Mastering the Past Tense of ‘Bid’: Forms, Usage, and Common Errors

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The English verb ‘bid’ is deceptively simple yet surprisingly complex. It appears in everyday conversations—like placing an offer at an auction—and also in formal or literary contexts to command, request, or even say farewell. Because ‘bid’ is an irregular verb with multiple past forms, it often confuses learners, writers, and even native speakers.

Understanding the past tense of ‘bid’ is crucial for accurate and confident communication. Whether you’re bidding at an online auction, reading classic literature, writing formal documents, or teaching English, mastering these forms enhances your fluency and precision.

This comprehensive guide is designed for ESL students, advanced learners, teachers, writers, and professionals. We will explore the meanings, grammatical structures, past tense forms, usage rules, examples, common errors, practice exercises, and advanced insights into ‘bid’.

By the end, you’ll confidently distinguish between ‘bid’, ‘bade’, and ‘bidden’, avoid common mistakes, and apply them in the appropriate contexts—whether bidding for a painting or quoting Shakespeare.

Table of Contents

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Does ‘Bid’ Mean?

The verb ‘bid’ has several key meanings, which influence its past tense forms:

  • To offer a price—commonly in auctions or negotiations.
  • To command, order, or request—more formal or literary.
  • To greet or say farewell—often archaic or poetic.

Table 1: Meanings of ‘Bid’ with Present Tense Examples

Meaning Context Example Sentence (Present Tense)
Offer a price Auctions, business I bid $200 for the antique vase.
Command or request Formal, literary The teacher bids the students to listen carefully.
Greet or say farewell Archaic, poetic She bids you farewell before leaving.

3.2. Verb Classification

‘Bid’ is an irregular verb, which means its past forms don’t simply add -ed.

It is primarily a transitive verb (requires an object): *She bid $500.*

Occasionally, it is used intransitively in auction contexts: *They bid aggressively.*

3.3. The Concept of Past Tense in English

The past simple tense describes actions completed at a definite time in the past.

Regular verbs form the past tense by adding -ed (work → worked), but irregular verbs vary greatly.

‘Bid’ does not follow the regular pattern; instead, it has unique forms that learners need to memorize.

3.4. Past Tense Forms of ‘Bid’

‘Bid’ has two main past tense forms:

  • Bid – used in auctions, commerce, and modern contexts.
  • Bade – used in commands, requests, greetings, or farewells, mostly literary or archaic.

3.5. When and Why Different Forms Exist

Historically, ‘bid’ comes from Old English biddan (“to ask, pray, command”).

Over centuries, meanings diverged: commercial use favored the unchanged past ‘bid’, while commands and literary uses preserved the older form ‘bade’.

Today, ‘bid’ is standard in everyday speech, whereas ‘bade’ appears in literature or formal expressions.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Irregular Verb Patterns

Irregular verbs form their past tense in various ways:

  • Unchanged past forms: same as base verb (e.g., cut – cut – cut)
  • Changed past forms: different from base (e.g., sing – sang – sung)

‘Bid’ belongs to both groups, depending on the context:

  • In commercial settings: bid – bid – bid
  • In commands/greetings: bid – bade – bidden (archaic/literary)

4.2. The Past Simple Form: ‘Bid’

In auctions, tenders, and offers, the past tense is bid (unchanged):

  • He bid $500 yesterday.
  • They bid on the contract last week.
  • She bid higher than anyone else.
  • Our company bid for the new project.

4.3. The Past Simple Form: ‘Bade’

In literary or formal contexts to command, request, or greet, the past tense is bade:

  • She bade him farewell.
  • He bade the guests to enter.
  • The prophet bade the people listen.
  • The queen bade silence in the hall.

4.4. Past Participle Forms

For perfect tenses and passive voice:

  • Modern usage: bid (same as base and past simple)
  • Literary/archaic: bidden

Example:

  • He has bid on many houses.
  • You are bidden to attend the ceremony.

Table 2: Base, Past Simple, and Past Participle Forms

Context Base Form Past Simple Past Participle Notes
Auctions, commerce bid bid bid Standard modern usage
Commands, greetings (literary/archaic) bid bade bidden Rare, formal, poetic

4.5. Summary of Forms and Functions

Summary Chart

Form Context Register Example
bid Commercial, auctions Modern, informal/formal He bid $1000.
bade Commands, greetings Literary, archaic, formal She bade him farewell.
bidden Past participle (rare) Archaic, poetic You are bidden to enter.

