The past tense of "skate" is skated. As a regular verb, its past simple and past participle forms are both created by adding "-ed" to the base form.
Understanding the Verb 'Skate'
The verb "skate" refers to gliding on skates, whether on ice, roller skates, or skateboards. It is categorized as a regular verb in English grammar. This means that its past tense and past participle forms are predictably created by adding the suffix "-ed" to the base form.
Conjugation of 'Skate' in the Past Tense
When using "skate" in the simple past tense, the form remains consistent across all subjects. This makes it relatively straightforward to conjugate.
Here's how "skate" is conjugated in the simple past tense:
| Pronoun | Past Tense (Simple Past) |
|---|---|
| I | skated |
| You | skated |
| He/She/It | skated |
| We | skated |
| You (plural) | skated |
| They | skated |
Using 'Skated' in Sentences
To illustrate its usage, here are some examples of "skated" in action:
- Yesterday, I skated gracefully across the frozen pond.
- She skated for hours at the roller disco last weekend.
- The children skated excitedly down the street on their new inline skates.
- Before the accident, he skated professionally for several years.
- We skated together along the boardwalk until sunset.
Other Forms of the Verb 'Skate'
Beyond the simple past, it's helpful to understand other key forms of the verb "skate" for comprehensive usage.
Past Participle: Skated
The past participle of "skate" is also skated. This form is primarily used with auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "had" to create perfect tenses.
- Present Perfect: "They have skated on that rink many times."
- Past Perfect: "She had skated competitively before her injury."
Present Participle: Skating
The present participle is skating. This form is used to create continuous (or progressive) tenses and can also function as an adjective or noun (gerund).
- Present Continuous: "He is skating right now."
- Past Continuous: "They were skating when the snow began to fall."
- As an Adjective: "The skating rink was very crowded."
- As a Noun (Gerund): "Skating is her favorite hobby."
Why 'Skated' is a Regular Verb
Verbs like "skate" are called regular verbs because they follow a standard pattern to form their past tense and past participle: simply add "-ed" to the base form. This consistent rule makes them easier to learn and use compared to irregular verbs, which have unique and often unpredictable forms. You can find more details on verb conjugation in reputable sources like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
