Learnt or Learned Thread poster: Pamela Peralta
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Hello there,
I was chatting with a friend and he corrected me when I wrote the word \'learnt\' as \'she learnt a lot today\'.
I was taught that I can use either \'learnt\' or learned when referring to the past tense of the verb \'learnd\'. He said that in my trade \'learnt\' would be unaccepted.
Would it?
Pamela
Pamela
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| Post as English monolingual question | Mar 21, 2003 |
Why not post it as an English monolingual question?
Just a thought.
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Lia Fail (X) 
Spain
Local time: 12:59
Spanish to English
+ ...
| both are acceptable | Mar 21, 2003 |
Rather arrogant of your friend to correct you! Language is not fixed, and there are many regional variations.
Both are correct, as any English verb list will confirm.
Here is an FAQ from http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/learnt?view=print
What is the difference between learnt and learned? ... See more Rather arrogant of your friend to correct you! Language is not fixed, and there are many regional variations.
Both are correct, as any English verb list will confirm.
Here is an FAQ from http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/learnt?view=print
What is the difference between learnt and learned?
These are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt ****is more common**** in British English, and learned in American English. There are a number of verbs of this type (burn, dream, kneel, lean, leap, spell, spill, spoil, etc.). They are all irregular verbs, and this is a part of their irregularity.
Note that ****is more common**** is just a question of preference. I think I personally use the -ed form more.
HTH
Ailish  ▲ Collapse
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I think it depends: in British English it is possible to use learnt or learned, whereas in American English learned is more common. So it would depend on which market you were translating for as to which one you would use.
Sarah.
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Russell Jones
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:59
Italian to English
| Depends on context | Mar 21, 2003 |
Without indulging in any research, my gut reaction is that \"learnt\" is the most common option for the past definite and past participle of the verb \"to learn\".
\"Learned\" on the other hand (2 syllables) is an adjective meaning scholarly and erudite.
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moxwhite
Local time: 11:59
Italian to English
| Both are correct | Mar 21, 2003 |
I totally agree with Ailish. Both are acceptable. I teach English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)and both past participles are correct. Unlike Ailish, however, I tend to use learnt more than learned. But I must tell you that you have caused an argument between my husband and myself. He insists that it is learned (but then he does come from Hartlepool where they hung the monkey! and where they pronounce Hartlepool as Artlepool)
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| ..where they hanged teh monkey... | Mar 25, 2003 |
Quote:
On 2003-03-21 21:15, moxwhite wrote:
I totally agree with Ailish. Both are acceptable. I teach English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)and both past participles are correct. Unlike Ailish, however, I tend to use learnt more than learned. But I must tell you that you have caused an argument between my husband and myself. He insists that it is learned (but then he does come from Hartlepool where they hung the monkey! an
... See more Quote:
On 2003-03-21 21:15, moxwhite wrote:
I totally agree with Ailish. Both are acceptable. I teach English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)and both past participles are correct. Unlike Ailish, however, I tend to use learnt more than learned. But I must tell you that you have caused an argument between my husband and myself. He insists that it is learned (but then he does come from Hartlepool where they hung the monkey! and where they pronounce Hartlepool as Artlepool)
Tricky things these past tenses, aren\'t they!!
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| To my learned friend ........ | Mar 31, 2003 |
Both learnt and learned are correct.
Ref.: A Concise Dictionary of Correct English, B.A. Phythian.
A very handy book
[addsig]
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