Cost is a common verb in the English language that is often used to describe the price of something. When using the past tense of cost, it’s important to understand the different forms and how they are used in context. In this article, we will explore the past tense of cost in detail and provide examples to help you better understand its usage.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner of English grammar, understanding the past tense of cost is essential for effective communication. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the different forms of the past tense of cost and provide examples to help you master this important aspect of the English language.
Past Tense of Cost
Past Tense of Cost
In English grammar, the past tense of “cost” is “cost.” This means that the word remains the same in both present and past tense forms. However, we can indicate the past tense by adding a helping verb or auxiliary verb like “did” or “had.”
Here are some examples:
- Present tense: The shirt costs $20.
- Past tense: The shirt did cost $20.
- Past perfect tense: The shirt had cost $20.
It’s important to note that “did” is used in questions and negative statements, while “had” is used in positive statements.
Here are some more examples:
- Present tense: The movie tickets cost $10 each.
- Past tense: The movie tickets did cost $10 each.
- Past perfect tense: The movie tickets had cost $10 each.
In addition, we can use “costed” as a past tense form of “cost,” but it’s considered non-standard and should be avoided in formal writing.
To summarize, the past tense of “cost” is “cost,” but we can use helping verbs like “did” or “had” to indicate the past tense. “Costed” is a non-standard past tense form of “cost.”
The Verb ‘Cost’
In English, the verb ‘cost’ is used to express the price of something. It is an irregular verb, which means that it does not follow the regular conjugation patterns of most verbs. In this section, we will explore the different forms of the verb ‘cost’ in the past tense.
Past Tense of ‘Cost’
The past tense of ‘cost’ is ‘cost’. This means that the verb does not change its form in the past tense. For example:
- The dress cost $50 yesterday.
- The shoes cost me a lot of money.
As you can see, the past tense of ‘cost’ is the same as the base form of the verb. This makes it easy to use in sentences.
Using ‘Cost’ in the Past Tense
When using ‘cost’ in the past tense, it is important to remember that it is an irregular verb. This means that it does not follow the regular -ed ending pattern of most verbs. For example:
- Incorrect: The car breaked down on the highway.
- Correct: The car broke down on the highway.
- Incorrect: The book costed me $20.
- Correct: The book cost me $20.
As you can see, using the correct form of the verb is important for clear communication.
Examples
Here are some more examples of the past tense of ‘cost’ in action:
- The concert tickets cost $100 last week.
- The hotel room cost us a fortune.
- The repairs on the car cost more than expected.
- The meal at the restaurant cost a lot, but it was worth it.
Exercises
Here are some exercises to help you practice using the past tense of ‘cost’:
- How much did the movie ticket ____ yesterday? (cost)
- The vacation ____ a lot of money. (cost)
- The new phone ____ too much. (cost)
- The repairs on the house ____ more than expected. (cost)
Answers: 1. cost 2. cost 3. cost 4. cost
Usage in Sentences
When using the past tense of “cost,” it is important to understand how to use it in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.
Affirmative Sentences
In affirmative sentences, we use the past tense of “cost” to describe the price of something in the past. For example:
- The concert tickets cost $50 last week.
- The dress I bought yesterday cost me $100.
- The car repair cost us a lot of money.
Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, we use “did not” or “didn’t” before the base form of “cost” to indicate that something did not have a certain price in the past. For example:
- The shoes I wanted to buy didn’t cost as much as I thought.
- We didn’t spend a lot of money on dinner last night.
- I did not realize how much the hotel room cost until I checked out.
Interrogative Sentences
In interrogative sentences, we use the past tense of “cost” to ask about the price of something in the past. We can use “did” before the subject, or invert the subject and auxiliary verb. For example:
- Did the movie tickets cost a lot?
- How much did the new laptop cost?
- Was the concert expensive?
It is important to note that the past tense of “cost” is irregular and does not follow the typical -ed ending for regular past tense verbs.
Practice using the past tense of “cost” in different sentence structures to improve your grammar skills.
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes that English learners make is using the incorrect past tense of “cost.” While it may seem like a simple verb, the past tense of “cost” can be a bit tricky. In this section, we will go over some common mistakes that learners make and how to avoid them.
Using “Costed” Instead of “Cost”
One mistake that learners often make is using “costed” instead of “cost” as the past tense of “cost.” However, “costed” is not a correct form of the past tense of “cost.” The correct past tense of “cost” is simply “cost.”
Incorrect: The shirt costed $20 yesterday.
Correct: The shirt cost $20 yesterday.
Using “Cost” Instead of “Costed”
On the other hand, some learners make the mistake of using “cost” instead of “costed” as the past participle of “cost.” While “cost” can be used as a past participle in some cases, it is not the correct form of the past participle of “cost.”
Incorrect: I have cost a lot of money on this trip.
Correct: I have spent a lot of money on this trip.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your English grammar and communicate more effectively. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed!
Practice Exercises
Now that we’ve covered the past tense of cost, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice. In this section, we’ll provide you with some exercises to help you solidify your understanding of the past tense of cost.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
Complete the following sentences with the correct past tense form of cost.
- The new car ________ a lot of money.
- How much ________ those shoes?
- The repairs ________ more than we expected.
- The concert tickets ________ $50 each.
- The hotel room ________ $200 a night.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences in the past tense.
- The dress costs $100.
- The plane ticket costs $500.
- The meal at the restaurant costs $50.
- The movie ticket costs $10.
- The book costs $20.
Remember to practice using the past tense of cost in your everyday conversations and writing. The more you use it, the more natural it will become.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the past tense of cost?
The past tense of cost is ‘cost’.
How do you form the past tense of cost?
To form the past tense of cost, you simply use ‘cost’ without adding any suffixes or prefixes.
What are the second and third forms of cost?
The second form of cost is ‘cost’ and the third form of cost is ‘cost’.
What is the correct way to use cost in the past tense?
The correct way to use cost in the past tense is to simply use ‘cost’ without adding any suffixes or prefixes. For example, “The shirt cost $10 yesterday.”
Why is ‘costed’ sometimes used instead of ‘cost’ in the past tense?
Although ‘costed’ is sometimes used instead of ‘cost’ in the past tense, it is not considered standard English. It is more commonly used in British English than American English.
What are the three forms of the verb ‘cost’?
The three forms of the verb ‘cost’ are cost (present tense), cost (past tense), and cost (past participle).
It’s important to note that the verb ‘cost’ is an irregular verb, meaning it does not follow the typical pattern of adding ‘-ed’ to form the past tense.