In English grammar, the past participle is a verb form that is often used to create the past perfect tense or the passive voice. The past participle is formed by adding “-ed,” “-d,” or “-t” to the base form of the verb, depending on the spelling and pronunciation of the verb. The past participle is also known as the V3 form of the verb because it is the third form of the verb.
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. It is formed by combining “had” with the past participle of the verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.”
The passive voice is used to describe an action that is performed on the subject of the sentence, rather than by the subject. It is formed by using a form of “to be” with the past participle of the verb. For example, “The book was written by Jane Austen.”
The verb “take” is a good example of a verb that takes on the V3 form. The base form of “take” is “take,” the past tense form is “took,” and the past participle form is “taken.”
TAKE verb forms
| Infinitive | Past Tense | Past Participle |
| Take /teɪk/ | Took / tʊk/ | Taken / teɪkən |
Here are some examples of sentences using “take” in the correct V3 form:
- The medicine must be taken before bedtime. (passive voice)
- He has taken the dog for a walk every morning this week. (present perfect tense)
- She had taken the cookies out of the oven before they burned. (past perfect tense)
- The company has taken measures to reduce waste. (present perfect tense)
- He was taken aback by her sudden announcement. (passive voice)
- The train had already taken off by the time we arrived at the station. (past perfect tense)
- The doctor advised her to take the medicine for two weeks. (active voice)
- The movie has taken the world by storm. (present perfect tense)
- The students were taken on a field trip to the science museum. (passive voice)
- She had taken a nap before the guests arrived for dinner. (past perfect tense)
As you can see, the V3 form of “take” can be used in a variety of tenses and in both the active and passive voice. It is an essential component of the English language, and understanding how to use it correctly is crucial for effective communication. By mastering the past participle and its various forms, including the past perfect tense and the passive voice, you can express complex ideas and convey information with precision and clarity.