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What is the past participle of recovery?

Published in English Grammar 2 mins read

The past participle of the verb associated with the noun 'recovery' is recovered.

While 'recovery' itself is a noun and does not have a past participle, the related verb 'to recover' does. The form 'recovered' is used in various grammatical structures to convey actions that have been completed or states of being.

Understanding "Recovered"

"Recovered" is the past participle form of the verb "to recover." It signifies the completion of an action related to regaining something lost, stolen, or returning to a normal state after an illness, injury, or difficulty. For instance, the Cambridge Dictionary defines 'recovered' in the context of getting back something lost or stolen, or returning to a normal condition after a challenging period.

This versatile word can function in several ways:

  • As part of a Perfect Tense: It combines with auxiliary verbs (like 'have' or 'had') to form perfect tenses, indicating an action completed at some point.
    • Example: She has recovered completely from her illness. (Present perfect)
    • Example: By the time he arrived, the stolen goods had been recovered. (Past perfect in passive voice)
  • In the Passive Voice: It forms part of a passive construction, where the subject receives the action.
    • Example: The lost wallet was recovered by a kind stranger.
    • Example: Several artifacts were recovered from the ancient shipwreck.
  • As an Adjective: It can describe a noun, indicating a state resulting from the action of recovering.
    • Example: The recovered patient left the hospital today.
    • Example: Police successfully returned the recovered painting to its owner.

Verb Conjugation of 'Recover'

Understanding the different forms of 'to recover' helps clarify its usage:

Verb Form Example Sentence
Base Form We hope to recover quickly.
Past Simple She recovered from her cold last week.
Past Participle He has recovered all his strength.

Why is "Recovered" Important?

The past participle 'recovered' is crucial for expressing completed actions and states across different tenses and voices in English. Its ability to function as part of a verb phrase or as an adjective makes it a flexible and essential component of the language, allowing for precise communication about restoration, retrieval, or healing.