Past Tense of Beat | Definition, Use & Example Sentences
Because “beat” is an irregular verb, its past simple form differs from its past participle form.
- Beat is the past simple form of “beat.” It’s identical to the present simple form. It’s used to talk about an action or event that occurred in the past.
- Beaten is the past participle form. It’s used to form perfect tenses and the passive voice.
| Examples: Beat in a sentence | Examples: Beaten in a sentence |
|---|---|
| Hannah beat Mark in a game of table tennis. | We have beaten every other team in the league. |
| You beat me unfairly! | Tom has never been beaten in a race. |
How to use beat
The past simple form “beat” is used to describe a past action or event.
Paula beat the odds in the casino.
I tried to tell a joke, but my friend beat me to the punchline.
How to use beaten
Beaten is the past participle form of “beat.” It’s used to form perfect tenses (i.e., to describe an action that was completed before another action) and to form passive constructions (i.e., sentences in which the subject is acted upon rather than performing an action).
I have never beaten my sister in a game of chess.
The heavyweight champion has never been beaten.
Worksheet: Beat or beaten
You can test your understanding of the difference between “beat” and “beaten” with the worksheet below. Fill in either “beat” or “beaten” in each sentence.
- No one has ever _______ me in a game of pool.
- Martin _______ the dusty rug with a stick.
- Our team has been _______ in every game so far.
- No one has ever beaten me in a game of pool.
- “Beaten” can be used as the past participle of “beat” to form perfect tenses.
- Martin beat the dusty rug with a stick.
- The past simple form “beat” is used to describe a past action or event.
- Our team has been beaten in every game so far.
- “Beaten” can be used as the the past participle form of “beat” to form passive constructions (i.e., sentences in which the subject is acted upon rather than performing an action).
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the past participle of “beat”?
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The past participle form of “beat” is beaten. It’s used to form perfect tenses (e.g., “I have beaten the record”) and to form the passive voice (e.g., “The champion has been beaten”).
It’s wrong to use the past simple form “beat” instead in these contexts. For example, “The champion has been beat” is incorrect.
- What is the past simple form of “beat”?
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The past simple form of “beat” is beat. It’s used to describe a past action or event (e.g., “You beat me”).
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Ryan, E. (2023, September 25). Past Tense of Beat | Definition, Use & Example Sentences. Scribbr. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/past-tense-beat/
