Bid vs. Bade vs. Bidden – Which is Correct?
“Bid,” “bade,” and “bidden” are all grammatically correct forms of the irregular verb “to bid,” each used in specific tenses and contexts. “Bid” functions as the present tense, past tense, and past participle when referring to offering money. “Bade” is the past tense, and “bidden” the past participle, when “to bid” means to command or to say farewell.
Bid, Bade, or Bidden – Which is Correct?
The verb “to bid” is unique in English because it has two distinct sets of conjugations, each corresponding to a different primary meaning. Understanding these two pathways is key to using “bid,” “bade,” and “bidden” correctly.
The first meaning of “to bid” is to offer a price or amount, typically in an auction or for a contract. In this sense, the verb is largely “regular” in its irregular forms, remaining “bid” for both the simple past tense and the past participle.
The second meaning of “to bid” is to command, request, or say farewell. This is an older, more formal, and often literary usage. In this context, the verb follows a more traditional irregular pattern, using “bade” for the simple past tense and “bidden” for the past participle.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
To remember the distinction, think of common irregular verbs with similar patterns. For the “offer” sense, remember verbs like “cut,” “put,” or “hit,” which remain unchanged across present, past, and past participle forms: I cut, I cut, I have cut. Similarly: I bid (an offer), I bid (an offer), I have bid (an offer).
For the “command/farewell” sense, think of verbs like “hide”: hide (present), hid (past), hidden (past participle). The pattern for “to bid” (command/farewell) is analogous: bid (present), bade (past), bidden (past participle). This mnemonic helps distinguish the more archaic “bade” and “bidden” from the consistent “bid” of financial offers.
| Word | Part of Speech / Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bid | Present Tense | To offer (money/price); To command; To say farewell | I will bid on the antique vase. She will bid him good morning. |
| Bid | Past Tense (for “offer”) | Offered (money/price) | He bid $500 for the rare book yesterday. |
| Bade | Past Tense (for “command/farewell”) | Commanded; Said farewell | The captain bade his crew to prepare for the storm. |
| Bidden | Past Participle (for “command/farewell”) | Commanded; Said farewell (used with auxiliary verbs) | She had been bidden to attend the royal feast. |
How to Use Bid
The word “bid” is highly versatile, functioning as a verb in its present tense, simple past tense, and past participle forms, as well as a noun. Its usage depends heavily on the intended meaning.
When “bid” means to offer a price or amount, as in an auction or a tender, its conjugation is quite straightforward. The present tense, simple past tense, and past participle all remain “bid.” This makes it one of the few verbs in English that doesn’t change form across these tenses for this particular meaning.
When “bid” means to command, request, or say farewell, its conjugation becomes irregular. In this more formal or archaic sense, “bid” is the present tense, “bade” is the simple past, and “bidden” is the past participle. This usage often appears in literature, poetry, or highly formal contexts, carrying a sense of solemnity or tradition.
As a noun, “bid” refers to the act of offering a price or a proposal, or the price itself.
Example 1 (Verb – Offer): The company will bid on the new construction project. (Present tense)
Example 2 (Verb – Offer, Past): The art collector bid aggressively for the painting. (Past tense)
Example 3 (Verb – Command): She will bid her servant fetch the carriage. (Present tense)
Example 4 (Noun): Their bid for the contract was the lowest.
What are the different forms of Bid?
The verb “to bid” has distinct conjugation patterns based on its meaning:
- To offer (a price, a contract):
- Present Tense: bid (e.g., I bid)
- Past Simple: bid (e.g., I bid yesterday)
- Past Participle: bid (e.g., I have bid)
- To command, request, or say farewell:
- Present Tense: bid (e.g., I bid you welcome)
- Past Simple: bade (e.g., I bade him farewell)
- Past Participle: bidden (e.g., I have been bidden)
As a noun, the plural form is “bids.”
Etymology of the word Bid
The word “bid” has a fascinating dual etymology, stemming from two distinct Old English verbs that eventually merged. The sense of “to command, ask, pray” comes from Old English biddan. The sense of “to offer, proclaim” comes from Old English beodan. Over time, these two verbs, similar in sound but different in meaning, converged into the single modern English verb “to bid,” leading to its irregular and context-dependent conjugations.
How to Use Bade
“Bade” is the simple past tense form of the verb “to bid” when “to bid” means to command, request, or say farewell. It is not used when “bid” refers to offering a price. “Bade” carries an archaic or literary tone and is less common in everyday spoken English compared to its use in written works, particularly older literature.
Using “bade” correctly demonstrates a nuanced understanding of English verb conjugation and can add a touch of formality or poetic flair to writing. It is typically followed by an object (the person commanded or addressed) and then an infinitive verb (what they were commanded to do) or a direct object (the farewell).
Example 1: The king bade his knights prepare for battle.
Example 2: She bade her mother a fond goodbye before leaving for college.
Example 3: He bade me sit down and listen to his story.
What are the different forms of Bade?
“Bade” itself is a specific past simple form of the verb “to bid” (in the sense of commanding or saying farewell). It does not have further conjugations or forms beyond its role as the past tense. The present tense is “bid,” and the past participle is “bidden.”
Etymology of the word Bade
“Bade” originates from the Old English word bæd, which was the past tense of biddan, meaning “to ask, pray, command.” This etymological root directly connects “bade” to its modern meaning of having commanded or requested something, or having said farewell.
