“Was sang” or “was sung”: which is correct?
The short answer
Sang is the simple past tense of the verb sing. The correct past participle verb form required for passive constructions is sung. The passive voice should involve a form of to be and the past participle; thus, was sung is correct.
Why people get it wrong
People often make this error by confusing verb forms and constructing sentences that attempt to use the passive voice incorrectly. It involves misapplying the past participle sung and the past tense sang in places where they do not fit grammatically.
What kind of mistake it is
It is an error in verb conjugation, specifically the misuse of passive voice and tense.
Examples with was sung
- The song was sung by the choir.
- The anthem was sung beautifully.
- The opera was sung in Italian.
Quick check
The song by the choir.
Sang is the simple past tense of the verb sing. The correct past participle verb form required for passive constructions is sung. The passive voice should involve a form of to be and the past participle; thus, was sung is correct.
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