Hold can mean support something in your hands or keep it in a particular position.
The idea
Say hold a bag, hold the door open or hold the paper steady. The past and past participle are held.
Examples
- Please hold my bag for a moment.
- She held the cup in both hands.
- Can you hold the door open?
- He held the paper steady while I wrote.
- They held hands as they crossed the street.
- I held the box while she found the key.
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Watch out
Hold does not by itself say that the object is being carried to another place.
Try it yourself
Choose the past form. Yesterday she ___ the cup in both hands. (held / holded)
Show answer or example answer
held
The past form of hold is held.
Choose the position maintained. Please hold the door ___ so I can walk through. (open / closed)
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open
Open names the position maintained for the door.
Decide what holding alone proves. I held the box. Does that alone prove I carried it elsewhere? (no / yes)
Show answer or example answer
no
Holding the box alone does not establish that it was moved.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the past form. Yesterday she ___ the cup in both hands. (held / holded)
Choose the position maintained. Please hold the door ___ so I can walk through. (open / closed)
Decide what holding alone proves. I held the box. Does that alone prove I carried it elsewhere? (no / yes)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something you held and explain whether you kept it still or moved it.