sung

Everyday

1. Sung is the form of "sing" used after have, has, had and be: "I have sung", "It was sung". tree →
2. As an adjective, sung means performed by singing rather than speaking, as in "a sung service" or "sung prayers". tree →

In the lessons

In grammar lessons pupils learn sing, sang, sung (like ring, rang, rung; drink, drank, drunk). In church, a sung Mass or sung Eucharist has the prayers sung by choir and people. Phrases: have sung, was sung, sung Mass, unsung hero (a hero no one praises).

Examples

• We have sung that song three times today. tree →
• The anthem was sung at the start of the match. tree →
• Happy Birthday was sung loudly by the whole class. tree →
• On Sundays there is a sung Mass at eleven. tree →
• The choir had sung beautifully. tree →
• The lollipop lady is an unsung hero of our school. tree →
• Now she heard the following words sadly sung,-- tree →

Note

Trap: past simple is sang ("I sang"); past participle is sung ("I have sung"). Wrong: "I have sang", "I sung yesterday" (said in some dialects, but not in school English). "Unsung" means not praised.

In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh songs of praise are sung to God, and the Psalms were sung by the Levites in the Temple.

Interpretation. Tradition remembers Israel's songs of thanks, such as the Song at the Sea, and sees song as a way of praising God.

Examples

• Remember that thou magnify His work, whereof men have sung. (Writings JOB.36.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; walls and bulwarks doth He appoint for salvation. (Prophets ISA.26.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Trap: past simple is sang ("I sang"); past participle is sung ("I have sung"). Wrong: "I have sang", "I sung yesterday" (said in some dialects, but not in school English). "Unsung" means not praised.