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(ordered by seriousness) vocabulary for learners tests and games awkward plurals sayings and proverbs tattoo fails our Twitter page our YouTube channel
Pleaded or Pled?
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Pleaded or Pled?
What is the past tense of "to plead"?The most acceptable past form of "to plead" is "pleaded," but, over time, "pled" has also become acceptable. For example:
- He pleaded guilty to the charge.
("Pleaded" was the original past form of "to plead.")
- He pled guilty to the charge.
("Pled" has become an acceptable past form of "to plead.")
Got it? Take a quick test.More about the Past Tense of "To Plead"
The most acceptable past tense of "to plead" is "pleaded," but, through common usage since the mid-20th century (especially in the US), "pled" has also become acceptable in both the UK and US conventions. [evidence]If you're looking for the version that will aggravate the least, opt for "pleaded."
"To Plead" Was a Weak, Regular Verb
"To Plead" was originally a weak, regular verb, meaning its past forms were only "pleaded" (past tense) and "has pleaded" (past participle).However, over time, "to plead" has been treated like a weak, irregular verb, probably because it sounds a lot like "to bleed," the past forms of which are "bled" and "has bled."
Here is "to plead" with some other weak, regular verbs:
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| love | loved | has loved | regular verb |
| play | played | has played | regular verb |
| plead | pleaded | has pleaded | regular verb |
Here is "to plead" with some other weak, irregular verbs:
| Weak Verb | Simple Past Tense | Past Participle | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| tell | told | has told | irregular verb |
| bleed | bled | has bled | irregular verb |
| plead | pled | has pled | irregular verb |
"Plea" Is the Noun
Of note, the noun is "plea." For example:- He pleads guilty by submitting a guilty plea.
(In this example, "pleads" is a verb in the present tense and "plea" is a noun.)
What Is a Weak Verb?
A weak verb is one that has a " d" or " t" ending for its simple past tense and past participle.Read more about weak verbs.
What Is a Regular Verb?
A regular verb is one that typically adds "-ed" or "-d" to the base form to create the past forms.Read more about regular verbs.
Read more about irregular verbs.
Ready for the Test?
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