4.6. Pronunciation Notes

  • bid: /bɪd/ (rhymes with did)
  • bade: /beɪd/ (common) or /bæd/ (less common; varies by dialect)

Tip: Practice with online dictionaries or pronunciation apps to hear these differences clearly.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. By Context of Usage

  • Commercial/Transactional Bidding: Use bid as past tense.
    • Examples: auctions, tenders, offers.
    • She bid $1,000 at the auction.
  • Commands and Requests (Literary/Archaic): Use bade.
    • Examples: biblical passages, poetic instructions.
    • The king bade his soldiers retreat.
  • Greetings/Farewells (Archaic): Use bade.
    • He bade her goodbye.

5.2. By Verb Form Changes

  • Unchanged past form: bid – bid – bid (commerce)
  • Changed past form: bid – bade – bidden (literary, archaic)

5.3. Time Period and Register

  • Modern English: primarily bid in both speech and business writing.
  • Historical/Literary: prefers bade, sometimes bidden.
  • Formal written English: may include archaic forms for stylistic effect.

5.4. Regional and Dialectal Variations

Both American and British English predominantly use bid in commercial contexts.

Archaic forms like bade or bidden appear mainly in literature, regardless of dialect.

5.5. Summary Table of Categories

Table 3: Usage Contexts and Preferred Forms

Context Preferred Past Form Example Register
Auctions/business bid They bid on the contract. Modern, informal/formal
Literary commands bade He bade the servant come. Formal, literary
Farewells/greetings bade They bade us welcome. Archaic, poetic
Passive/formal bidden You are bidden to attend. Archaic, poetic

6. Examples Section

6.1. Commercial Context Examples (using ‘bid’)

  1. She bid $1,000 at the auction.
  2. They bid aggressively last night.
  3. Our company bid on the government contract.
  4. He bid higher than anyone else.
  5. Last week, I bid on a rare painting.
  6. We bid $500 more than the competitor.
  7. The buyer bid the reserve price immediately.
  8. Several firms bid for the same project.
  9. She bid on three items yesterday.
  10. The auctioneer announced that Tom bid the highest.

6.2. Commands/Requests Examples (using ‘bade’)

  1. The king bade his soldiers retreat.
  2. She bade them be silent.
  3. The prophet bade the crowd listen carefully.
  4. The mother bade her children behave.
  5. The general bade his army advance.
  6. The lord bade the messenger depart swiftly.
  7. She bade him wait outside.
  8. The priest bade the congregation pray.
  9. The queen bade the guards open the gate.
  10. The teacher bade the students to stand.

6.3. Greetings/Farewells Examples (using ‘bade’)

  1. He bade her goodbye with tears.
  2. They bade us welcome at the door.
  3. She bade farewell to her hometown.
  4. He bade his friends good night.
  5. The villagers bade the travelers safe journey.
  6. They bade their old home a fond farewell.
  7. She bade him a warm welcome.
  8. He bade farewell before departing overseas.
  9. The host bade us a pleasant stay.
  10. She bade her colleagues goodbye after the meeting.

6.4. Mixed Context Examples

  • Yesterday, I bid on a painting.
  • She bade him farewell after the ceremony.
  • They bid $2,000 on the sculpture last week.
  • The king bade silence during the speech.
  • He bid more than anyone else at the auction.
  • The queen bade her subjects to rejoice.
  • Our firm bid for two new projects.
  • She bade her family goodbye at the airport.

6.5. Examples with Past Participle Forms

  • He has bid on many projects this year.
  • They have bid higher than expected.
  • You are bidden to attend the council meeting. (archaic)
  • The guests were bidden to enter. (literary passive)
  • She has never bid on antiques before.

6.6. Comparative Examples Table

Table 4: Present vs. Past Forms in Different Contexts

Context Present Tense Past Simple Example Sentence
Commercial bid bid Yesterday, they bid $1,500.
Command bid bade The king bade them kneel.
Farewell bid bade She bade him goodbye.
Perfect tense have bid had bid They have bid before.
Passive voice (archaic) are bidden were bidden They were bidden to enter.

