Have you ever got stuck on the correct past tense of the word shake in English grammar? This article will explain the conjugations of the word shake and also define shake and give you all the information you need about how to use the word properly in the English language.
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to move or sway with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements.
to tremble with emotion, cold, etc.
to become dislodged and fall (usually followed by off or down):
Sand shakes off easily.
to move something, or its support or container, briskly to and fro or up and down, as in mixing:
Shake before using.
to totter; become unsteady.
to clasp another’s hand in greeting, agreement, congratulations, etc.:
Let’s shake and be friends again.
Music. to execute a trill.
Transitive verb
to move (something or its support or container) to and fro or up and down with short, quick, forcible movements:
to shake a bottle of milk.
to brandish or flourish:
to shake a stick at someone.
to grasp (someone or something) firmly in an attempt to move or rouse by, or as by, vigorous movement to and fro:
We shook the tree.
to dislodge or dispense (something) by short, quick, forcible movements of its support or container:
We shook nuts from the tree.
to cause to sway, rock, totter, etc.:
to shake the very foundations of society.
to agitate or disturb profoundly in feeling:
The experience shook him badly.
to cause to doubt or waver; weaken
to shake one’s self-esteem.
Music. to trill (a note).
to mix (dice) by rolling in the palm of the hand before they are cast.
to get rid of; elude
They tried to shake their pursuers.
Noun
an act or instance of shaking, rocking, swaying, etc.
tremulous motion.
a tremor.
(used with a singular verb)(the) shakes. Informal. a state or spell of trembling, as caused by fear, fever, cold, etc.:
I was up all night with a fever and the shakes.
a disturbing blow; shock
Informal. Milkshake
the act or a manner of clasping another’s hand in greeting, agreement, etc.:
He has a strong shake.
Informal. chance or treatment; deal:
a fair shake;
a bum shake.
See also fair shake
a cast of the dice:
He threw an eight on his last shake.
something resulting from shaking.
an earthquake.
a fissure in the earth.
an internal crack or fissure in timber.
Music. trill
an instant:
I’ll be with you in a shake.
Carpentry. a shingle or clapboard formed by splitting a short log into a number of tapered radial sections with a hatchet.
Horology. (in an escapement) the distance between the nearer corner of one pallet and the nearest tooth of the escape wheel when the other pallet arrests an escape tooth.
Chiefly South Midland U.S. shaker
a dance deriving from the twist.
Slang. the dried leaves of the marijuana plant.
What Is the Past Tense of Shake?
The past tense of shake is shook. This would be used in a sentence like:
How Do You Conjugate Shake?
Here are some verb conjugations of the English verb shake including the past tense verb forms. Pay special attention since it is an irregular verb that doesn’t follow the rules of regular verbs.
Infinitive: To Shake
Past Participle: Shaken
Present Participle/Gerund: Shaking
Past Perfect Tense: Had shaken
Present Perfect Tense: Have shaken
Simple Present Tense
Simple Past Tense (Preterite)
Future Tense
I shake
shook
Am shaking
You shake
shook
Are shaking
He/she/it shakes
shook
Is shaking
We shake
shook
Are shaking
They shake
shook
Are shaking
The History and Origin of the Word
The first time in history that you can see the word shake being used is 900. In Middle English the word shake was spelled schaken, in Old English the word was spelled sceacan, and in Old Norse it was spelled shaka.
Synonyms of Shake
Quiver
Tremble
Vibrate
Examples of the Word in Context
Shake off any excess flour and gently place in the heated oil.
Next time you need to write the word shake, you will be well prepared for everything you need to know what it is and how to use it efficiently. If you are trying to learn English, you should feel confident with the different conjugations, the history of the word, and the definition whether it’s American English or British English.
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 23, 2020
What is The Past Tense of...
