Welcome to this comprehensive guide on the past tense of the verb “fast.” While most English learners know fast as an adjective or adverb meaning “quick,” it also functions as a verb meaning to abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, often for religious or health reasons. Understanding how to correctly form and use the past tense of this verb is essential, especially in conversations about religious observances, medical instructions, or even in metaphorical contexts like digital detoxes.
Many learners confuse “fast” solely as an adjective and are uncertain about its verb forms, particularly in the past tense. This guide aims to clear that confusion by providing thorough explanations, numerous examples, tables, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a beginner, an advanced student, a teacher, or a writer seeking precise grammar usage, this article will help you master the past tense of “fast.”
Let’s dive into the definitions, grammar rules, sentence patterns, and subtle nuances of this important verb in English.
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 “Fast” Mean as a Verb?
As a verb, “fast” means to deliberately abstain from all or certain types of food or drink for a period of time. This is often done for religious observance (such as during Ramadan or Lent), health reasons (before medical tests), or personal discipline.
Etymology: The verb fast originates from Old English fæstan, meaning “to hold firmly, observe, keep” — which evolved into the sense of abstaining from food as a spiritual or ritualistic act.
This meaning is very different from fast as an adjective or adverb meaning “quick.” For example:
- Adjective: “She is a fast runner.” (quick)
- Verb: “She fasted for 24 hours.” (abstained from food)
3.2. Grammatical Classification
Part of speech: Verb (regular)
Verb type: Primarily an intransitive verb (does not take a direct object), but can occasionally be transitive (“to fast a day”).
3.3. Function in Sentences
Role: Acts as the main verb, indicating the action of abstaining.
Typical subjects: Individuals, groups, religious communities.
Sentence position: Used in the predicate, can appear in all tenses and aspects.
Examples:
- “They fast every year during Lent.”
- “He fasted for medical reasons.”
3.4. Usage Contexts
Religious: Muslims fast during Ramadan; Christians fast during Lent; Jews fast on Yom Kippur.
Medical: Patients fast before blood tests or surgeries.
Metaphorical: Abstaining from activities like social media, entertainment, or speaking (“digital fast,” “media fast”).
| Base Form | Past Simple | Past Participle | Present Participle | 3rd Person Singular |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fast | fasted | fasted | fasting | fasts |
4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN
4.1. Forming the Past Tense of “Fast”
“Fast” is a regular verb. To form the simple past tense, simply add -ed:
fast → fasted
Pronunciation: /ˈfæstɪd/ (two syllables: FAS-tid)
4.2. Affirmative Past Simple Structure
Structure: Subject + fasted + (rest of sentence)
Examples:
- “She fasted during Ramadan.”
- “They fasted last week.”
- “I fasted for 18 hours.”
4.3. Negative Past Simple Structure
Structure: Subject + did not / didn’t + fast + (rest of sentence)
Note: The base form fast follows did not/didn’t.
Examples:
- “He didn’t fast yesterday.”
- “We did not fast because we were sick.”
4.4. Interrogative Past Simple Structure
Structure: Did + subject + fast + (rest)?
Examples:
- “Did you fast last week?”
- “Did she fast during the holiday?”
4.5. Past Continuous Form
Structure: Subject + was/were + fasting + (rest)
Examples:
- “They were fasting all day.”
- “I was fasting when the phone rang.”
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Subject + fast(s) | “She fasts on Mondays.” |
| Simple Past | Subject + fasted | “She fasted last Monday.” |
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + fasting | “She was fasting when I arrived.” |
| Present Perfect | Subject + has/have fasted | “She has fasted many times.” |
5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES
5.1. Simple Past of “Fast”
Use: Describes a completed fasting event in the past.
Example: “They fasted for 24 hours.”
5.2. Past Continuous of “Fast”
Use: Indicates ongoing fasting during a specific past moment.
Example: “She was fasting when the doctor called.”
5.3. Past Perfect of “Fast”
Use: An action completed before another past event.
Example: “He had fasted before his surgery.”
5.4. Past Habitual
Use: Expresses past routines or repeated actions using “used to” or “would.”
Examples:
- “I used to fast every Friday.”
- “They would fast during holy days.”
| Form | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | “She fasted yesterday.” | Completed past event |
| Past Continuous | “They were fasting all morning.” | Ongoing past action |
| Past Perfect | “He had fasted before noon.” | Action before another past event |
| Past Habitual | “We used to fast every week.” | Past routine |
6. EXAMPLES SECTION
6.1. Basic Examples in Simple Past
- “She fasted last Monday.”
- “They fasted during the holy month.”
- “I fasted for 12 hours.”
