TL;DR – “Awoken” and “awakened” are both past participle forms of “awake,” but “awoken” is more commonly used in British English, while “awakened” is preferred in American English.
“Awoken” and “awakened” are both past participle forms of the verb “awake.” They can be used somewhat interchangeably, but they tend to be used in different contexts or constructions in modern English.
Awakened:
- Simple Past: I awakened at 6 a.m.
- Past Participle: I had awakened by the time the alarm went off.
Awoken:
- Past Participle: I had awoken by the sound of the alarm.
Both words essentially refer to the act of ceasing to be asleep. “Awakened” is more commonly used in American English and is often perceived as somewhat more formal or literary. “Awoken” might be used in a similar way, but some might consider it slightly more archaic or poetic.
Remember that in different forms of English (British, American, Australian, etc.), usage may vary slightly, and one form might be preferred over the other.
Here’s how the verb “awake” looks in various tenses, just to give you an overall view:
- Present: I awake / He awakes
- Simple Past: I awoke / He awoke
- Past Participle: I have awoken / He has awoken
Sometimes, “awake” is replaced by “waken” in certain forms, and “waken” also has similar forms:
- Present: I waken / He wakens
- Simple Past: I wakened / He wakened
- Past Participle: I have wakened / He has wakened
Language is flexible and continuously evolving, so in some contexts, you might encounter variations in the usage of these words. Always consider the regional English dialects and the style of language being used (formal vs. informal, American vs. British, etc.) when determining which form to use.
FAQ
How do you use awakened in a sentence?
Published on: 2023-10-03
Updated on: 2023-10-06
