write

write / wrote / written / writing

Use the verb “write” for communicating ideas or entertainment  through paper or any type of electronic device. 

 

write

a. Writing is an important skill.

The ability to write indicates a person’s level of education. 

  • Students learn to write in school. 
  • Writing is an important skill. 
  • As a teacher, I write every day, and so do my students. 
  • I tell my students to write so that I can help them with their English skills. 
  • Some people write for a living.
  •  Newspaper columnists and novelists are professional writers who write for a living.  
  • Have you ever sent a hand-written letter to someone? 
  • Nowadays, people use their phones or their computers to write messages and email. 
  • We write comments on message boards and in chats. 
fountain pen on black lined paper
  • People who write often use a pen. 
Close-up of a vintage typewriter typing manuscript pages in a classic style.
  • You can also use a typewrite or a computer to write something. 

b. Examples for the verb "write" in various verb tenses:

How many of these verb tenses do you recognize? 

  • I’m writing right now. (present continuous tense) 
  • Do you write when you learn new things? (present tense) 
  • Yesterday, my students wrote in their notebooks. (past tense) 
  • This lesson is written in English. (present tense, passive voice) 
  • Have you written down anything that you learned from this website? (present perfect tense) 
  • A teacher can help you learn to write. (infinitive) 
  • To improve your English, you should be writing in a notebook every day–no matter how little you might write. (modal continuous / modal verb) 

write / wrote / written / writing

A man smiling while working at an office desk with a computer and natural daylight streaming in through large windows.
  • He‘s writing an email to a coworker. (present continuous tense) 
a person writing on a piece of paper with a pen
  • It’s important to write every day to practice your language skills. (infinitive) 

c. The word "writing" is used as a gerund or as an adjective.

A gerund is an “ing” word that functions as a noun. In these sentences the word “writing” is a gerund that functions as a subject or as an object. 

  • Students work on their writing in school. 
  • Teachers look at their students’ writing. 
  • Writing is a necessary skill.

A present participle has an “ing” ending and may be used as an adjective. The word “writing” serves as an adjective in these sentences:  

  • The teacher gave the students a writing assignment. 
  • How are your writing skills? 
  • A writing instructor can help improve a person’s writing. 
ai generated, school, students-8702858.jpg
  • They are practicing their writing. (gerund) 
ai generated, man, teacher-8663328.jpg
  • A teacher helps students develop their writing skills. (adjective) 

d. expressions that use the word "write"

Here are some common expressions that include the word “write.” 

  • write off = Use an expense for a tax deduction. This reduces the taxes you pay. 
  • write down = put information on paper 
  • write for = create material for publication 
  • write in = to write the name of a person for a nomination  
  • write up = to identify and formally document an offense 
black Android smartphone near ballpoint pen, tax withholding certificate on top of white folder
  • People in business write off their expenses in the form of tax deductions. 
Police officer writing a ticket to a car in a sunny parking lot with a colleague in the background.
  • The driver of this car was written up for a parking violation. 

 

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