- “We fasted before the test.”
- “He fasted every year during Lent.”
6.2. Negative Sentences
- “He didn’t fast yesterday.”
- “We did not fast because we were ill.”
- “They didn’t fast last week.”
- “She did not fast on Friday.”
- “I didn’t fast because I forgot.”
6.3. Questions
- “Did you fast yesterday?”
- “Did they fast for medical reasons?”
- “Did she fast last year?”
- “Did he fast all day?”
- “Did you fast during Ramadan?”
6.4. Past Continuous Examples
- “I was fasting when the phone rang.”
- “They were fasting all morning.”
- “She was fasting during the ceremony.”
- “We were fasting while waiting for the results.”
- “He was fasting when I met him.”
6.5. Past Perfect Examples
- “She had fasted before the appointment.”
- “By noon, he had fasted for 16 hours.”
- “They had fasted since sunrise.”
- “I had fasted before they arrived.”
- “He had fasted before the surgery.”
6.6. Complex Sentences and Contextual Examples
- “Although she had fasted for 24 hours, she felt energetic.”
- “They fasted despite the difficult conditions.”
- “Because he fasted, his blood sugar dropped.”
- “Even though we fasted, we were able to work efficiently.”
- “After they had fasted, they enjoyed a big meal.”
6.7. Metaphorical Uses
- “He fasted from social media for a month.”
- “We fasted from gossip during Lent.”
- “They fasted from television last week.”
- “She fasted from shopping to save money.”
- “I fasted from sweets for health reasons.”
| Sentence Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | “He fasted yesterday.” |
| Negative | “He didn’t fast yesterday.” |
| Interrogative | “Did he fast yesterday?” |
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Past Continuous | “They were fasting when the food arrived.” |
| Past Perfect | “They had fasted before the ceremony.” |
| Context | Example |
|---|---|
| Religious | “They fasted during Ramadan.” |
| Medical | “She fasted before the blood test.” |
| Metaphorical | “He fasted from social media for a week.” |
7. USAGE RULES
7.1. When to Use “Fasted”
- To describe a completed fasting period in the past.
- Example: “We fasted last Friday.”
7.2. When NOT to Use “Fasted”
- For present habitual actions: use present simple (“I fast every week”).
- For current ongoing fasting: use present continuous (“I am fasting now”).
7.3. Common Collocations
- fasted + for + duration: “fasted for 12 hours”
- fasted + during + event/time: “fasted during Lent”
- fasted + before + event: “fasted before surgery”
7.4. Pronunciation and Spelling Rules
- Regular past tense: add -ed to form fasted.
- Pronunciation: The -ed is pronounced as /ɪd/ because fast ends with a /t/ sound.
- Breakdown: /ˈfæstɪd/ (two syllables: FAS-tid).
7.5. Exceptions and Irregularities
- No irregular past tense form: always fasted.
- No significant dialect differences; both British and American English use fasted.
7.6. Usage in Reported Speech
- Backshifting often changes present/past simple to past perfect: “He said he had fasted.”
| Use | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Completed past action | fasted | “She fasted yesterday.” |
| Negative past simple | did not fast | “He didn’t fast last week.” |
| Question past simple | Did + subject + fast? | “Did they fast?” |
| Past continuous | was/were fasting | “They were fasting.” |
| Past perfect | had fasted | “She had fasted.” |
8. COMMON MISTAKES
8.1. Confusing “Fast” as Adjective/Adverb vs. Verb
Incorrect: “Yesterday, I fast for 12 hours.”
Correct: “Yesterday, I fasted for 12 hours.”
8.2. Using “Fast” Instead of “Fasted” in Past Tense
Incorrect: “She fast during Lent.”
Correct: “She fasted during Lent.”
8.3. Incorrect Negative Formation
Incorrect: “She didn’t fasted yesterday.”
Correct: “She didn’t fast yesterday.”
8.4. Mispronunciation of “Fasted”
Remember, it is pronounced /ˈfæstɪd/, not /fæstəd/.
8.5. Misuse in Metaphorical Expressions
Use fasted metaphorically only when clearly meaning abstention from activities, not “moving quickly.”
Incorrect: “She fasted to the store.” (wrong: should be “She went quickly to the store.”)
Correct: “She fasted from social media for a month.”
9. PRACTICE EXERCISES
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
Complete with the correct past form:
- Last year, I _______ for three days. (fasted)
- They _______ during the festival. (fasted)
- She _______ before her appointment. (fasted)
- We _______ because of our religion. (fasted)
- He _______ from sugar for a month. (fasted)
9.2. Error Correction
- “She didn’t fasted yesterday.” → “She didn’t fast yesterday.”
