leaped or leapt

[columb]

I know that both leaped and leapt are allowed past participles of leap but for me leaped sounds wrong. Is this because I'm British (i.e. is it a UK/US thing) or is it because I'm over 50?

Any ideas out there?

cf. learned vs. learnt - a very similar case.

Columb Healy

 

[2ffat]

IMHO, which is isn't worth much, leaped - leapt has to do with tense.

"He leaped to the window sill" vs "He had leapt to the window sill." (present vs. past)

On learned vs. learnt. Learnt is archaic. I haven't heard that word used in a very long time.



James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[columb]

Interesting James. Where are your from? I would definitely say "He leapt to the window sill" and a quick 'vox pop' around my colleages (here in Lancashire UK) all consider 'learnt' to be preferred. I'm still wondering if this is a regional thing.

Columb Healy

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> "He leaped to the window sill" vs "He had leapt to the window sill." (present vs. past)
I question that "He leaped to the window sill" is present tense.

I think the two are interchangeable, but I prefer the inflected forms leapt and learned.

There are a whole host of verbs, besides just leap and learn, that have that have both regular ('ed') and irregular ('t') past tenses. As I mentally go through the list, I'm not sure there is a pattern, other than it's what I'm used to hearing and saying. That directly supports the notion that it's a regional preference.

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[SilentAiche]

[green] He jumpt to the widow Jill,
'is heart beating faster;
She lept right back,
and kissd 'im smack
Right on 'is whet leaps.[/green]

TIM

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[chipperMDW]

I do what 22fat does: "leaped" and "had leapt"; I'm Texan, If it matters.

However, I'd call "leaped" past tense, and "had leapt" pluperfect.

 

[SkipVought]

TIM!

Skip,

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POULTRY in motion to PULLET for a PALTRY amount!}