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What is the Simple Past Tense of 'Spends'?

Published in Verb Conjugation 3 mins read

The simple past tense of "spends" is spent.

"Spends" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "spend." Like its base form "spend," its simple past tense is "spent."

Understanding "Spends" and "Spent"

The verb "to spend" is an irregular verb, meaning its past tense and past participle forms do not follow the typical pattern of adding "-ed" to the base form.

  • Spends: This form is used for the third-person singular in the present tense (e.g., He spends money on books. She spends her time wisely.).
  • Spent: This is the simple past tense form for all subjects (e.g., I spent an hour reading. They spent all their savings.). It is also the past participle form (e.g., He has spent all his energy.).

As affirmed by grammar resources, the simple past tense of the base verb 'spend' is 'spent'. This remains consistent for all conjugations and forms derived from "spend," including "spends."

Verb Conjugation: The Irregular Verb "Spend"

Understanding the different forms of "spend" can clarify its usage.

Form Verb 'Spend' Example Sentence
Base Form spend We spend too much time on social media.
Simple Past spent Yesterday, I spent five hours studying.
Past Participle spent She has spent her entire life helping others.
Present Participle spending They are spending their vacation at the beach.
3rd Person Singular Present spends He spends a lot of time perfecting his craft.

Practical Examples of "Spent"

The simple past tense "spent" is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. It can refer to time, money, or effort.

Using "Spent" in Sentences

Here are some examples demonstrating the use of "spent":

  • Time:
    • Last summer, my family spent two weeks traveling across Europe.
    • The team spent many hours brainstorming ideas for the new project.
    • I spent the entire afternoon organizing my workspace.
  • Money:
    • She spent a considerable amount of money on her new car.
    • They spent their entire bonus on home renovations.
    • He rarely spent cash; he preferred using credit cards.
  • Effort/Energy:
    • The athlete spent all his energy during the final sprint.
    • We spent a lot of effort trying to fix the old machine.

Why "Spent" and Not "Spended"?

"Spend" is classified as an irregular verb. Unlike regular verbs that form their simple past and past participle by adding "-ed" (e.g., walk becomes walked, play becomes played), irregular verbs have unique forms that often involve a vowel change or an entirely different word. This is why "spend" becomes "spent" and not "spended." Mastering irregular verbs is a fundamental aspect of English grammar.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When using the past tense of "spend," be mindful of these common errors:

  • Using "spended": This is a frequent mistake because many verbs are regular. Always use "spent" for the simple past and past participle.
  • Confusing with present tense: Ensure you use "spends" only for the third-person singular present tense and "spent" for past actions.
  • Incorrect tense for ongoing actions: For actions that started in the past and continue into the present, or for perfect tenses, remember to use "spent" as the past participle with auxiliary verbs (e.g., has spent, had spent, will have spent).