[callout]The past tense of swim is swam, and the past participle of swim is swum. Why?In this article, we will explain how and when to correctly use swim, swam, and swum, explain why swim is considered to be an irregular verb, and provide examples of how we use swim, swam, and swum in sentences.swam vs. swum
The verb swim is an irregular verb. Swim is the base form of the verb, which can be used in most present tenses (swim, swims), most future tenses (will swim), and as an infinitive (to swim).For example:
A verb is typically considered to be irregular if its past tense or past participle is formed without using the standard –ed or –d endings used in regular verbs (parked, dated). This is the case with swim. Instead of swimmed, the past tense is swam.For example:
The past participle of swim is swum. Past participles are preceded by helping, or auxiliary, verbs, such as have, has, and had.For example:
Like other past participles, swum is also the form used in the passive voice. Here, too, the irregular verb is preceded by a form of the helping verb be.For example:
Verbs similar to swim
No other verb follows the exact conjugation pattern of swim. Other verbs ending in -im, such as trim, skim, and dim, are usually regular verbs. However, several other irregular verbs follow a similar spelling change pattern to swim, in which an i changes to an a in the past tense and to a u when used as a past participle.present tense past tense past participle swim swam swum ring rang rung sing sang sung spring sprang sprung sink sank sunk stink stank stunk drink drank drunk begun began begun Examples of swim, swam, and swum used in a sentence
Let’s dive into some example sentences that show how we typically use swim, swam, and swum.
We’ve all had moments where we’ve really and truly screwed something up. An epic mistake (OK, maybe not on a historic, global scale like the February 26, 2017 Oscars). But still, we’re human, and mistakes do happen.
There are a lot of words to describe things going south in a hurry. We’ve gathered a few here. You’ll notice they’re all very close in definition. Maybe there are so many synonyms for messing up because it can be such an emotional experience. Some of these are regional (not many Americans would say bollocks), and some are acronyms (think snafu). Making mistakes isn’t generally enjoyable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun describing them.
Botch
To botch something is “to do or say in a bungling manner.” The word originally came from Middle English (from around 1350–1400). Best example: Warren Beatty botched the Oscar announcement for Best Picture.
Goof
We define goof as “to spoil or make a mess of (something).” A great example is You really goofed up the job.
Bollix
Dictionary.com says bollix means “to do (something) badly; bungle (often followed by up), E.g. ‘His interference bollixed up the whole deal.’” This word is also spelled bolix and bollocks, which has a decidedly British feel to it. Bollocks generally means rubbish or nonsense. Just be aware, bollocks can also refer to testicl*s (which is totally separate from what we’re talking about right now).
Snafu
Snafu is an acronym meaning “situation normal: all fouled up.” This bit of military slang dates back to 1941. Soldiers usually employ a certain four-letter expletive in place of the word fouled.
Muck Up
Another term that sounds primarily British. If you ruin something or bungle it (there’s that word again) to the point of complete confusion, you’ve mucked it up. It totally works if you try saying it out loud in a British accent.
Make Hash Of
The most popular definition of hash is a type of food consisting of chopped meat. It also means “to discuss,” as in We’re going to hash it out at the meeting.Rehash means “to recount or retell something,” like He rehashed the whole story for the benefit of those who were late. In this instance, though, we’re talking about to make hash of, which is “to spoil or botch.” For example, The new writer made a hash of his first assignment.
Flub
You tend to hear this word at basketball games. The announcer will say, “He really flubbed that shot.” You can probably guess from context what they mean.
Foul-Up
This term is used to describe a person who chronically makes mistakes, as in He’s a real foul-up. We define it this way: “a condition of difficulty or disorder brought on by inefficiency, stupidity, etc.”
Muddle
The word muddle is also a perfect example of what happened at Oscars in 2017: “to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.” Oops. And in case you missed it, here’s the big snafu/flub/foul-up that was on everybody’s lips.
As an expert language enthusiast, I bring a wealth of knowledge in linguistics and grammar to shed light on the intricacies of English verb conjugation, specifically focusing on the irregularities found in the verb "swim." The expertise I present is rooted in a deep understanding of linguistic structures and grammatical nuances, providing a comprehensive analysis of the usage of "swim," "swam," and "swum."
The article in question, dated February 27, 2017, delves into the past tense and past participle forms of the verb "swim." Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Irregular Verb - Swim:
- "Swim" is considered an irregular verb.
- The base form is "swim," applicable in present tenses (swim, swims), future tenses (will swim), and as an infinitive (to swim).
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Past Tense Forms:
- The past tense of "swim" is "swam."
- Example: "The deer swam across the river to escape the cougar."
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Past Participle Form:
- The past participle of "swim" is "swum."
- Past participles are used with helping or auxiliary verbs (have, has, had).
- Example: "My dog has swum in the pool a few times before."
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Passive Voice Usage:
- The past participle "swum" is also used in the passive voice.
- Example: "The world record race was swum by a French swimmer."
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Comparison with Similar Verbs:
- No other verb follows the exact conjugation pattern of "swim."
- Verbs ending in -im, such as "trim," "skim," and "dim," are usually regular verbs.
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Examples of Usage:
- Various examples illustrate the correct usage of "swim," "swam," and "swum" in sentences.
- Example: "Gorillas don’t know how to swim."
By providing these insights, I aim to showcase not only a thorough understanding of the specific irregularities associated with the verb "swim" but also an ability to communicate complex grammatical concepts in a clear and accessible manner. This analysis contributes to a deeper appreciation of English language nuances and enhances language proficiency.
