Have you ever got stuck on the correct past tense of the word light in English grammar? This article will explain the conjugations of the word light and also define light and give you all the information you need about the word and how to use it properly within the English language.
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having light or illumination; bright; well-lighted:
the lightest room in the entire house.
pale, whitish, or not deep or dark in color:
a light blue.
(of coffee or tea) containing enough milk or cream to produce a light color.
Transitive form of the verb light
to set burning, as a candle, lamp, fire, match, or cigarette; kindle; ignite.
to turn or switch on (an electric light):
One flick of the master switch lights all the lamps in the room.
to give light to; furnish with light or illumination:
The room is lit by two large chandeliers.
to make (an area or object) bright with or as if with light (often followed by up):
Hundreds of candles lit up the ballroom.
to cause (the face, surroundings, etc.) to brighten, especially with joy, animation, or the like (often followed by up):
A smile lit up her face. Her presence lit up the room.
to guide or conduct with a light:
a candle to light you to bed.
Intransitive form of the verb
to get down or descend, as from a horse or a vehicle:
As she lighted, the journalists began shouting questions at her.
to come to rest, as on a spot or thing; fall or settle upon; land:
The bird lighted on the branch. My eye lighted on some friends in the crowd.
to come by chance; happen; hit (usually followed by on or upon):
to light on a clue; to light on an ideal picnic spot.
to fall, as a stroke, weapon, vengeance, or choice, on a place or person:
The choice lighted upon our candidate.
Noun
something that makes things visible or affords illumination:
All colors depend on light.
Physics.
the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of sight.
an illuminating agent or source, as the sun, a lamp, or a beacon.
the radiance or illumination from a particular source:
the light of a candle.
the illumination from the sun; daylight:
We awoke at the first light.
daybreak or dawn:
when light appeared in the east.
Daytime:
Summer has more hours of light.
a particular light or illumination in which an object seen takes on a certain appearance:
viewing the portrait in dim light.
a device for or means of igniting, as a spark, flame, or match:
Could you give me a light?
What Is the Past Tense of Light?
The past tense of the word light is lit.
An example of present and past tense:
Present – Can you light the candles?
Past – I lit the birthday candles with a match.
How Do You Conjugate Light?
Here are some verb conjugations of the English verb light including the present tense forms and the acceptable past tense forms, note that this is an irregular verb:
Infinitive: to light
Past participle: lit
Simple past tense: lit
Present participle/gerund: lighting
Present
Simple, Past
Future
I light
light
Am lighting
You light
light
Are lighting
He/she/it lights
light
Is lighting
We light
light
Are lighting
They light
light
Are lighting
The History and Origin of the Word
The first time that it was recorded in history was before the year 900 A.D. In Middle English and Old English it was spelled “lēoht”.
Examples of the Word in Context
The sample shrinks into a package of molecules that scientists target with a laser beam, generating a light signal that allows them to detect the frequency of the coronavirus.
Next time you need to write the word light, you will be well prepared for everything you need to know what it is and how to use it efficiently in American English or British English. You should feel confident with the different conjugations, the history of the word, and the definition.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
November 18, 2020
What is The Past Tense of...