6.7. Additional 40-50 Examples with Notes

  • In yesterday’s online auction, she bid $800. (commercial)
  • The mayor bade everyone welcome at the ceremony. (greeting)
  • We bid on two properties last month. (commercial)
  • He bade his followers remain calm. (command)
  • They bid the highest amount so far. (commercial)
  • She bade farewell to her colleagues. (farewell)
  • Our team bid for the championship title. (commercial/metaphorical)
  • The wizard bade the hero enter the cave. (command, literary)
  • They bid aggressively against competitors. (commercial)
  • He bade the children be quiet. (command)
  • We bid on the contract last year. (commercial)
  • The priest bade the congregation stand. (command, formal)
  • She bid on a vintage car. (commercial)
  • He bade them farewell at the airport. (farewell)
  • They have bid on several houses. (perfect tense)
  • The host bade us enter the hall. (greeting, formal)
  • She bid $2,500 for the painting. (commercial)
  • The emperor bade silence before speaking. (command)
  • He bid more than he intended. (commercial)
  • They bade us a warm farewell. (farewell)
  • I bid on that antique desk. (commercial)
  • The general bade the troops advance. (command)
  • She bid on three items at the charity auction. (commercial)
  • The king bade his messenger depart. (command)
  • He bid the minimum amount. (commercial)
  • The magician bade the spirits appear. (command, literary)
  • We bid for the contract but lost. (commercial)
  • The queen bade her subjects listen. (command)
  • They bid $5,000, winning the auction. (commercial)
  • He bade the audience farewell. (farewell)
  • She bid for a designer handbag. (commercial)
  • The prophet bade the people repent. (command)
  • He bid confidently despite competition. (commercial)
  • The host bade the guests welcome. (greeting)
  • They bid lower than expected. (commercial)
  • The priest bade the congregation kneel. (command)
  • We bid on that sculpture last week. (commercial)
  • The leader bade his followers be patient. (command)
  • She bid on several jewelry pieces. (commercial)
  • The king bade the festival begin. (command)
  • They bid on a new apartment. (commercial)
  • He bade his servant close the door. (command)
  • We bid on the house but didn’t win. (commercial)
  • The queen bade the musicians play. (command)
  • She bid on a rare book. (commercial)
  • The prophet bade them prepare. (command)
  • They bid successfully on the franchise. (commercial)
  • The host bade his guests farewell. (farewell)

7. Usage Rules

7.1. When to Use ‘Bid’ as Past Tense

Use bid in past tense for:

  • Auctions: She bid $600 yesterday.
  • Business offers: Our firm bid on the contract.
  • Everyday conversation: He bid more than I did.

7.2. When to Use ‘Bade’ as Past Tense

Use bade in past tense for:

  • Commands or requests in literary or formal contexts: The king bade them kneel.
  • Farewells or greetings (archaic): She bade her friends goodbye.

7.3. When to Use ‘Bidden’

Use bidden as the past participle mainly in archaic, poetic, or very formal contexts.

  • You are bidden to appear before the council.
  • They had been bidden to leave.

7.4. Common Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Fixed expressions:
    • bid defiance (to openly resist)
    • bid welcome (to welcome formally)
    • bid farewell (to say goodbye)

    These often use bade in past tense, especially in literary style.

  • Stylistic choice:
    • Writers may choose bade for poetic or formal flavor.

7.5. Subject-Verb Agreement

Standard rules apply:

  • He/She/It bid (past)
  • They bid (past)
  • She bade (past)

7.6. Aspect and Tense Variations

  • Present perfect: have/has bid
  • Past perfect: had bid
  • Past continuous: was/were bidding
  • Rare: have been bidden (archaic passive)

7.7. Summary Table of Usage Rules

Table 5: Quick Reference for Verb Forms

Tense / Aspect Commercial Context Commands/Greetings (Literary) Example
Past simple bid bade We bid $500. / She bade farewell.
Present perfect have bid have bidden (rare) They have bid before. / You have been bidden.
Past perfect had bid had bidden (rare) We had bid last year.
Past continuous was bidding was bidding She was bidding last night.
Passive was bid was bidden (archaic) They were bid to enter.

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Confusing ‘Bid’ and ‘Bade’ Usage Contexts

Incorrect: She bid him farewell.

Correct: She bade him farewell.

8.2. Overusing ‘Bade’ in Modern Contexts

Incorrect: He bade $500 at the auction.

Correct: He bid $500 at the auction.

