Spit, Spat, or Spitten? Mastering the Past Tense of ‘Spit’
The English language, with its rich history and diverse influences, often presents tricky verb conjugations. One such verb is “spit,” and determining its correct past tense form can be surprisingly challenging. Is it “spat,” “spit,” or even “spitten”? Understanding the nuances of irregular verbs and their variations is crucial for clear and accurate communication. This article will delve into the intricacies of the verb “spit,” exploring its various forms, usage rules, common mistakes, and providing ample examples and practice exercises to solidify your understanding. Whether you are an ESL learner, a student preparing for an exam, or simply someone who wants to refine their grammar skills, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to confidently use the past tense of “spit.”
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of ‘Spit’
- Structural Breakdown: Verb Conjugation
- Types and Categories of Verb Forms
- Examples of ‘Spit’ in Different Tenses
- Usage Rules and Guidelines
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics: Regional Variations and Idiomatic Expressions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition of ‘Spit’
The verb “spit” refers to the act of ejecting saliva or other substances forcibly from the mouth. It can be used in various contexts, ranging from simple bodily functions to expressing contempt or disgust. Understanding its different forms and usages is essential for effective communication.
Classification: “Spit” is primarily a verb, indicating an action. However, it can also function as a noun, referring to the saliva itself (e.g., “a wad of spit”).
Function: As a verb, “spit” describes the action of expelling something from the mouth. It can be transitive (taking a direct object, e.g., “He spit out the gum”) or intransitive (not taking a direct object, e.g., “He spit on the ground”).
Contexts: The word “spit” can be used in a wide range of contexts, including:
- Describing a physical action: “The baby spit up her milk.”
- Expressing disgust or contempt: “He spit on the floor in anger.”
- Describing a sound: “The cat spit and hissed.”
- In figurative language: “The volcano spit out lava.”
Structural Breakdown: Verb Conjugation
Understanding verb conjugation is fundamental to mastering the past tense of “spit.” Conjugation refers to the process of changing the form of a verb to indicate tense, person, number, and mood.
The verb “spit” is considered an irregular verb because its past tense and past participle forms do not follow the standard “-ed” rule. Instead, it has two common past tense forms: “spit” and “spat,” and a past participle that can be either “spit” or “spitten” (though “spitten” is less common and often considered archaic).
Here’s a breakdown of the basic forms:
- Base Form: spit
- Present Tense: spit (spits in the third person singular)
- Past Tense: spit / spat
- Past Participle: spit / spitten (less common)
- Present Participle: spitting
Types and Categories of Verb Forms
Base Form
The base form of the verb is “spit.” This is the form found in the dictionary and is used in the infinitive (e.g., “to spit”) and in the present tense (except for the third person singular).
Example: “I spit out the bad taste.”
Present Tense
The present tense form is “spit” for most subjects and “spits” for the third person singular (he, she, it).
Examples:
- “I spit when I brush my teeth.”
- “You spit after using mouthwash.”
- “He spits when he talks too fast.”
- “She spits out the seeds.”
- “It spits rain occasionally.”
- “We spit out the gum.”
- “They spit on the ground.”
Past Tense: Spit vs. Spat
The past tense of “spit” can be either “spit” or “spat.” While both are considered correct, “spat” is generally more common, especially in formal writing. “Spit” as the past tense is frequently used in informal speech.
Examples:
- “He spit out the watermelon seed.” (informal)
- “She spat out the bitter medicine.” (more formal)
Past Participle
The past participle of “spit” is “spit” or “spitten.” “Spitten,” however, is archaic and rarely used in modern English. “Spit” is much more common and generally preferred.
Examples:
- “He has spit on the sidewalk before.”
- “The cat had spit up a hairball.”
Present Participle
The present participle of “spit” is “spitting.” It is formed by adding “-ing” to the base form and is used in continuous tenses (e.g., “is spitting,” “was spitting”).
Examples:
- “He is spitting out his gum.”
- “She was spitting watermelon seeds.”
