tense of “build” with these exercises:

Complete the following sentence with the correct form of “built”: “My grandfather _______ his own house when he was younger.”
Rewrite the following sentence in the past tense: “I am building a birdhouse for my garden.”
Choose the correct form of “build” to complete the sentence: “The Great Wall of China was _______ over 2,000 years ago.”

Summary

In summary, “built” is the past tense of “build.” It is an irregular verb, and is used by adding it after the subject and auxiliary verb. Practice forming the past tense of “build” with exercises to improve your English grammar skills.

Usage of ‘Built’

In Affirmative Sentences

The past tense of ‘build’ is ‘built’. It is used in affirmative sentences to talk about something that was constructed in the past. Here are some examples:

The new library was built last year.
They built a new house on the corner.
The bridge was built in 1920.

In Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, ‘did not build’ or ‘didn’t build’ is used to talk about something that was not constructed in the past. Here are some examples:

They did not build a new school in the area.
The company didn’t build the factory in the city.
We didn’t build the treehouse in the backyard.

In Interrogative Sentences

In interrogative sentences, ‘did’ is used to ask about something that was constructed in the past. Here are some examples:

Did they build the park near the river?
Did you build the bookshelf yourself?
Did the government build the new highway?

It is important to note that ‘built’ is the past tense and past participle form of ‘build’. Therefore, it can also be used in present perfect and past perfect tenses. For example:

They have built a new stadium downtown.
The workers had built the foundation before the storm hit.

In conclusion, understanding the usage of ‘built’ is crucial for anyone learning English grammar. By using it correctly, you can communicate effectively and accurately about past constructions.

Common Mistakes

When it comes to learning English, one of the most common mistakes that learners make is with the past tense of the verb “build”. This mistake is understandable, as the past tense of “build” is irregular, meaning that it doesn’t follow the typical pattern of adding “-ed” to the end of the base form. In this section, we’ll go over the common mistakes that learners make when using the past tense of “build” and how to avoid them.

Using “Builded” instead of “Built”

One of the most common mistakes that learners make is using “builded” instead of “built”. While “builded” may sound like the correct past tense form, it is actually incorrect. “Built” is the correct past tense form of “build”. Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:

Correct: He built a sandcastle on the beach.
Incorrect: He builded a sandcastle on the beach.
Correct: They built a new house last year.
Incorrect: They builded a new house last year.

Confusing “Build” and “Built”

Another common mistake that learners make is confusing the present tense form “build” with the past tense form “built”. It’s important to remember that “build” is the present tense form, while “built” is the past tense form. Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:

Correct: She is building a new bookshelf.
Incorrect: She is built a new bookshelf.
Correct: We built a snowman yesterday.
Incorrect: We build a snowman yesterday.

Forgetting the “T” in “Built”

Finally, learners sometimes forget to add the “t” at the end of “built”. This mistake can lead to confusion and make it difficult for others to understand what you’re trying to say. Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:

Correct: He built a treehouse in the backyard.
Incorrect: He buil a treehouse in the backyard.
Correct: I built a model airplane when I was a kid.
Incorrect: I buil a model airplane when I was a kid.

Remember, the past tense form of “build” is “built”, not “builded”. Don’t confuse the present tense form “build” with the past tense form “built”. And always remember to add the “t” at the end of “built”. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to use the past tense of “build” correctly and confidently in your writing and conversation.

Summary

In this article, we have explored the past tense of the verb “build.” Building is an essential part of any language, and it is crucial to learn the correct usage of past tense verbs to communicate effectively.

We have learned that the past tense of “build” is “built.” It is an irregular verb, therefore it doesn’t follow the standard rules of adding “-ed” to the base form of the verb to form the past tense.

In conclusion, learning the past tense of “build” is essential for effective communication in English. By understanding the rules and examples provided in this article, you can confidently use “built” in the past tense and past participle forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the past participle of build?

The past participle of build is built. For example, “The house was built in 2005.”

What is the difference between build and built?

Build is the present tense verb, while built is the past tense verb. For example, “We build houses” (present tense) and “We built houses” (past tense).

What is the correct tense of build?

The correct tense of build depends on the context of the sentence. If the action is happening in the present, use build. If the action happened in the past, use built. For example, “I am building a sandcastle” (present tense) and “I built a sandcastle yesterday” (past tense).

What is the present perfect tense of build?

The present perfect tense of build is have/has built. For example, “I have built many sandcastles in my life.”

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