The reader also asked about the past forms of ring (as in “to ring a bell”) stink, and hang. We have sung all the songs from Fiddler on the Roof. Nevertheless, writers who wish to be taken seriously are advised to limit sung to the past participle: Playing Didymus, Cole sung an aria about strength.-Australian ABC.net, 2013. With the short concert they did with the different Davao choir groups, I was hooked when the group sung St Francis Prayer.-Sun Star (Philippines), 2013. sung a version of Chim Chim Cher-ee at the event at London’s Southbank centre.-Metro (UK), 2007. Andrews read aloud a transcribed version of the title in English.-US high school newspaper, 2005. To the dismay of writers who (like me) insist that sang is the only acceptable past form of sing, the old form continues to linger in published sources:Ĭhamber choir sung a classical Latin narrative poem by the Roman poet Ovid, titled “Metamorphosis” right after Dr. M-W: sing, past tense: sang, sung past participle: sung. OED: sing, past tense: sang, sung past participle: sung. As late as 1836, sang was still less in use than sung.Īlthough some style guides make a point of noting that “in modern usage, the simple past of sing is sang,” both the OED and Merriam-Webster include sung as an alternative past form: Sung was the usual form of the past tense in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nearly 90 years ago, Fowler ( Modern English Usage) and the OED observed that although sung had formerly been the simple past of sing, “recent usage” favored sang. The use of sung as the simple past of sing is not a modern aberration. But many poor benighted souls seem to be under the misapprehension that the simple past is sung.-American fiction writer.ĭoes any reputable or mainstream source on English accept sung as the regular past tense of sang? I can’t think why they would print such a thing.-DWT reader. Yes, there are still people in the world who know, and practice the knowledge that the simple past tense of sing is sang. It’s possible, but speakers who do so may find themselves the target of such comments as these: For example, is it possible to say “He sung tenor with the choir”? A reader wonders if the verbs rung, sung, hung, stunk and “their ilk” can ever be used without a helping verb.
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