This verb describes moving through water.

The idea

Use swim in the present, swam in the simple past and swum after have or has.

Examples

  • I swim in the pool on Tuesdays.
  • She swims in the sea every summer.
  • We swam across the river yesterday.
  • The duck swam near the boat.
  • He has swum in this lake before.
  • Can the children swim here?

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Watch out

Do not use swum alone for a finished past event: say swam.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form. Fish ___ in this pond. (swim / swam)

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    swim

    swim: The plural subject takes the base form.

  2. Choose the correct form. Last week she ___ in the sea. (swam / swum)

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    swam

    swam: Last week calls for the simple past.

  3. Choose the correct form. They have ___ in the pool before. (swum / swam)

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    swum

    swum: The auxiliary makes the past participle necessary.

Use it today

Describe where you swim and where you have swum.