Last updated on November 24th, 2023 at 01:48 am
Which is correct sweeped or swept?
It’s sing, sang, sung, and ring, rang, rung; so shouldn’t it also be sweep, swap, swept? Not so fast, says the rules of English verb conjugations, no two verbs are created equal.
The verb and common household chore, to sweep, that is, “clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter“, has one past verb form, which is swept. Sweeped, though a logical assumption as the past tense of sweep, is considered a common misspelling and nonstandard way of conjugating sweep. In other words, stick to swept as both the past tense and past participle form of the verb, sweep.
Forms of sweep
Sweep is the present tense: I usually sweep the patio after gardening to clear away any dirt.
Swept is the simple past: The cleaning crew swept the conference room after the meeting ended.
Sweeping is the present participle: I’ve been sweeping this floor all afternoon!
Sweeps is third-person present singular: She sweeps the brush over the canvas, creating bold strokes of color.
Swept is also the past participle: His remarkable speech had swept the audience off their feet, earning him a standing ovation.
What’s the past tense vs. past participle form of sweep?
Past tense: Yesterday, she swept the entire house before the guests arrived.
Past participle: The storm had swept away everything in its path, leaving a trail of destruction.
The past participle form of sweep, which is the same as its past tense form, i.e., both are swept, is distinct from its use of auxiliaries (had). This creates a more complex tense known as the past perfect tense, which clarifies the order in which past actions transpired.
Examples of sweep in the simple present tense
The janitor sweeps the hallways to maintain a tidy environment.
I usually sweep the patio after gardening to clear away any dirt.
The wind outside sweeps through the trees, creating a soothing rustling sound.
He sweeps the kitchen counter with a cloth to wipe off crumbs and spills.
She sweeps the brush over the canvas, creating bold strokes of color.
Example sentences of swept in the past tense
Yesterday, she swept the entire house before the guests arrived.
The cleaning crew swept the conference room after the meeting ended.
He carefully swept the broken glass into a dustpan after the vase shattered.
The storm had swept through the town, leaving a trail of destruction.
After the party, they swept the leftover confetti and balloons from the floor.
Example sentences of the past participle swept
The storm had swept away everything in its path, leaving a trail of destruction.
We had swept the floors for many hours, making them spotless.
The feeling of nostalgia swept over her as she revisited her childhood home.
The fire had swept through the forest, leaving charred trees in its wake.
His remarkable speech had swept the audience off their feet, earning him a standing ovation.
Phrases with the word sweep
- To sweet someone off their feet (to be instantly charmed or attracted to someone)
- To sweet something under the rug/carpet (to ignore or deny a concern/issue of some kind).
- A new broom sweeps clean (new people, typically in a workplace, bring fresh perspectives and insights).
- To sweep aside (to push someone or something to one side, especially in an indifferent or disdainful manner).
Origin of the verb sweep
From etymology online on sweep (v.):
Early 14c., “make clean by sweeping with a broom;” mid-14c., “perform the act of sweeping,” of uncertain origin, perhaps from a past tense form of Middle English swope “sweep,” from Old English swapan “to sweep” (transitive & intransitive)
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Learn about verbs
Sources
1. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of sweep.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/sweep. Accessed 14 Aug, 2023.
2. “sweep aside.” Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. 2015. Farlex, Inc 23 Nov. 2023 https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/sweep+aside