- “Did you fasted last week?” → “Did you fast last week?”
- “They fast during Ramadan last year.” → “They fasted during Ramadan last year.”
- “He was fast when I called.” → “He was fasting when I called.”
- “We had fast before the test.” → “We had fasted before the test.”
9.3. Identify the Correct Past Tense Usage
- a) “She fasted yesterday.” (Correct)
- b) “She fast yesterday.” (Incorrect)
- c) “She fasts yesterday.” (Incorrect)
- a) “Did you fast last night?” (Correct)
- b) “Did you fasted last night?” (Incorrect)
- c) “Did you fasting last night?” (Incorrect)
9.4. Sentence Construction
Write 5 sentences using fasted in past simple:
- “I fasted before my blood test.”
- “They fasted during the holy month.”
- “She fasted for 24 hours.”
- “We fasted last Friday.”
- “He fasted from sugar.”
Write 3 sentences using was/were fasting:
- “She was fasting all day.”
- “They were fasting when I arrived.”
- “I was fasting during the procedure.”
9.5. Contextual Paragraph Completion
Fill in the blanks:
During Ramadan, many people _______ (fast) from sunrise to sunset. Last year, my family _______ (fast) every day. On the day of Eid, we _______ (not fast) but celebrated together. Before the festival, I _______ (fast) for 30 days. While we _______ (fast), we focused on prayer and charity.
Answers:
fast, fasted, did not fast, had fasted, were fasting
10. ADVANCED TOPICS
10.1. Historical and Religious Nuances
Different religions have specific fasting traditions, often with unique terms or expressions. When writing about them, maintain respect and use fasted appropriately:
- “Muslims fasted during Ramadan.”
- “Christians fasted on Good Friday.”
- “Jews fasted on Yom Kippur.”
10.2. Stylistic Variations
Formal: “Participants fasted prior to surgery.”
Informal: “I fasted before my blood test.”
Metaphorical/Literary: “She fasted from speaking to find peace.”
10.3. Using “Fasted” in Reported and Indirect Speech
- “I fasted yesterday,” → He said he had fasted the day before.
- Backshift past simple to past perfect when reporting in the past.
10.4. Passive Constructions (Rare)
While fast is mainly active, passive is more common with the noun or in impersonal forms:
- Active: “They fasted for three days.”
- Passive: “A fast was observed for three days.”
10.5. Cross-Linguistic Considerations
- Some languages use cognates similar to fast, but meanings can vary.
- Be cautious of false friends (words that look alike but differ in meaning).
- Culture affects how fasting is described, so always check idiomatic usage.
11. FAQ SECTION
1. Is “fast” a regular or irregular verb?
Fast is a regular verb. Its past simple and past participle are both fasted.
2. What is the past tense of ‘fast’?
The past tense of fast is fasted.
3. How do you pronounce ‘fasted’?
It is pronounced /ˈfæstɪd/ (two syllables: FAS-tid).
4. Can ‘fast’ be used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes. Fast as a verb means to abstain from food, and as a noun, it refers to the period of abstention (“a three-day fast”).
5. What is the past participle of ‘fast’?
Fasted.
6. When should I use ‘had fasted’?
Use had fasted to show an action completed before another past event: “She had fasted before the exam.”
7. Is ‘fasted’ used differently in British and American English?
No significant differences. Both use fasted.
8. Can I say ‘was fasting’ for past events?
Yes, to describe ongoing fasting at a past moment: “I was fasting when you called.”
9. How do I form questions with ‘fasted’?
Use Did + subject + fast: “Did you fast yesterday?”
10. What are common mistakes when using the past tense of ‘fast’?
Using the base form instead of past (“She fast yesterday”) or incorrect negatives (“She didn’t fasted”).
11. Is ‘fasted’ used in medical contexts?
Yes, often: “Patients fasted before surgery.”
12. Can ‘fast’ be used metaphorically in past tense?
Yes: “He fasted from social media.”
12. CONCLUSION
This comprehensive guide has shown that the verb “fast” — meaning to abstain from food — forms its past tense and past participle regularly as “fasted.” It is important to distinguish this from the adjective/adverb fast meaning “quick.”
Mastering how to use fasted in affirmative, negative, question forms, continuous/progressive, and perfect tenses enables clearer and more precise communication, especially in religious, health, and metaphorical contexts.
Use the numerous examples, tables, and exercises provided to reinforce your knowledge. Remember to avoid common mistakes and apply these rules confidently in your speaking and writing.
Review this article regularly, practice with the exercises, and you will gain command over this useful verb form. Happy learning!