8.3. Using ‘Bidded’ as Past Tense

Incorrect: They bidded on the painting.

Correct: They bid on the painting.

8.4. Incorrect Past Participle Forms

Incorrect: They have bidded.

Correct: They have bid.

8.5. Confusing Forms with Similar Verbs

For example, ‘bet’ also has an unchanged past tense: bet – bet – bet.

Do not confuse bid with bet or apply -ed endings.

8.6. Summary of Correct vs. Incorrect Forms

Table 6: Common Mistakes and Corrections

Incorrect Correct Explanation
He bidded $500. He bid $500. ‘Bidded’ is not a correct past form.
She bid him farewell. She bade him farewell. Use ‘bade’ in farewell context.
They have bidded on cars. They have bid on cars. ‘Bidded’ is incorrect as past participle.
He bade $1000 at the auction. He bid $1000 at the auction. Use ‘bid’ in commercial context.
They was bidden on the project. They were bidding on the project. Incorrect form and agreement.

8.7. Tips to Avoid Mistakes

  • Remember: bid – bid – bid in modern, commercial contexts.
  • Use bade mainly for literary commands or farewells.
  • Never use bidded.
  • Check the context before choosing between bid and bade.
  • Use reference tables as quick guides.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank (15 sentences)

  1. Yesterday, she ____ on a rare coin. (bid)
  2. The queen ____ him approach. (bade)
  3. They ____ $2,000 last week. (bid)
  4. The king ____ his army advance. (bade)
  5. He ____ her farewell at the station. (bade)
  6. Our firm ____ on the contract. (bid)
  7. The prophet ____ the people listen. (bade)
  8. She ____ on several antiques. (bid)
  9. The host ____ us welcome. (bade)
  10. They ____ aggressively during the auction. (bid)
  11. She ____ goodbye with tears. (bade)
  12. He ____ $500 for the painting. (bid)
  13. The general ____ the troops retreat. (bade)
  14. They ____ for a new apartment. (bid)
  15. The priest ____ the congregation pray. (bade)

9.2. Error Correction (10 sentences)

  1. He bidded $300 last week. → He bid $300 last week.
  2. She bid him farewell. → She bade him farewell.
  3. They bade $1000 at the auction. → They bid $1000 at the auction.
  4. We have bidded on many projects. → We have bid on many projects.
  5. He bade on the antique vase. → He bid on the antique vase.
  6. She bidded on that car. → She bid on that car.
  7. The mayor bid the crowd welcome. → The mayor bade the crowd welcome.
  8. They have bidded before. → They have bid before.
  9. He bade $700 on the sculpture. → He bid $700 on the sculpture.
  10. The queen bid farewell to her people. → The queen bade farewell to her people.

9.3. Identify Context and Choose Correct Form (10 items)

  1. Business offer last week → bid
  2. Medieval king commanding soldiers → bade
  3. Online auction yesterday → bid
  4. Farewell speech in a poem → bade
  5. Company tender submission → bid
  6. Queen greeting guests formally → bade
  7. Bible story command → bade
  8. Bidding for a house → bid
  9. Shakespearean farewell → bade
  10. Government project offer → bid

9.4. Sentence Construction (10 prompts)

  1. Yesterday / she / bid / antique mirror → Yesterday, she bid on an antique mirror.
  2. The king / bade / soldiers / attack → The king bade his soldiers attack.
  3. They / bid / government contract → They bid on the government contract.
  4. Queen / bade / guests / welcome → The queen bade the guests welcome.
  5. Our company / bid / new project → Our company bid for the new project.
  6. He / bade / friends / goodbye → He bade his friends goodbye.
  7. We / bid / last auction → We bid at the last auction.
  8. Teacher / bade / students / listen → The teacher bade the students listen.
  9. They / bid / painting → They bid on the painting.
  10. Host / bade / guests / enter → The host bade the guests enter.

9.5. Advanced Transformation Exercises

  1. Present: They bid on cars. → Past: They bid on cars.
  2. Present: She bids you farewell. → Past: She bade you farewell.
  3. Active: The king bade them kneel. → Passive: They were bidden to kneel. (archaic)
  4. Present perfect: They have bid before. → Past perfect: They had bid before.
  5. Present continuous: She is bidding now. → Past continuous: She was bidding then.

9.6. Practice Tables and Answer Keys

Answers provided above for all exercises.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Historical Development

‘Bid’ originates from Old English biddan, meaning “to ask, command, pray.”

