Meaning & use
past tense of partake
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Meaning
phraseformalold-fashioned
The form of the verb 'partake' used for the past tense: 'partook'.
Grammar: Use 'partook' for the simple past, and 'partaken' as the past participle after 'have'.
Patterns
- partook of something
- partook in something
She partook of the meal with great enthusiasm.
They partook in the ceremony last spring.
He has partaken in many such events over the years.
Common combinations
- partook of a meal
- The guests partook of a simple but delicious meal.
- partook in an activity
- Several students partook in the debate competition.
- have partaken
- I have never partaken in that tradition.
Synonyms and how they differ
- took part
- Much more common in everyday English and used for activities, not food or drink.
- participated
- Formal but still current; it fits official or academic contexts better than 'partook'.
Word family
Commonly confused: past tense of partake or partook? past tense of partake or partaken?
past tense of partake vs partook
This is the answer itself: the simple past tense of 'partake'.
past tense of partake vs partaken
This is the past participle, not the simple past. Use it after 'have': 'has partaken', not 'partaken yesterday'.
Practice
Last year she _____ in the town's New Year celebration for the first time.
Choose one answer.
The sentence is about last year, so we need the simple past tense 'partook'. 'Partaken' is the past participle and needs 'have' before it; 'partakes' is present tense; 'partaking' is the -ing form and cannot stand alone as the main verb here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “past tense of partake”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.