The verb "fracture" denotes the act of breaking or causing something to break, typically a bone or other hard material. Its primary verb forms include the base form, third-person singular present, past simple, past participle, and present participle (or -ing form).
Understanding the Verb Forms of "Fracture"
Knowing the different verb forms of "fracture" is essential for correct grammatical usage in various tenses and sentence structures. Here's a breakdown of its forms, complete with pronunciations.
| Verb Form | Example Subject(s) | Form | Pronunciation (UK / US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Form (Present Simple) | I, you, we, they | fracture | /ˈfræktʃə(r)/ /ˈfræktʃər/ |
| Third-Person Singular | he, she, it | fractures | /ˈfræktʃəz/ /ˈfræktʃərz/ |
| Past Simple | All | fractured | /ˈfræktʃəd/ /ˈfræktʃərd/ |
| Past Participle | All | fractured | /ˈfræktʃəd/ /ˈfræktʃərd/ |
| Present Participle (-ing) | All | fracturing | /ˈfræktʃərɪŋ/ /ˈfræktʃərɪŋ/ |
For additional details on the verb "fracture," you can refer to definitions from reputable sources like the Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
Detailed Explanation and Examples
Let's explore each verb form with practical insights.
Base Form (Present Simple - I/You/We/They)
The base form is used for the simple present tense with plural subjects (I, you, we, they) and to form infinitives.
- Meaning: To break or cause to break.
- Examples:
- They often fracture the glass when they drop it.
- I need to fracture this rock to get to the minerals inside.
Third-Person Singular (Present Simple - He/She/It)
This form is used for the simple present tense with singular subjects (he, she, it) and adds an "-s" to the base form.
- Meaning: He/she/it breaks or causes to break.
- Examples:
- The severe impact fractures the bone easily.
- She fractures the chocolate bar into small pieces.
Past Simple
The past simple form describes an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. For regular verbs like "fracture," this is formed by adding "-ed" to the base form.
- Meaning: Broke or caused to break in the past.
- Examples:
- He fractured his arm during the fall yesterday.
- The engineer accidentally fractured the pipe while testing.
Past Participle
The past participle is used in perfect tenses (e.g., present perfect, past perfect) and passive voice constructions. For "fracture," it is the same as the past simple form.
- Meaning: Having broken or been broken.
- Examples:
- Present Perfect: She has fractured her wrist twice this year.
- Passive Voice: The window was fractured by the strong winds.
- Past Perfect: They had fractured the ice before the rescue team arrived.
Present Participle (-ing Form)
The present participle is formed by adding "-ing" to the base verb. It is used in continuous tenses (e.g., present continuous, past continuous) and can also function as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun) or an adjective.
- Meaning: In the process of breaking, or describing something that breaks.
- Examples:
- Present Continuous: The doctor is concerned that the impact is fracturing the delicate bone structure.
- Past Continuous: He was fracturing the wooden planks when his supervisor arrived.
- Gerund: Fracturing the barrier proved to be the most challenging part of the mission.
- Adjective: The fracturing sound alerted everyone to the problem.
Understanding these forms allows for precise and descriptive communication when discussing breaks or damage.
