What is went? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of went in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of went

wentverb

đi

/went//went/

Where does the word went come from?

The word "went" is an old English verb that has been in use for over a thousand years. It has its origins in the Old English past tense and past participle form of the verb "gan," which meant "to go" or "to become." The word "went" is formed by combining the "en" infix, which was a common feature of Old English verb conjugation, and the past tense ending "-t." This infix served to indicate a past tense or past participle form of the verb, depending on the context. In Middle English, the use of this infix began to fade, and by the 15th century, it had almost entirely disappeared from English grammar. As a result, the word "went" came to be used as a standalone verb, without any infixes or specialized endings to indicate its past tense or past participle form. Today, "went" is a common verb in English, used to indicate the past tense of the action of going, such as "I went to the store yesterday." Its origins in Old English grammar may be obscure to modern speakers, but its usage is as familiar as the act of actually going somewhere.

Vocabulary summary went

typesee go

Example of vocabulary wentnamespace

  • Yesterday, I went to the mall to buy some new clothes.
  • She went to the beach to enjoy the sunshine.
  • After work, he went for a run in the park.
  • They went to the movies to watch the newest blockbuster.
  • I went to the library to return some books.

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