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Remember this!

The past tense form of 'preen' is preened. Example: The bird preened its feathers after taking a bath. (The bird preened its feathers after taking a bath.)

Definition of “preen”

to groom or clean oneself, especially by smoothing feathers or fur
to devote effort to making oneself look attractive or impressive

Tense sentence structure and examples:

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

Here are the general structures of a present and past participle. Remember, some verbs have an irregular form and may not follow this structure: Present Participle: [Verb] -ing Past Participle: [Verb] -ed

Past Simple	preened
Past Continuous	preening
Past Perfect	preened

Past Simple

The simple past tense is used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past.

Subject + Past Simple Verb + (Object)

Example

The cat preened its fur after grooming.

Example

They preened themselves before the party.

Past Continuous

The past continuous tense is used to indicate actions or events that were in progress or happening at a specific point in the past.

Subject + was/were + Present Participle + (Object)

Example

The peacock was preening its feathers to attract a mate.

Example

I wasn't preening myself excessively, just trying to look presentable.

Past Perfect

The past perfect tense is used to show that one past action or event occurred before another past action or event, emphasizing the order of events in the past.

Subject + had + Past Participle + (Object)

Example

By the time she arrived, she had preened herself to perfection.

Example

He had preened his appearance before the important meeting.

Is preened an irregular verb in the past?

No, "preened" is not an irregular past tense verb.

Learn More About Tenses

Discover the present tense of preen!

Discover the future tense of preen!