Welcome to our grammar lesson on the past tense of shrink. Understanding tenses in English can be challenging, but with practice, it can become easier. In this article, we will focus on the past tense of ‘shrink,’ which is an irregular verb that can cause confusion for English learners.
Past tense of Shrink – Image
Understanding Shrink and Past Tense of Shrink
Shrink is a verb that means to become or to make something smaller in size or amount. For example, if you put a wool sweater in the dryer, it might shrink and become too small to wear comfortably. Another example is if a company’s profits shrink, it means that they have decreased in size or amount.
The past tense of ‘shrink’ can be either ‘shrank’ or ‘shrunk.’ Both are correct, and they are used interchangeably in everyday conversation. However, ‘shrank’ is more common in British English, while ‘shrunk’ is more common in American English.
Here is the table of conjugation the verb ‘shrink’ in past tense:
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I | shrank/ shrunk |
| shrank/ shrunk | |
| He/She/It | shrank/ shrunk |
| We | shrank/ shrunk |
| You | shrank/ shrunk |
| They | shrank/ shrunk |
Note that both “shrank” and “shrunk” are considered correct in both British and American English, but “shrank” is more commonly used in British English while “shrunk” is more commonly used in American English.
Here are some examples of how to use ‘shrank’ and ‘shrunk’ in sentences:
- The sweater shrank in the wash, so now it’s too small for me to wear.
- I accidentally shrank my favorite shirt in the dryer.
- The company’s profits shrank by 20% last year due to the economic downturn.
- The population of this city shrank dramatically after the pandemic.
- The plastic bottle shrunk when I put it in the oven.
As you can see, both ‘shrank’ and ‘shrunk’ are used to describe an action that happened in the past and is completed.
Variations of Shrank in Past Tense
Past Simple
The past simple tense of “shrink” is “shrank” or “shrunk”. Both are considered correct, but “shrank” is more commonly used in British English while “shrunk” is more commonly used in American English. Here are some examples:
- The sweater shrank in the wash.
- He shrank away from the spider.
Past Continuous
The past continuous tense of “shrink” is “was/were shrinking”. It is used to describe an ongoing action in the past. However, this tense is not commonly used with “shrink”. Here’s an example:
- The fabric was shrinking in the hot water.
- “At 3pm yesterday, you were shrinking your sweater in the wash.”
- I was worried that the shirt was shrinking in the dryer, so I took it out early.
Past Perfect
The past perfect tense of “shrink” is “had shrunk”. It is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. Here are some examples:
- I had already shrunk the shirt before I realized it was the wrong color.
- She had shrunk all her clothes before moving to the new house.
Past Perfect Continuous
The past perfect continuous tense of “shrink” is “had been shrinking”. It is used to describe an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action in the past. However, this tense is not commonly used with “shrink”. Here’s an example:
- I had been shrinking the wool for hours before it was finally ready to use.
- You had been shrinking your sweater in the wash for an hour before you realized your mistake.
Usage of Past Tense of Shrink
When using the past tense of the verb “shrink”, there are two options: “shrank” and “shrunk”. Both are considered correct and acceptable, but “shrank” is usually the more common usage for the V2 of the irregular verb shrink. Here are some examples of how to use the past tense of “shrink” in positive, negative, and interrogative sentences.
Positive Sentences
In positive sentences, the past tense of “shrink” is used to describe an action that has already happened. For example:
- I shrank my shirt in the dryer.
- The sweater shrank in the wash.
- The company shrank its workforce by 10%.
Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, the past tense of “shrink” is used to describe an action that did not happen, it is formed by adding did not before the base form. For example:
- I did not shrink my jeans in the wash.
- The shirt did not shrink in the dryer.
- The company did not shrink its profits last quarter.
Interrogative Sentences
In interrogative sentences, the past tense of “shrink” is used to ask a question about an action that has already happened, we use “did” + subject + base form of the verb to form interrogative sentences. For example:
- Did you shrink this sweater in the wash?
- Did the jeans shrink in the dryer?
Common Mistakes with ‘Shrink’ in Past Tense
As an English learner, it’s easy to get confused with irregular verbs like ‘shrink.’ The past tense of ‘shrink’ is not straightforward, and many people make mistakes while using it. Here are some common mistakes learners make while using ‘shrink’ in the past tense:
Mistake 1: Using ‘Shrinked’ instead of ‘Shrank’
Many learners incorrectly assume that the past tense of ‘shrink’ is ‘shrinked.’ However, ‘shrinked’ is not a proper word in the English language. The correct past tense of ‘shrink’ is ‘shrank.’
For example:
- Incorrect: I shrinked my shirt in the dryer.
- Correct: I shrank my shirt in the dryer.
Mistake 2: Using ‘Shrinked’ instead of ‘Shrunk’ in the Present Perfect Tense
Some learners use ‘shrinked’ instead of ‘shrunk’ while forming the present perfect tense of ‘shrink.’ This mistake occurs because ‘shrinked’ sounds similar to ‘shrunk.’
For example:
- Incorrect: I have shrinked my shirt in the dryer.
- Correct: I have shrunk my shirt in the dryer.
Tips to Remember Past Tense of Verbs
When it comes to English grammar, remembering the past tense of verbs can be challenging. However, with a little bit of practice and some helpful tips, you can master the past tense of verbs, including the past tense of “shrink.”
Here are a few tips to help you remember the past tense of verbs:
- Regular verbs follow a pattern. Regular verbs follow a pattern when forming the past tense. You simply add “-ed” to the base form of the verb. For example, “walk” becomes “walked,” “talk” becomes “talked,” and so on.
- Irregular verbs don’t follow a pattern. Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs don’t follow a pattern when forming the past tense. They have their own unique past tense form. For example, “go” becomes “went,” “eat” becomes “ate,” and so on.
- Memorize common irregular verbs. Memorizing common irregular verbs can help you remember their past tense forms. Some common irregular verbs include “be,” “have,” “do,” “say,” “go,” “come,” “see,” “take,” “make,” “know,” and “think.”
- Pay attention to spelling. Some irregular verbs have different spellings for the past tense form. For example, “shrink” becomes “shrank” or “shrunk.” Paying attention to spelling can help you remember the correct past tense form.
- Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice using the past tense of verbs, the easier it will become. Try using different irregular verbs in sentences and writing paragraphs using the past tense.
Remembering the past tense of verbs can take some time and practice, but with these tips and a little bit of effort, you’ll soon be using the correct past tense forms with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the past tense of shrink?
The past tense of shrink is ‘shrank/ shrunk’. For example: Yesterday, the sweater shrank in the wash.
What is the past participle of shrink?
The past participle of shrink is ‘shrunk’. For example: The wool has shrunk and the sweater is now too small.
How do I conjugate shrink in the past tense?
To conjugate shrink in the past tense, use ‘shrank/ shrunk’
What are the second and third forms of shrink?
The second and third forms of shrink are the same, which is ‘shrunk’. For example: The wool has shrunk and the sweater is now too small.
Is it ‘shrunk’ or ‘shrinked’?
The correct past participle of shrink is ‘shrunk’. ‘Shrinked’ is not a correct form of the verb.
What are the three forms of the verb shrink?
The three forms of the verb shrink are: base form (shrink), past tense (shrank), and past participle (shrunk). For example: I shrink the sweater, I shrank the sweater, I have shrunk the sweater.
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