The past tense of “sweep” is “swept”. “Swept” is an irregular verb form, as it doesn’t follow the standard rule of adding “-ed” to form the past tense.
Yet, “swept” can also be used as the past participle form of “sweep,” which is often used in perfect tenses (e.g., “have swept,” “had swept”).
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What Is Meant By Swept?
When you use the word “swept,” you’re talking about something that happened in the past. It’s the past tense of the verb “sweep.”
Literally, “swept” means to clean something, like a floor or a yard, using a broom or brush. For example, “She swept the floor clean” means she used a broom to remove dirt and debris from the floor.
But “swept” can also be used more figuratively. Figuratively, “swept” can mean to be carried away or overwhelmed by something.
Let’s say, “He was swept off his feet by her beauty” which means he was so impressed by her beauty that he felt a strong emotion, like love or admiration.
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How Do You Use The Past Tense Of “Sweep” In A Sentence?
The past tense of “sweep” can be used in different ways In a sentence: You can use “swept” to describe a cleaning action:
- She swept the kitchen floor after dinner.
- The janitor swept the entire school building.
- He swept the leaves off the driveway.
- The baker swept the flour off the counter.
- She swept the crumbs into the dustpan and emptied it.
- Every morning, she swept the porch before breakfast.
- He swept the sidewalk with a broom.
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Also, you can use “swept” to describe a forceful movement:
- Strong wind swept through the trees.
- Floodwaters swept away the bridge.
- Wildfire swept across the forest.
- The crowd swept into the stadium.
- A car swept around the corner.
- Sadness swept over him.
- Thought swept through her mind.
In a more figurative sense, “swept” can be used to describe a strong emotional reaction or a sudden feeling:
- He was swept off his feet by her charm.
- She was swept up in the excitement of the moment.
- Fear swept through the town.
- Inspiration swept over the artist.
- A feeling of joy swept through her.
- Grief swept over the family.
- Anger swept over him.
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Are There Other Verb Forms For “Sweep”?
Yes, there are other verb forms for “sweep.” Let’s take a look at the most common ones:
| Verb Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Base Form (Infinitive) | Sweep the floor. |
| Present Participle (Gerund or Present Tense) | She is sweeping the leaves. |
| Past Tense | He swept the crumbs. |
| Past Participle (Perfect Tense) | The floor has been swept clean. |
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The base form is the simplest form of the verb. You can use it with auxiliary verbs like “to” or “will.” For example: “I will sweep the floor later.”
Present Participle is used to describe an action that is happening now, which often ends in “-ing.” For example: “She is sweeping the leaves right now.”
Past Tense is used to describe an action that happened in the past. As we’ve learned, the past tense of “sweep” is “swept.” Let’s take for instance: “He swept the floor yesterday.”
Past Participle describes a completed action, which is used with auxiliary verbs like “have” or “had.” Example: “The floor has been swept clean.”