Jump to content

Talk:sung

Page contents not supported in other languages.
Add topic
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Latest comment: 5 years ago by 134.148.66.61

Can this also be the simple past? e.g. Dickens, "he sung (not sang) and crooned himself asleep". Equinox 16:44, 1 April 2013 (UTC)Reply

If one observes the Old English verb 'singan' and the Middle English 'singen', 'sung' was actually the simple past tense for second person and plural, and it was for the subjunctive mood for all persons and numbers. I.e.

Indicative Subjunctive
Singular Plural Singular Plural
1st person I sang We sung I sung We sung
2nd person Thou(you) sung You sung Thou sung You sung
3rd person He sang They sung He sung They sung

However, I realise, that the subjunctive mood has disappeared mostly in Modern speech and literature. It would be good, if there was more usage. --134.148.66.61 23:42, 30 May 2019 (UTC)Reply