The English verb “accommodate” is a versatile and commonly used word that means to provide lodging or space, to adapt or adjust to something, or to help someone by meeting their needs. Whether you’re telling a story, writing an academic paper, or drafting a business email, correctly using the past tense form “accommodated” is crucial for clear and accurate communication about past events.
Mastering how to use the past tense of verbs like “accommodate” helps you express yourself more fluently and with greater grammatical precision. This is essential not only for English language learners at all levels, but also for ESL students, teachers, writers, and professionals who want to enhance their language skills.
This comprehensive article will guide you through everything you need to know about the past tense of “accommodate”. You will learn its definitions, grammatical rules, usage contexts, common mistakes, extensive examples, and advanced insights. Plus, you’ll find practice exercises with answers to reinforce your understanding. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently use “accommodated” in your speaking and writing.
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition Section
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition Section
3.1. What Does “Accommodate” Mean?
“Accommodate” has several related meanings in English. Understanding these will help you use the correct past tense form in various contexts.
- To provide lodging or space:
“The hotel accommodated 300 guests during the conference.” - To adapt or adjust to something:
“The schedule was changed to accommodate everyone’s availability.” - To do a favor or provide help:
“She accommodated his request by extending the deadline.”
3.2. Grammatical Classification
Accommodate is a regular multi-syllabic verb ending with -ate. Here are its forms:
| Base | Past Tense | Past Participle | Present Participle | 3rd Person Singular |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| accommodate | accommodated | accommodated | accommodating | accommodates |
Table 1: Forms of “Accommodate”
3.3. Function of the Past Tense
The past tense form “accommodated” is used to indicate an action of accommodating that was completed in the past. It appears in:
- Simple past: “They accommodated us yesterday.”
- Past continuous: “They were accommodating guests all day.”
- Past perfect: “They had accommodated everyone before midnight.”
- Reported speech: “She said they had accommodated all requests.”
3.4. Usage Contexts
You use the past tense of “accommodate” to narrate or describe:
- Events that happened in the past: “The shelter accommodated 100 people last winter.”
- Adjustments or changes made previously: “The plan accommodated last-minute changes.”
- Both formal (academic/business) and informal contexts:
Formal: “The university accommodated international students.”
Informal: “They accommodated us without any trouble.”
4. Structural Breakdown
4.1. Formation of the Past Tense
Because “accommodate” is a regular verb, you form its past tense by simply adding -ed:
- accommodate → accommodated
Pronunciation tips:
- Present: /əˈkɒmədeɪt/
- Past: /əˈkɒmədeɪtɪd/
4.2. Past Simple Structure
Affirmative: Subject + accommodated + object
Example: “The hotel accommodated us.”
Negative: Subject + did not + accommodate + object
Example: “The hotel did not accommodate pets.”
Interrogative: Did + subject + accommodate + object?
Example: “Did the hostel accommodate your group?”
| Sentence Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | They accommodated our request. |
| Negative | They did not accommodate our request. |
| Interrogative | Did they accommodate your needs? |
Table 2: Sentence Structures
4.3. Past Continuous
Structure: Subject + was/were + accommodating + object
Usage: To express an ongoing action in the past.
Example: “We were accommodating new members all week.”
4.4. Past Perfect
Structure: Subject + had + accommodated + object
Usage: To show an action completed before another past event.
Example: “They had accommodated everyone before the meeting began.”
4.5. Passive Voice in Past Tense
Structure: Subject + was/were + accommodated
Example: “The guests were accommodated promptly.”
4.6. Summary Table of Past Tense Forms
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | We accommodated | We accommodated ten people. |
| Past Continuous | We were accommodating | We were accommodating more guests. |
| Past Perfect | We had accommodated | We had accommodated everyone by 8 pm. |
| Passive | They were accommodated | The refugees were accommodated quickly. |
5. Types or Categories
5.1. Regular Past Tense (Affirmative)
- The hotel accommodated 300 guests last night.
- The manager accommodated our request immediately.
- The teacher accommodated the students’ learning styles.
- The design accommodated future expansion.
- The plan accommodated everyone’s suggestions.
5.2. Negative Past Tense
- The hotel did not accommodate pets.
- The schedule did not accommodate late arrivals.
- The policy didn’t accommodate special cases.