Examples of ‘Spit’ in Different Tenses
To further illustrate the usage of “spit” in different tenses, consider the following examples:
Table 1: Present Tense Examples
The table below illustrates the use of “spit” in the present tense, showcasing variations with different subjects and contexts.
| Subject | Sentence |
|---|---|
| I | I always spit after brushing my teeth. |
| You | You spit when you talk too fast. |
| He | He spits out his gum in the trash can. |
| She | She spits the seeds from the grapes. |
| It | It spits rain for a few minutes and then stops. |
| We | We spit out the toothpaste after rinsing. |
| They | They spit on the ground, which is considered rude. |
| The baby | The baby spits up milk after feeding sometimes. |
| The cat | The cat spits when it feels threatened. |
| The volcano | The volcano spits lava and ash into the sky. |
| The actor | The actor spits out his lines with passion. |
| The rapper | The rapper spits rhymes with incredible speed. |
| The chef | The chef spits wine into a bucket while tasting. |
| The athlete | The athlete spits on the field during the game. |
| The llama | The llama spits when it’s annoyed. |
| My brother | My brother spits when he gets nervous. |
| Our dog | Our dog spits up grass sometimes. |
| The fountain | The fountain spits water into the air. |
| The machine | The machine spits out coins. |
| The printer | The printer spits out the document. |
| The singer | The singer spits out high notes. |
| The storyteller | The storyteller spits out tales of adventure. |
| The robot | The robot spits out the answer. |
Table 2: Past Tense Examples (Spit vs. Spat)
This table showcases the use of both “spit” and “spat” in the past tense, highlighting the contexts where each might be preferred.
| Sentence (Spit) | Sentence (Spat) |
|---|---|
| He spit the gum out the window. | He spat the gum out the window. |
| She spit out the seeds. | She spat out the seeds. |
| The baby spit up after feeding. | The baby spat up after feeding. |
| The cat spit when I tried to pet it. | The cat spat when I tried to pet it. |
| The angry man spit on the ground. | The angry man spat on the ground. |
| The volcano spit lava and ash. | The volcano spat lava and ash. |
| The actor spit his lines with venom. | The actor spat his lines with venom. |
| The llama spit at the tourists. | The llama spat at the tourists. |
| The machine spit out the ticket. | The machine spat out the ticket. |
| I spit out the bad-tasting medicine. | I spat out the bad-tasting medicine. |
| You spit on my new shoes! | You spat on my new shoes! |
| We spit out the watermelon seeds during the contest. | We spat out the watermelon seeds during the contest. |
| They spit at the opposing team. | They spat at the opposing team. |
| The dragon spit fire. | The dragon spat fire. |
| The oil well spit black crude for days. | The oil well spat black crude for days. |
| The old engine spit and sputtered. | The old engine spat and sputtered. |
| The geyser spit hot water high into the air. | The geyser spat hot water high into the air. |
| The printer spit out a blank page. | The printer spat out a blank page. |
| The angry crowd spit insults at the politician. | The angry crowd spat insults at the politician. |
| The child spit his food onto the floor. | The child spat his food onto the floor. |
Table 3: Past Participle Examples
This table demonstrates the use of “spit” as the past participle, usually in conjunction with auxiliary verbs like “has,” “have,” or “had.” “Spitten” is included for comparison, though it’s rarely used.
| Sentence (Spit) | Sentence (Spitten) |
|---|---|
| He has spit on the sidewalk before. | He has spitten on the sidewalk before. (archaic) |
| She had spit out all the gum. | She had spitten out all the gum. (archaic) |
| The baby has spit up three times today. | The baby has spitten up three times today. (archaic) |
| The cat had spit a hairball on the rug. | The cat had spitten a hairball on the rug. (archaic) |
| They have spit on the idea of compromise. | They have spitten on the idea of compromise. (archaic) |
| The volcano has spit ash for days. | The volcano has spitten ash for days. (archaic) |
| I have spit out that lie so many times I almost believe it. | I have spitten out that lie so many times I almost believe it. (archaic) |
| You have spit on our agreement! | You have spitten on our agreement! (archaic) |
| We have spit out the truth, no matter the cost. | We have spitten out the truth, no matter the cost. (archaic) |
| The angry mob has spit insults at the police. | The angry mob has spitten insults at the police. (archaic) |
| He had spit the venom from his heart. | He had spitten the venom from his heart. (archaic) |
| She has spit on the memory of our ancestors. | She has spitten on the memory of our ancestors. (archaic) |
| It has spit out all the coins. | It has spitten out all the coins. (archaic) |
| The engine had spit and died. | The engine had spitten and died. (archaic) |
| The geyser has spit water for centuries. | The geyser has spitten water for centuries. (archaic) |
| The computer has spit out the error message again. | The computer has spitten out the error message again. (archaic) |
| The child had spit his dummy out of the pram | The child had spitten his dummy out of the pram (archaic) |
Table 4: Present Participle Examples
This table provides examples of “spitting” used in the present participle form, which indicates an ongoing action.