How to Use Bidden
“Bidden” is the past participle form of the verb “to bid” when “to bid” means to command, request, or say farewell. Like “bade,” it is not used in the context of offering a price. “Bidden” is primarily used with auxiliary verbs such as “has,” “have,” “had,” or “been” to form perfect tenses or the passive voice.
This form is also highly formal or archaic and is more commonly found in literary or historical texts. It implies that a command or request has been made, or that a farewell has been spoken, often by someone in authority or in a solemn manner.
Example 1: She had been bidden to appear before the council. (Passive voice, past perfect)
Example 2: The guests, once bidden to the feast, quickly found their seats. (Reduced clause)
Example 3: Having been bidden farewell, the travelers set off on their long journey.
What are the different forms of Bidden?
“Bidden” is a specific past participle form of the verb “to bid” (in the sense of commanding or saying farewell). It is used to form perfect tenses (e.g., “have bidden,” “had bidden”) and the passive voice (e.g., “is bidden,” “was bidden,” “been bidden”). It does not have further conjugations itself, as it is already a conjugated form. The present tense is “bid,” and the past simple is “bade.”
Etymology of the word Bidden
“Bidden” comes from the Old English word boden, which was the past participle of biddan (to ask, pray, command). Its development follows the typical pattern of strong (irregular) verbs in English, where the past participle often ends in -en or -n, similar to “hidden” from “hide” or “given” from “give.”
Related Concepts
Understanding these related grammatical concepts will help clarify the usage of “bid,” “bade,” and “bidden.”
- Irregular Verbs: English verbs like “to bid” that do not form their past simple and past participle by adding “-ed” are called irregular verbs. Their forms must often be memorized, and “to bid” is particularly complex due to its dual conjugation patterns.
- Polysemy and Homonymy: “Bid” is an example of polysemy, where a single word has multiple related but distinct meanings (e.g., to offer money vs. to command). While sometimes treated as homonyms due to their different conjugations, they stem from a shared history, making polysemy a more accurate description of the relationship between its meanings.
- Archaic Language: The forms “bade” and “bidden” are considered archaic or formal in modern English. Recognizing language that is less common in contemporary speech but persists in literature helps in understanding historical texts and formal writing.
Examples from Media and Literature
- “The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. ‘Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?’ he asked. ‘Begin at the beginning,’ the King said gravely, ‘and go on till you come to the end: then stop.’ This was the best advice that Alice had ever bidden.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Here, “bidden” is used as the past participle of “to command.”)
- “And she bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should send him to her.” – William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (Here, “bade” is the past tense of “to command/request.”)
- “He bid his farewells to the assembled company before departing on his journey.” (Modern usage of “bid” as past tense for farewell, though “bade” is more traditional.)
- “The company’s latest bid for the government contract was rejected due to compliance issues.” (Here, “bid” is a noun referring to an offer.)
- “Investors are eagerly watching to see how high the rival firms will bid in the upcoming spectrum auction.” (Here, “bid” is the present tense verb meaning “to offer money.”)
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word (bid, bade, or bidden) to complete the sentence.
- The auctioneer waited for someone to __________ higher on the antique watch.
- Before leaving, she __________ her relatives a heartfelt goodbye.
- The ancient prophecy had __________ that a hero would rise from the ashes.
- Despite the high price, he __________ on the rare manuscript.
- The queen __________ her loyal subjects to remain calm during the crisis.
Answer Key
- bid
- bade
- bidden
- bid
- bade
Bid Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition / Context |
|---|---|
| Offer | To present something for acceptance or rejection (e.g., an offer of money). |
| Tender | To offer or propose formally, especially a sum of money or services in response to a request. |
| Propose | To put forward an idea or plan for consideration or discussion. |
| Command | To give an authoritative order or instruction. |
| Order | An authoritative instruction; a directive. |
| Request | An act of asking for something politely or formally. |
| Enjoin | To instruct or urge (someone) to do something. |
| Wish | To express a desire or hope for someone (e.g., “bid you good fortune”). |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “bid” always irregular?
Yes, “bid” is always an irregular verb, but its irregularity manifests in two different patterns depending on its meaning. When meaning “to offer a price,” its past tense and past participle are both “bid.” When meaning “to command or say farewell,” its past tense is “bade” and its past participle is “bidden.”
Question 2: Can I use “bid” as the past tense for commanding someone?
While technically possible in some very informal or regional dialects, the grammatically correct and widely accepted past tense for “bid” (meaning to command or say farewell) is “bade.” Using “bid” for the past tense in this context would be considered incorrect in formal writing and by many grammarians.
Question 3: When should I use “bidden”?
“Bidden” is the past participle of “to bid” when it means to command or say farewell. You should use it in perfect tenses (e.g., “had been bidden”) or in the passive voice (e.g., “was bidden”). It is a formal or archaic word, so its use is typically reserved for literary contexts, historical accounts, or very formal speech.
Conclusion
The verb “to bid” is a fascinating example of English’s linguistic richness and occasional complexity. While “bid” serves as the present, past, and past participle when referring to financial offers, “bade” and “bidden” are the distinct past tense and past participle forms, respectively, when the verb means to command or say farewell. Mastering these distinctions elevates your command of the English language, allowing for greater precision and a deeper appreciation of its historical nuances.
Pro Tip: In professional communication, always prioritize clarity. If the formal “bade” or “bidden” might confuse your audience, consider rephrasing with more common synonyms like “commanded,” “instructed,” or “said farewell” to ensure your message is universally understood.
