Is 'snew' a Past Tense of 'Snow'?

When it comes to the verb 'snow', the simple past tense is not 'snew', but rather 'snowed'. While 'snow' can be used in a playful literary context as seen in the beloved works of A.A. Milne, it's important to understand that 'snew' is not a standard English word.

The Past Tense of Snow: Snowed

The past tense form of the verb "snow" is "snowed". This is a straightforward regular verb ending, where the base form of the verb is followed by the suffix "-ed". For example:
Bob shouted, 'Snow damn you!' at the clouds overhead. It snowed so hard we had to dig the cars out to go to work this morning.

The Literary Exception

While 'snowed' is the correct past tense form, there is one notable literary exception where A.A. Milne used 'snew'. This was in a whimsical verse meant for children, where adhering to a specific rhyme scheme was more important than using the grammatically correct word. Here is a snippet from the verse:

If I were a bear and a big bear too, nI shouldn’t much care if it froze or snew, nI shouldn’t much mind if it snowed or friz – nId be all fur-lined with a coat like his!

Notice how Milne used the correct forms 'snowed' and 'froze' when they fit the rhyme scheme. This playful use of 'snew' and 'friz' fits within the context of a children's poem and is meant to be entertaining rather than a standard English construction.

Understanding Regular Verbs

Not all verbs follow this simple "-ed" ending. Some verbs have irregular past tense forms that do not follow this pattern. For instance:

Know - knew - known Grow - grew - grown Blow - blew - blown

These irregular forms often emerge because of ancient language changes. However, for most regular verbs, adding '-ed' to the base form creates the simple past tense. Some common examples include:

Crow - crowed Mow - mowed - mown Sow - sowed - sown

So, the next time you try to form the past tense of 'snow' or any regular verb, remember to simply add the '-ed' ending, unless the verb is irregular and has a different past tense form.

Fun with Language

While mastering the rules of English grammar can be a challenge at times, it’s also incredibly rewarding. Fun facts like the use of 'snew' in children's poetry can add a playful element to our language learning journeys. Have fun exploring the quirks and nuances of English, and remember, language is a living entity, constantly evolving and full of surprises!