| Sentence |
|---|
| He is spitting out his chewing gum. |
| She was spitting watermelon seeds into the garden. |
| The baby is spitting up her formula. |
| The cat is spitting because it’s trying to get rid of a hairball. |
| The angry protesters are spitting insults at the police. |
| The volcano is spitting ash and smoke into the air. |
| The rapper is spitting rhymes at an incredible pace. |
| The llama is spitting as a defense mechanism. |
| The old car was spitting oil. |
| I am spitting out the truth, no matter the consequences. |
| You are spitting on your own reputation. |
| We are spitting out the bad memories. |
| They are spitting on the traditions of the past. |
| The dragon is spitting fire at the knights. |
| The old engine is spitting and sputtering. |
| The geyser is spitting water high into the sky. |
| The computer is spitting out error messages. |
| The child is spitting his food out. |
| The actor is spitting his lines with fury. |
| The machine is spitting out faulty products. |
Usage Rules and Guidelines
While both “spit” and “spat” are acceptable as the past tense of “spit,” there are some subtle nuances to consider:
- Formality: “Spat” is generally considered more formal and is often preferred in written English. “Spit” is more common in informal speech.
- Regional Variations: Usage can also vary by region. In some areas, “spat” might be more prevalent, while in others, “spit” might be the more common choice.
- Past Participle: While “spitten” exists as a past participle, it is rarely used in modern English. “Spit” is the standard past participle form.
Key Takeaway: When in doubt, “spat” is a safe and grammatically correct choice for the past tense. For the past participle, “spit” is the preferred form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the verb “spit”:
Table 5: Correct vs. Incorrect Examples
This table highlights common errors made when using the verb “spit” and provides the corrected versions.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He spitted on the ground. | He spat on the ground. / He spit on the ground. | “Spitted” is not a standard past tense form. |
| She has spatten the medicine out. | She has spit the medicine out. | “Spatten” is not a standard past participle form. |
| I spit yesterday. | I spat yesterday. / I spit yesterday. | Both “spat” and “spit” are acceptable past tense forms, but “spitted” is not. |
| They are spiting. | They are spitting. | The correct present participle is “spitting,” not “spiting.” |
| He spited out the apple. | He spit out the apple. / He spat out the apple. | “Spited” is not a standard past tense form of “spit.” |
| She has spit on. | She has spit. | The word “on” is redundant. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of the verb “spit” with these practice exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Past Tense)
Fill in the blanks with the correct past tense form of “spit” (either “spit” or “spat”).
Table 6: Practice Exercise 1
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. He ______ the gum into the trash can. | spat / spit |
| 2. She ______ out the bad-tasting medicine. | spat / spit |
| 3. The baby ______ up her milk after the feeding. | spat / spit |
| 4. The cat ______ when I tried to pick it up. | spat / spit |
| 5. The angry man ______ on the sidewalk. | spat / spit |
| 6. The volcano ______ lava and ash into the air. | spat / spit |
| 7. I ______ the watermelon seeds into the garden. | spat / spit |
| 8. You ______ on my shoes! | spat / spit |
| 9. We ______ out the toothpaste after brushing. | spat / spit |
| 10. They ______ at the opposing team during the game. | spat / spit |
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Form
Choose the correct form of the verb “spit” in each sentence.