- The shelter did not accommodate everyone during the storm.
- They didn’t accommodate last-minute changes.
5.3. Interrogative Past Tense
- Did the hostel accommodate your group?
- Did they accommodate your dietary restrictions?
- Did the venue accommodate all the guests?
- Did the plan accommodate everyone’s concerns?
- Did the company accommodate flexible working hours?
5.4. Passive Past Forms
- The guests were accommodated comfortably.
- The employees were accommodated in nearby apartments.
- All requests were accommodated promptly.
- The refugees were accommodated in shelters.
- The team members were accommodated according to their preferences.
5.5. Past with Modal Verbs
- They could have accommodated more people if needed.
- We should have accommodated her request sooner.
- He would have accommodated us if he’d known.
- They might have accommodated extra guests.
- She wouldn’t have accommodated such behavior in the past.
6. Examples Section
6.1. Basic Sentences (Simple Past)
- The hotel accommodated us last night.
- The company accommodated the new interns.
- The shelter accommodated many families during the storm.
- The program accommodated diverse learning needs.
- The apartment accommodated five students comfortably.
6.2. Negative Sentences
- The hotel did not accommodate pets.
- The plan didn’t accommodate everyone’s needs.
- They did not accommodate late arrivals.
- The shelter didn’t accommodate all the refugees.
- The design did not accommodate future upgrades.
6.3. Questions
- Did the hostel accommodate your group?
- Did they accommodate your special dietary needs?
- Why didn’t they accommodate special requests?
- Did the schedule accommodate everyone?
- Did the plan accommodate last-minute changes?
6.4. Passive Sentences
- The guests were accommodated comfortably.
- The employees were accommodated in nearby hotels.
- All visitors were accommodated during the event.
- The refugees were accommodated quickly.
- The students were accommodated in dormitories.
6.5. Past Continuous Examples
- We were accommodating new members all week.
- They were not accommodating any visitors during renovations.
- The shelter was accommodating families throughout the night.
- The hotel staff were accommodating guests arriving late.
- The organization was accommodating special requests during the conference.
6.6. Past Perfect Examples
- We had accommodated all the refugees before winter.
- By noon, the shelter had accommodated 50 people.
- They had accommodated all the changes before the deadline.
- She had accommodated every request by the meeting time.
- By last year, the program had accommodated over 1,000 students.
6.7. With Modal Verbs
- They could have accommodated more if needed.
- We should have accommodated her request sooner.
- He would have accommodated us if he had known.
- They might have accommodated additional guests.
- She couldn’t have accommodated everyone alone.
6.8. Formal and Informal Contexts
- Formal: The university accommodated the requirements of international students.
- Informal: They accommodated us without any trouble.
- Formal: The system accommodated recent updates seamlessly.
- Informal: The staff accommodated my last-minute booking.
- Formal: The project accommodated multiple stakeholders’ interests.
6.9. Idiomatic and Figurative Use Examples
- The schedule accommodated everyone’s preferences.
- The new design accommodated future expansion.
- The proposal accommodated the needs of various departments.
- The plan accommodated unexpected challenges.
- The policy accommodated different cultural perspectives.
6.10. Example Tables
| Affirmative | Negative | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The hotel accommodated us. | The hotel did not accommodate us. | Did the hotel accommodate you? |
| They accommodated my request. | They didn’t accommodate my request. | Did they accommodate your request? |
| The shelter accommodated 100 people. | The shelter did not accommodate 100 people. | Did the shelter accommodate everyone? |
| She accommodated his needs. | She didn’t accommodate his needs. | Did she accommodate his needs? |
| The schedule accommodated changes. | The schedule didn’t accommodate changes. | Did the schedule accommodate changes? |
Table 3: Affirmative, Negative, and Questions
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| The hotel accommodated 300 guests. | 300 guests were accommodated by the hotel. |
| The shelter accommodated many families. | Many families were accommodated in the shelter. |
| They accommodated last-minute changes. | Last-minute changes were accommodated. |
| The organization accommodated special requests. | Special requests were accommodated by the organization. |
| The company accommodated interns. | Interns were accommodated by the company. |
Table 4: Active vs. Passive Examples
| Simple Past | Past Perfect |
|---|---|
| They accommodated us before the show. | They had accommodated us before the show started. |
| The shelter accommodated 50 people by noon. | The shelter had accommodated 50 people by noon. |
| She accommodated his request yesterday. | She had accommodated his request before I arrived. |
| We accommodated all changes before the event. | We had accommodated all changes before the event began. |
| The hotel accommodated many guests during the holiday. | The hotel had accommodated many guests before the holiday ended. |
Table 5: Simple Past vs. Past Perfect Comparisons
7. Usage Rules
7.1. When to Use the Past Tense of “Accommodate”
- For actions or events completed in the past: “The hotel accommodated us last weekend.”
