Meaning & use
sang
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“sang” is a form of “sing”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
The past tense of sing: made music with the voice, using words or a tune.
Grammar: Past tense only; the past participle is sung: she sang yesterday, but she has sung before.
Patterns
- sang something
- sang to someone
- sang about something
She sang a lullaby to the baby.
The whole stadium sang along with the band.
He sang in the shower every morning.
verbintransitive
Past tense of sing when it means to make pleasant musical sounds, as birds do.
Grammar: No object; the subject is often a bird: the birds sang.
Patterns
- birds sang
Birds sang outside the window at dawn.
A kettle sang quietly on the stove.
Word forms
| base form | sing |
|---|---|
| past participle | sung |
| -ing form | singing |
Common combinations
- sang a song
- The children sang a song about spring.
- sang along
- Everyone sang along to the chorus.
- sang out of tune
- He sang out of tune but with great joy.
- sang to
- She sang to her grandmother in the hospital.
- sang in a choir
- My aunt sang in a choir for forty years.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: sang or sung?
sang vs sung
Sung is the past participle and needs has, have, or had: she has sung. Sang is the simple past without a helper: she sang.
Practice
Choose the correct form: Last night the choir ____ a beautiful hymn.
Choose one answer.
Last night needs the simple past, which is sang. Sung needs a helping verb such as had, and singed is a different verb meaning slightly burned.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sang”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.