Grammar usage and syntax
 
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How do you know when to use swam or swum in a sentence?

By snakelover Asked Jul 24 2007 7:33AM
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Top Answer out of 3

by Farino on Jul 24, 2007 at 7:38 am Permalink

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Swam is the past tense of swim and swum is the past participle. Which means that if there are no words between the verb and the subjective noun then you use the past tense: He swan to the shore. If there are words in the between them then you use the past participle: He has never swum before.
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Avatar Anonymous Jul, 24 2007 at 07:41 AM
I would never use this word. i would rephrase a sentence, in order to avoid using it. i found it in the dictionary. using this word would make a person sound like a "redneck".
Avatar snakelover Jul, 24 2007 at 07:42 AM
That still sounds ridiculous but that was a great example.

Answer 2 out of 3

by hijklmno on Jul 29, 2007 at 12:11 pm Permalink

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This is one of the differences between the UK and the US.

Not many people in the UK would ever say "swum".

But neither is correct and neither is incorrect. Say what it is normal to say in your neck of the woods.

If the whole population of one area of the English-speaking world said "swimded" ("I swimded across the river") then that would be "correct" as well.
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Answer 3 out of 3

by Anonymous on Jul 24, 2007 at 7:38 am Permalink

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Is swum in the dictionary?
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Avatar snakelover Jul, 24 2007 at 07:41 AM
I can vaguely remember learning this in 2nd grade, but I didn't get it then either. I haven't checked the dictionary.


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