- When reporting historical facts: “In 2010, the city accommodated thousands of tourists.”
- While narrating stories or personal experiences: “They accommodated all our needs during our stay.”
7.2. Subject-Verb Agreement in Past Tense
Unlike the present tense, the past tense “accommodated” does not change based on singular or plural subjects.
- She accommodated
- They accommodated
- The hotel accommodated
7.3. Passive vs. Active Voice
- Active: The hotel accommodated us.
- Passive: We were accommodated by the hotel.
Choose based on whether you want to emphasize the doer (active) or the receiver (passive).
7.4. Time Expressions Commonly Used
- Yesterday
- Last week/month/year
- In 2010
- Two days ago
- By noon
- Before the event
- Earlier
- During the summer
7.5. Common Exceptions and Special Cases
- Use did not accommodate for negatives, never “accommodated not.”
- For questions, use Did: “Did they accommodate us?” not “Accommodated they us?”
- Never use did accommodated; the correct form is did accommodate.
7.6. US vs. UK Variations
There is no difference in spelling or past tense form between American and British English for “accommodated.” Contextual usage might differ slightly, with UK English sometimes favoring alternatives like “put up”.
7.7. Register and Tone Considerations
“Accommodated” is more common in formal contexts (business, academic).
In informal speech, alternatives include:
- Put up
- Made room for
- Helped out
- Accepted
8. Common Mistakes
8.1. Incorrect Past Form
Incorrect: accomodated (missing an “m”)
Correct: accommodated
8.2. Double Past Auxiliary
Incorrect: Did accommodated
Correct: Did accommodate
8.3. Confusing Past and Present Forms
Incorrect: They accommodate us last week.
Correct: They accommodated us last week.
8.4. Passive Voice Errors
Incorrect: Guests were accommodate quickly.
Correct: Guests were accommodated quickly.
8.5. Overusing Past Perfect Without Need
Use simple past when no earlier past event is involved:
Prefer: They accommodated us before the show.
Not necessarily: They had accommodated us before the show (unless comparing with another past action).
8.6. Spelling Errors
- acommodated (missing one “c”)
- accomodated (missing one “m”)
- accomodatted (wrong suffix)
8.7. Examples Table: Common Errors & Corrections
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Did accommodated | Did accommodate |
| They accommodate us last year | They accommodated us last year |
| Guests were accommodate quickly | Guests were accommodated quickly |
| They accomodated everyone | They accommodated everyone |
| She had accommodate the guests | She had accommodated the guests |
9. Practice Exercises
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
- The hotel ____ (accommodate) our family last summer.
- Before the meeting, we ____ (accommodate) all the participants.
- Last year, the shelter ____ (accommodate) many families.
- They ____ (not accommodate) late arrivals.
- By 8 pm, the staff ____ (accommodate) all guests.
9.2. Correct the Mistake
- The shelter were accommodate many people.
- Did you accommodated your friend’s request?
- They accommodate us last weekend.
- Guests were accommodate quickly.
- The hotel did not accommodated pets.
9.3. Identify the Tense
- “We had accommodated everyone by 5 pm.”
- “They were accommodating new members.”
- “The hostel accommodated us last night.”
- “The guests were accommodated comfortably.”
- “She was accommodating requests during the event.”
9.4. Sentence Construction
Create sentences using “accommodate” in the following forms:
- Past simple affirmative
- Past simple negative
- Past perfect
- Past continuous
- Passive past simple
9.5. Multiple Choice
- Which sentence is correct?
a) They accommodate us yesterday.
b) They accommodated us yesterday. - Which is the correct negative?
a) The hotel did not accommodated pets.
b) The hotel did not accommodate pets. - Which is passive?
a) The guests accommodated quickly.
b) The guests were accommodated quickly. - Which uses past perfect?
a) They had accommodated everyone before noon.
b) They were accommodating everyone before noon. - Which is a question?
a) Did the hostel accommodate your group?
b) The hostel accommodate your group?
