Send and sent are some of the commonly used words out there. Although there are people who know the difference between these two words, there are some who still use these words interchangeably. The reality of issues is that these words are very different from each other. In most instances, they are used to mean transmit, dispatch, or even to convey something.
However, these words are applicable in different settings as the word ‘send’ is a verb while its counterpart is the past participle of the verb ‘send.’ There are other notable differences between these two words. We have compiled several differences between these two words for easier distinction.
When Should You Use the Word ‘Send’?
To start with, the word send means to transmit or convey something. In some instances, it might also mean to dispatch something or make someone or someone to go somewhere. When used to construct a sentence, it usually acts as a verb, both intransitive and transitive. It can also be used in a number of contexts, such as to order or make someone or something to go somewhere. Here are some examples that can help you understand this:
- Kindly send your article for consideration.
- I will send Peter to collect shoes from your shop.
Besides the above-mentioned context, it can also be used to make something to take place. Finally, it can be used to mean the act of delivering something through a medium of communication. A good example here is:
- Send your assignment by email
- He always sends a letter to his girlfriend on a weekly basis
From the illustrations mentioned above, the word ‘send’ is usually used to mean an action that hasn’t yet started or ended. Generally, it is usually used in an active voice. In this case, the person or the subject in question is the doer of the action described above.
| Send | Sent |
|---|---|
 |  |
When to Use the Word ‘Sent’
The word ‘sent’ is not very different from the word ‘send.’ In most cases, this word is used to mean the past tense of the word ‘send’. It can also be used as a verb and even as an adjective. When used as an adjective, it usually refers to something or someone heading to a certain destination. A good example to illustrate this is:
- That was a God-sent opportunity
- He is the heaven-sent angel you met.
- Our love it just heaven-sent
Like we mentioned above, it can be used as a verb. In this case, it acts as both the past perfect tense and the simple past tense of the word ‘send’. In addition, the word ‘sent’ can act as a past perfect continuous tense and a past continuous tense of the primary word. Here are some examples to illustrate that:
- She sent a letter to her brother- Here, the word ‘sent’ has been used as a simple past tense
- I had sent the parcel before going to the school- The word ‘sent’ has been used as a past perfect tense
- Peter was being sent to New York by his manager- Here, the work ‘sent’ has been used as a past continuous tense
From the illustrations mentioned above, it is evident that the word ‘sent’ can refer to an action that has commenced or already come to an end. In addition, it can be used in the passive voice. Finally, the word ‘sent’ can be used as a noun. When used in this setting, it has a different meaning altogether. In this case, it refers to Estonia’s currency which is equal to a hundredth of one kroon.
Final Thoughts
It is no secret that the word ‘send’ and ‘sent’ have the same meaning. However, these words are used in different contexts. For instance, the word ‘send’ is usually used in the present tense while its counterpart is the past tense.
In addition, the word ‘send’ is commonly used in the active voice, while its counterpart is used in the passive voice. All these differences make these words different, despite having a similar meaning. As you go about using these words, note the differences mentioned above so as to avoid any confusion or ambiguity.
