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Remember this!
The past tense form of 'sink' is sank or sunk. Example: The ship sank to the bottom of the ocean. (The ship sank to the bottom of the ocean.)
Definition of “sink/sinks”
- to descend or go below the surface of a liquid
- to become lower or decrease in value, quality, or status
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 | sank/sunk |
| Past Continuous | sinking |
| Past Perfect | sunk |
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
She sank the ship with her torpedo.
Example
He sunk his hopes of winning the race.
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 Titanic was sinking slowly into the icy waters.
Example
I was sinking deeper into debt.
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 they arrived, the ship had sunk completely.
Example
She had sunk all her savings into the business.
Is sank/sunk an irregular verb in the past?
Yes, "sank/sunk" is an irregular past tense verb.