Answer Key
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
- accommodated
- had accommodated
- accommodated
- did not accommodate
- had accommodated
9.2. Correct the Mistake
- The shelter was accommodating many people.
- Did you accommodate your friend’s request?
- They accommodated us last weekend.
- Guests were accommodated quickly.
- The hotel did not accommodate pets.
9.3. Identify the Tense
- Past perfect
- Past continuous
- Past simple
- Passive past simple
- Past continuous
9.4. Sentence Construction (Sample answers)
- The hotel accommodated all the guests yesterday.
- The hotel did not accommodate pets last year.
- We had accommodated everyone by 8 pm.
- They were accommodating new members during the week.
- The guests were accommodated in comfortable rooms.
9.5. Multiple Choice
- b) They accommodated us yesterday.
- b) The hotel did not accommodate pets.
- b) The guests were accommodated quickly.
- a) They had accommodated everyone before noon.
- a) Did the hostel accommodate your group?
10. Advanced Topics
10.1. Use in Reported Speech
When reporting what someone said in the past, use past perfect if referring to an earlier action:
Direct speech: “We accommodated all requests.”
Reported speech: “She said they had accommodated all requests.”
10.2. Tense Consistency in Complex Sentences
Maintain consistent tenses:
Incorrect: They accommodated us and were happy to help.
Correct: They accommodated us and were happy to help.
10.3. Subjunctive and Hypothetical Past Use
Use past perfect for unreal or hypothetical situations:
“If they had accommodated us, we would have stayed.”
10.4. Accommodation in Academic and Business English
Common in formal contexts to describe adjustments or inclusions:
“The study accommodated several variables.”
“The policy accommodated cultural differences.”
10.5. Stylistic Variations and Synonyms
- housed (provided living space)
- hosted (received or entertained)
- adapted (changed to fit)
- adjusted (modified)
- put up (informal for lodging)
10.6. Nuanced Differences in Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect
- Past continuous: ongoing past action
“They were accommodating new arrivals all night.” - Past perfect: completed before another event
“They had accommodated everyone before the storm hit.”
11. FAQ Section
- What is the past tense of “accommodate”?
The past tense is accommodated. - Is “accommodated” a regular or irregular verb?
It is a regular verb. You add -ed to form the past tense. - How do you pronounce “accommodated”?
/əˈkɒmədeɪtɪd/ - Can “accommodate” be used in passive past tense?
Yes. Example: “The guests were accommodated quickly.” - What are common mistakes when using “accommodated”?
Spelling errors (accomodated), incorrect negatives (“did accommodated”), and passive errors (“were accommodate”). - What are examples of negative past tense with “accommodate”?
“They did not accommodate pets.”
“The plan didn’t accommodate everyone’s needs.” - How does “accommodate” differ from “adapt” in past tense?
“Accommodated” means providing space/help, while “adapted” means changing or adjusting. - Can I use “accommodate” in the past continuous tense?
Yes. Example: “They were accommodating new members.” - When should I use past perfect with “accommodate”?
To show an action completed before another: “They had accommodated us before the event began.” - What’s the difference between “was accommodating” and “had accommodated”?
“Was accommodating” = ongoing past action.
“Had accommodated” = completed before another past event. - Are there spelling differences in British and American English?
No, both use accommodated. - Can “accommodate” be used figuratively in the past tense?
Yes. Example: “The plan accommodated everyone’s preferences.”
12. Conclusion
Using the past tense form “accommodated” correctly is essential for clear, professional, and accurate communication about past events. This comprehensive guide has covered its definitions, grammatical rules, structure, exceptions, and many examples to help you master it.
Remember, “accommodated” is a regular verb formed with -ed, usable in various past tense structures, including passive voice. Avoid common mistakes such as incorrect spelling or double past forms. Practice with the exercises provided and pay attention to context and tone.
Mastering verbs like “accommodate” in the past tense will greatly improve your fluency, whether you’re writing academic essays, business reports, or telling stories. Keep exploring related verb tenses and irregular verbs to expand your English proficiency further.