Table 7: Practice Exercise 2
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. He has ______ on the ground before. | a) spit b) spat c) spitten | a) spit |
| 2. She is ______ out the seeds. | a) spit b) spitting c) spat | b) spitting |
| 3. I always ______ after brushing my teeth. | a) spit b) spits c) spat | a) spit |
| 4. The cat ______ when it feels threatened. | a) spit b) spits c) spat | b) spits |
| 5. They ______ on the agreement. | a) spit b) spat c) spitted | b) spat / a) spit |
| 6. The machine ______ out the coins. | a) spit b) spits c) spat | c) spat / a) spit |
| 7. I ______ out that awful drink | a) spit b) spits c) spat | c) spat / a) spit |
| 8. You are ______ lies! | a) spit b) spits c) spitting | c) spitting |
| 9. We ______ out the horrible taste. | a) spit b) spits c) spat | c) spat / a) spit |
| 10. The baby ______ her food up. | a) spit b) spits c) spat | c) spat / a) spit |
Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentences (Using “Spat”)
Rewrite the following sentences, replacing “spit” with “spat” where appropriate.
Table 8: Practice Exercise 3
| Original Sentence | Rewritten Sentence |
|---|---|
| He spit out the watermelon seed. | He spat out the watermelon seed. |
| She spit on the floor in anger. | She spat on the floor in anger. |
| The baby spit up after drinking her milk. | The baby spat up after drinking her milk. |
| The cat spit when I tried to give it a bath. | The cat spat when I tried to give it a bath. |
| The volcano spit lava and ash into the sky. | The volcano spat lava and ash into the sky. |
| I spit the gum into the bin. | I spat the gum into the bin. |
| You spit all over my carpet! | You spat all over my carpet! |
| We spit when we are brushing our teeth. | We spat when we were brushing our teeth. |
| They spit at the opposition supporters. | They spat at the opposition supporters. |
Advanced Topics: Regional Variations and Idiomatic Expressions
Beyond the basic rules, understanding regional variations and idiomatic expressions can further enhance your mastery of the verb “spit.”
Regional Variations: As mentioned earlier, the preference for “spit” or “spat” can vary by region. While “spat” is generally considered more formal, “spit” might be more common in certain dialects.
Idiomatic Expressions: “Spit” appears in several idiomatic expressions, such as:
- Spit it out: To say something quickly or directly, often when someone is hesitant. Example: “Come on, spit it out! What’s bothering you?”
- Spitting image: To closely resemble someone, especially a parent. Example: “He is the spitting image of his father.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the verb “spit”:
- Is “spitten” a correct past participle of “spit”?
While “spitten” is technically a past participle of “spit,” it is considered archaic and is rarely used in modern English. “Spit” is the preferred past participle form.
- Is it better to use “spit” or “spat” in writing?
“Spat” is generally considered more formal and is often preferred in written English. However, “spit” is also acceptable, especially in informal writing.
- Can “spit” be used as a noun?
Yes, “spit” can be used as a noun, referring to saliva or the act of spitting. For example, “There was a wad of spit on the floor.”
- What is the present participle of “spit”?
The present participle of “spit” is “spitting.” It is used in continuous tenses, such as “He is spitting out his gum.”
- Is it rude to spit in public?
Yes, spitting in public is generally considered rude and unsanitary in most cultures. There may be local laws or regulations against it as well.
- What does “spit it out” mean?
“Spit it out” is an idiom that means to say something quickly and directly, often when someone is hesitant or reluctant to speak. It implies that the person should get to the point without delay.
- What does “spitting image” mean?
“Spitting image” is an idiom used to describe someone who closely resembles another person, especially a parent. It means that the person looks almost exactly like the other person.
Conclusion
Mastering the verb “spit” and its various forms, particularly the past tense, requires understanding the nuances of irregular verbs and their variations. While both “spit” and “spat” are acceptable as the past tense, “spat” is generally considered more formal. “Spitten” as a past participle is archaic and should be avoided in modern English. By understanding the usage rules, avoiding common mistakes, and practicing with the exercises provided, you can confidently and accurately use the verb “spit” in your writing and speech.
Remember to pay attention to context, formality, and regional variations to make the most appropriate choice. With continued practice and attention to detail, you can further refine your grammar skills and communicate effectively in any situation. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll master even the trickiest verbs in the English language!
