controlled

Everyday

1. Controlled is the past form of «control»: made something or someone do what you want, or kept it in order. tree →
2. As an adjective, controlled means kept steady, calm or within limits, not wild. tree →
3. In science, a controlled test is one where you change only one thing and keep the rest the same. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, a «controlled experiment» or «fair test» changes one variable and keeps others the same. In PE, a controlled movement is slow and careful. In stories, a character who controlled their temper stayed calm. Phrases: «controlled by», «remote-controlled», «well controlled», «out of control» (the opposite state).

Examples

• She controlled the ball with her left foot. tree →
• The robot is controlled by a computer. tree →
• He took a deep breath and controlled his anger. tree →
• We did a controlled experiment and changed only the amount of water. tree →
• The firefighters controlled the fire before it reached the houses. tree →
• My brother has a remote-controlled car. tree →
• The traffic is controlled by lights at the crossing. tree →
• Her breathing was slow and controlled. tree →
• But he controlled himself and said: “Let me be, wife; what ails you? tree →

Note

Double «l» before -ed and -ing: control, controlled, controlling (but «controls»). Spelling trap: not «controled». In a science test, the «controlled variables» are the ones you keep the same. Not a number word, but in a problem «controlled» may mean a quantity was kept fixed.