What Is The Past Tense For Grab?
The past tense is used to indicate that an action happened in the past, and “grabbed” is the correct past tense form of “grab.” Its past tense is formed by adding “-ed” to the base form.
This is a special 1-syllable verb that ends with a vowel and a consonant, so you have to double the final consonant when adding “ed.”
The past participle of grab is also “grabbed.” It is used in the formation of various verb tenses, such as the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.
You can refer to the table below for more verb conjunctions of grab.
| Base/Infinitive Form (V1) | grab |
| Present Form/3rd Person/Singular Form | grabs |
| Past Form (V2) | grabbed |
| Past Participle Form (V3) | grabbed |
| Present Participle/Gerund | grabbing |
How To Pronounce “Grab” And “Grabbed” Correctly?
According to the Collins Dictionary, the IPA transcription of the basic form grab is /ɡræb/, and the past tense grabbed is pronounced as /ɡræbd/. You can look at the table below for more details.
| Verb Forms | Pronunciation | |
| British English language | American English language | |
| grab | /ɡræb/ | /ɡræb/ |
| grabbed (V2) | /ɡræbd/ | /ɡræbd/ |
| grabbed (V3) | /ɡræbd/ | /ɡræbd/ |
| grabbing | /ɡræbɪŋ/ | /ɡræbɪŋ/ |
How to spell “grab” and “grabbed”? The following videos will help you:
How to say grab:
How to say grabbed:
What Are The Definitions Of Grab? How To Use Grabbed?
“Grabbed” has the same meaning as its basic form, and it is used to describe a single, completed action in the past.
The verb “grab” has a few different meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. Below are some of the common meanings, along with examples:
- To seize something quickly or forcefully.
She grabbed her coat and ran out of the door.
Tommy grabbed the toy from his little sister’s hands and ran away with it.
- To take hold of something in a rough or aggressive way.
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him.
Without warning, the stranger grabbed my backpack and yanked it off my shoulders.
- To capture or obtain something
The company grabbed a larger share of the market last month.
After years of hard work and dedication, Sarah finally grabbed the top spot in the company.
- To attract someone’s attention or interest.
The new TV show grabbed viewers’ attention across the country.
The headline on the newspaper article grabbed my interest immediately.
- To eat or drink something quickly or eagerly.
He grabbed a sandwich on his way out of the office.
Yesterday, I grabbed a slice of pizza and ate it on the go because I was running late for my meeting.
- To take something for yourself (in a selfish or greedy way)
Somebody grabbed all the good dishes.
She grabbed the last cookie from the plate before anyone else could get to it.
- To take something without permission or by force:
The thief grabbed her purse and ran away.
John was caught and arrested because he grabbed a handbag from a woman’s hand on the street.
Exercises
FAQs
Is “Grab” A Transitive Or Intransitive Verb?
The verb “grab” can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how it is used in a sentence.
- When used as a transitive verb, “grab” requires an object to complete its meaning.
Example: She grabbed the book from the table.
In this sentence, “book” is the direct object of “grabbed.”
- When used as an intransitive verb, “grab” does not require an object to complete its meaning.
Example: The child tried to grab for the cookie, but it was out of reach.
In this sentence, “grab” is used without an object.
What Are The Synonyms And Antonyms Of Grab?
The synonyms of the verb grab are: Seize, grasp, snatch, clutch, take hold of, capture, and catch. (See past tense of catch here)
The antonyms of the verb grab are: Release, let go, surrender, relinquish, drop, let loose, and abandon.
Is Grab A Noun?
Yes, “grab” can be a noun, and it is less commonly used than the verb “grab.” Below are some meanings and examples of the noun “grab:”
- A sudden or quick grasp
Example: She made a grab for her phone before it fell off the table.
- A large quantity of something obtained quickly
Example: The company made a grab for market share by lowering its prices.
- A device or mechanism used for grasping or holding onto something
Example: The grab handle on the subway train helped passengers maintain their balance.
What Are Some Phrasal Verbs And Idioms With The Verb Grab?
Phrasal Verbs:
- Grab hold of: To take hold of something firmly.
Example: She grabbed hold of the railing when climbing the stairs.
- Grab on: To take hold of something quickly and tightly.
Example: He grabbed on to the edge of the table to steady himself.
- Grab at: To reach for something eagerly.
Example: He grabbed at the opportunity to work for a prestigious company. (See past tense of work here)
- Grab up: To take or obtain something quickly.
Example: She grabbed up all the available tickets for the concert.
- Grab for: To try to seize something hastily.
Example: The children grabbed for the candy when it was thrown at them.
Idioms:
- Grab a bite: To quickly eat a small amount of food.
Example: Let’s grab a bite before we head to the museum.
- Grab the bull by the horns: To confront a difficult situation with determination and courage.
Example: He decided to grab the bull by the horns and face the challenge head-on.
- Grab the headlines: To attract attention and be featured prominently in the news.
Example: The controversial speech grabbed the headlines for days after it was delivered.
- Grab bag – A miscellaneous assortment of things, often sold or given away as prizes.
Example: The kids were excited to receive a grab bag of toys and candy at the party.
- Grab-and-go – A quick and convenient option for food or other items.
Example: I usually take grab-and-go meals for breakfast on weekdays because I’m in a rush to get to work.
His name is Benjamin Essek – The founder of Grammar Wiki. He is an English native speaker and has joined many English classes, learning communities to support other people with this common language as well.