SUNK and SANK?
Does anyone have examples of the correct usage, in UK English please, not US
2006-12-30 23:13:38 · 13 answers · asked by ROMFT 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"sank" is the preterite, or past simple tense. e.g. "i sank".
"sunk" is the passive participle, which is used to form past perfect tenses (e.g. i have sunk, i had sunk etc.) and the passive (e.g. the ship was sunk).
the sequence "sink, sank, sunk" concerning the verb "to sink" corresponds to "go, went, gone" concerning the verb "to go". (sequences like this are how foreign students learning english learn irregular verbs).
i think the difference between the US and the UK english is that the US uses sunk for both? not sure...
2006-12-30 23:25:19 · answer #1 · answered by zeiburakathau 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
According to the synonyms function of Microsoft Word, sunk describes an emotion or state, e.g 'his emotions sunk' 'his business was sunk', and sank is the past participle for 'sink', which means to go down. Sink can also be a bowl type thing for holding water :-P
2006-12-31 08:08:16 · answer #2 · answered by generic_cyberperson 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sunk and Sank are both the past tense of the verb to sink. Eg The torpedo hit the boat and sank it - equally correct is - the torpedo hit the boat and sunk it.
Sunk is also used as an adjective - eg the sunken bath is a bath that is stepped into and is burried within the floor rather than standing on it.
hope this is clear.
2006-12-31 07:22:20 · answer #3 · answered by Star 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
present time: sink
past time: sank
past participle/ passive verb: sunk
Present time: The boat sinks in the sea/ the boat is sinking in the sea.
Past time: The boat sank in the sea/ the boat was sinking in the sea.
Present participle: The boat has sunk in the sea.
Past participle: The boat had sunk in the sea.
Passive verb: The boat was sunk by hurricane while it sailed/ My love had sunk when she left me.
I hope it's right.
2006-12-31 07:33:18 · answer #4 · answered by eddy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
my understanding is you use Sunk when refering to the 1st person e.g. I am sunk. Sank is used for the 3rd person, ie the boat sank.
2006-12-31 07:19:34 · answer #5 · answered by prof_g_whizz 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i have sunk a boat
the boat sank
2006-12-31 07:15:19 · answer #6 · answered by Snot Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ship sank
The ship has sunk The latter is the perfect tense.
2006-12-31 08:18:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunk is only used with have or had.
Sank is never used with have or had.
You would n't say I have came either.
2006-12-31 10:04:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The boat had sunk.
The boat sank.
To my knowledge they are both used same way in english of UK/USA.
The only difference in two english is of vocublary , they can have different spellings for one same word with same meeings.
2006-12-31 07:18:52 · answer #9 · answered by Sonu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the boat SANK
i SUNK the boat....
not much of a difference if u may c
2006-12-31 07:24:22 · answer #10 · answered by shanthicharuvil 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