‘Bade’ is the past of biddan.

‘Bidden’ is the past participle.

Over time, the commercial sense (“offer a price”) evolved, favoring the invariant bid.

10.2. Register and Stylistic Implications

Using bade or bidden adds a literary, formal, or archaic tone.

Writers may choose these forms for stylistic effect in poetry, historical fiction, or ceremonial speech.

10.3. Fixed and Idiomatic Expressions

  • Bid defiance: to resist or oppose strongly.
  • Bid welcome: to welcome someone formally.
  • Bid farewell: to say goodbye.

Usually use bade in the past: He bade them farewell.

10.4. Passive Voice and Causative Uses

  • You are bidden to attend. (passive, archaic)
  • They were bidden to leave.
  • In causative sense: He bade them go. (He caused them to go.)

10.5. Cross-linguistic Comparisons

Other languages may separate “offer” and “command” verbs:

  • French: faire une offre (to bid), ordonner (to command)
  • German: bieten (to offer), befehlen (to command)
  • Spanish: pujar (to bid), mandar (to command)

This can cause confusion for translators.

10.6. Corpus Analysis

Modern English corpora show that:

  • Bid dominates commercial and everyday usage.
  • Bade appears mainly in historical texts, literature, or fixed phrases.
  • Bidden is rare, mostly in archaic or biblical contexts.

10.7. Teaching Strategies for Educators

  • Use context-based drills distinguishing commercial vs. literary uses.
  • Include literary excerpts to illustrate bade and bidden.
  • Reinforce that bidded is incorrect.
  • Incorporate role-plays (e.g., auction vs. medieval scene).
  • Highlight fixed phrases and idioms.

10.8. Summary Table of Advanced Insights

Table 7: Advanced Overview

Form Origin Use Today Register Notes
bid Old English Auctions, offers Modern, standard Unchanged past and participle
bade Old English past Commands, farewells (literary) Formal, archaic Past simple
bidden Old English participle Very rare, poetic Archaic Past participle

11. FAQ Section

1. Is ‘bid’ both present and past tense?

Yes, ‘bid’ serves as both the base (present) and past tense in commercial contexts.

2. When should I use ‘bade’ instead of ‘bid’?

Use ‘bade’ in literary, formal, or archaic contexts involving commands, requests, or farewells.

3. Is ‘bidded’ ever correct?

No, ‘bidded’ is incorrect. Use ‘bid’ instead.

4. What is the past participle of ‘bid’?

In modern usage, it is ‘bid’. ‘Bidden’ is archaic or poetic.

5. Can I use ‘bade’ in modern English?

Yes, but mainly in literary, poetic, or formal contexts, not in business or casual speech.

6. What’s the difference between ‘bade’ and ‘bidden’?

‘Bade’ is the past simple form; ‘bidden’ is the past participle, mostly archaic.

7. How do I pronounce ‘bade’ correctly?

Commonly /beɪd/ (rhymes with made), sometimes /bæd/ (rhymes with bad).

8. Is ‘bid’ regular or irregular?

It is irregular.

9. Are there regional differences in using ‘bid’ or ‘bade’?

No significant differences; both US and UK use ‘bid’ commercially, ‘bade’ mainly in literature.

10. Can ‘bid’ be used in passive voice?

Yes. Examples: You are bid to attend (formal), You are bidden (archaic).

11. What are some common idioms with ‘bid’?

Bid farewell, bid welcome, bid defiance.

12. How do I teach the past tense of ‘bid’ effectively?

Emphasize context-based differences, use lots of examples, correct common errors, and include literary excerpts for ‘bade’ and ‘bidden’.

12. Conclusion

In summary, ‘bid’ is a versatile verb with complex past tense forms. Its meanings include offering a price, commanding, and greeting or farewelling. The past tense is usually ‘bid’ in commercial contexts and ‘bade’ in literary or formal speech.

Knowing when to use ‘bid’, ‘bade’, or ‘bidden’ depends on context and register. Avoid common mistakes such as using ‘bidded’.

Practice is essential. Use the examples, tables, and exercises provided to internalize these forms.

Understanding these nuances will sharpen both your written and spoken English, enriching your communication in everyday life and literature alike.

Return to this guide as a reference whenever in doubt, and keep bidding—and bidding farewell—with confidence!

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