Verbs are famously known to be divided into three different tense forms; present, past, and future. Let us see how a verb like “knit” fits and shifts form under these tenses.
“Knit” is a verb and it signifies a method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools. The verb “knit” in the past tense is called “knitted” and in the future tense it is called “will knit”.
The mentioned iterations of the tenses are just their basic forms, as the verb can be further conjugated depending on the type of sub-tense it is used in. Let us explore this further.
Knit in present tense
All verbs have conjugational forms in all three of the tenses. Let us take a deeper look into the present tense form of “knit” for now.
“Knit” is employed in its base form in the present tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools is happening during an ongoing time.
Another indicator of “knit” having been used in the present tense would be auxiliary verbs like ‘is’, ‘have’, ‘has’, ‘am’, ‘are’, etc.
When can “knit” be used in the present tense?
| Different Forms of Present Tense | When can “knit” be used in respective present tense forms? |
| 1. Simple Present Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in simple present tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools have taken place in the present. |
| 2. Present Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in the present continuous tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools is in the process of being taken place in the present. |
| 3. Present Perfect Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in the present perfect tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools has completely taken place in the present. |
| 4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in the present perfect continuous tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools have begun to take place in the past and continues to take place in the present. |
Examples of “knit” are used in different present-tense forms.
| Types of Present Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. Simple Present Tense | All the grandmas knit sweaters and scarves. | The simple present tense form of the verb “knit” has been used here, which in this case is the base form as well. The verb is a way to showcase the action that the subject performs over the object of the sentence, which is quite evident from the example over here. |
| 2. Present Continuous Tense | All the grandmas are knitting sweaters and scarves. | The auxiliary verb “are” presents itself as a signifier for the continued action that is taking place presently in the given example scenario. That and the ‘-ing’ suffix added to the main verb consequently puts “is knitting” under the present continuous tense form. |
| 3. Present Perfect Tense | All the grandmas have knit sweaters and scarves. | Now, in this sample sentence, the auxiliary verb ‘have’ showcases the present time and the ‘-ed’ suffix at the end of the verb makes it out to be in its past participle form, further signifying the completion of the action, thus making ‘have knitted’ a verb in the present perfect tense form. |
| 4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense | All the grandmas have been knitting sweaters. | The present perfect continuous tense form of “have been knitting” is a mixture of two previously mentioned tense forms which can be noted by the ‘-ing’ at the end of the main verb that showcases its continuous function and the modal verb ‘been’ placed before it that signifies the completion of the action. |
Knit in past tense
As is the case with all verbs, even a word like “knit” has a different conjugational structure in the past tense. Let us see how that works.
“Knit” is employed in the past tense in the form of “knitted”. In some cases of past tense, it may even remain put in the base form depending on context. When the creation of different garments with the help of this action happened in a time that passed by, it is considered to be past tense.
Another factor that showcases the past tense of verbs is auxiliary verbs like ‘had’, ‘were’, and ‘was’.
When can “knit” be used in the past tense?
| Different Forms of Past Tense | When can “knit” be used in respective past tense forms? |
| 1. Simple Past Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in the simple past tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools have taken place in the past. |
| 2. Past Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in past continuous tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools was in the process of being taken place in the past. |
| 3. Past Perfect Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in past perfect tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools has completely taken place in the past. |
| 4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in past perfect continuous tense the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools has begun to take place in the past and continued to take place in the past. |
Examples of “knit” are used in different past tense forms.
| Types of Past Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. Simple Past Tense | The students knitted some small and cute hand gloves. | The simple past tense form of the verb “knitted” has been used here, which in this case is the past participle form as it is in the past tense. The verb is a way to showcase the action that the subject performs over the object of the sentence, which is quite evident from the example over here. |
| 2. Past Continuous Tense | The students were knitting some small and cute hand gloves. | The auxiliary verb “were” presents itself as a signifier for the continued action that was taking place in the past in the given example scenario. That and the ‘-ing’ suffix added to the main verb consequently puts “were knitting” under the past continuous tense form. |
| 3. Past Perfect Tense | The students had knitted some small and cute hand gloves. | Now, in this sample sentence, the auxiliary verb ‘had’ showcases the past time and the ‘-ed’ suffix at the end of the verb makes it out to be in its past participle form, further signifying the completion of the action, thus making ‘had knitted’ a verb in the past perfect tense form. |
| 4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense | The students had been knitting some small and cute hand gloves. | The past perfect continuous tense form of “has been knitting” is a mixture of two previously mentioned tense forms which can be noted by the ‘-ing’ at the end of the main verb that showcases its continuous function and the modal verb ‘been’ placed before it that signifies the completion of the action. |
Knit in future tense
There are multiple ways to showcase “knit” in the future tense, especially with the help of modal verbs. Let us try to understand this further.
“Knit” is employed in future tense with the help of modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’ when the technique of creating different kinds of garments with the use of wool threads and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools will take place during a time that is yet to come.
When can “knit” be used in the future tense?
| Different Forms of Future Tense | When can “knit” be used in respective future tense forms? |
| 1. Simple Future Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in simple future tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools will take place in the future. |
| 2. Future Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in future continuous tense the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools will be in the process of taking place in the future. |
| 3. Future Perfect Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in future perfect tense when the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools will completely take place in the future. |
| 4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense | The verb “Knit” usually operates in future perfect continuous tense the method of making different kinds of garments using threads of wool and interlocking them with the aid of a machine or any other manual tools will have begun to take place in the future and continue to take place in the future itself. |
Examples of “knit” are used in different future tense forms.
| Types of Future Tense | Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. Simple Future Tense | We will knit some wool as a relaxation activity. | The simple future tense form of the verb “will knit” has been used here, which in this case uses the present participle of the verb. The verb is a way to showcase the action that the subject performs over the object of the sentence, which is quite evident from the example over here. The modal verb “will” makes any verb into its future tense form. |
| 2. Future Continuous Tense | We will be knitting some wool as a relaxation activity. | The auxiliary verb “will be” presents itself as a signifier for the continued action that is to take place in the future in the given example scenario. That and the ‘-ing’ suffix added to the main verb consequently puts “will be knitting” under the future continuous tense form. |
| 3. Future Perfect Tense | We will have knitted some wool as a relaxation activity. | Now, in this sample sentence, the auxiliary verb ‘have’ showcases a time in the future and the ‘-ed’ suffix at the end of the verb makes it out to be in its past participle form, further signifying the completion of the action, thus making ‘will have knitted’ a verb in the future perfect tense form. |
| 4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense | We will have been knitting some wool as a relaxation activity. | The future perfect continuous tense form of “will have been knitting” is a mixture of two previously mentioned tense forms which can be noted by the ‘-ing’ at the end of the main verb that showcases its continuous function and the modal verb ‘been’ placed before it that signifies the completion of the action. |
Conclusion
“Knit” the verb functions readily under all tense and sub-tense forms and also has specific conjugational properties that come with those forms.
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