The third form of the verb "wait" is waited.
Understanding Verb Forms
English verbs typically have three principal forms, crucial for constructing various tenses and sentence structures. These are:
- Base Form (V1): The infinitive form of the verb (e.g., wait). Used in the present simple tense, future tenses, and with modal verbs.
- Past Simple (V2): Used to describe actions that happened and were completed in the past (e.g., waited).
- Past Participle (V3): This is the "third form" of the verb. It is used in perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect), passive voice constructions, and sometimes as an adjective.
The Third Form of "Wait": "Waited"
The third form of the verb "wait" is waited. This form functions as a past participle.
Key characteristics and uses of "waited" as a past participle:
- It is used to indicate an action that has already occurred or is completed.
- It is essential for forming perfect tenses. For example, in the present perfect, "I have waited patiently." In the past perfect, "She had waited for hours."
- For regular verbs like "wait," the past simple (V2) and past participle (V3) forms are identical, both being "waited."
Example from context:
Consider the phrase, "He waited for me so long but I did not go." In this instance, "waited" describes an action completed in the past. While used here in the simple past tense, "waited" also represents the third form (past participle) which is vital for constructing perfect tenses (e.g., "He had waited for me..."). This illustrates its role in describing an action that is over or has already happened.
Verb Forms of "Wait"
| Form | Verb Example | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Base Form (V1) | wait | I wait for the bus every morning. |
| Past Simple (V2) | waited | She waited for me yesterday. |
| Past Participle (V3) | waited | I have waited for this moment my whole life. |
Practical Examples of "Waited" as a Past Participle
Here are some ways "waited" is used as the third form (past participle) in sentences:
- Present Perfect: "They have waited for a response since last week."
- Past Perfect: "He realized he had waited at the wrong gate after checking the board."
- Future Perfect: "By the time you arrive, I will have waited for over an hour."
- Passive Voice (less common for "wait" but grammatically possible): "The delivery was waited for eagerly by the customers."
The term "waited" consistently signifies a completed action of waiting, making it a fundamental component of English verb conjugation.
