Maintained or Maintenanced – which is correct? This is a common question that many English learners and even native speakers struggle with. In order to determine the correct usage, we need to learn the rules of English grammar.
Firstly, let’s define both words. “Maintained” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “maintain”. It means to keep something in good condition or to preserve it. On the other hand, “maintenanced” is a non-standard word that does not exist in traditional English grammar.
In English, the regular way to create the past tense of a verb is by adding -ed to the base form. For example, we say “played” for the past tense of “play” and “worked” for the past tense of “work”. Following this rule, the correct past tense of “maintain” is “maintained”. Therefore, if we want to talk about something that has already been kept in good condition, we would say “it was maintained well”.
Let’s look at a few examples to further illustrate the correct usage of “maintained”. Imagine you own a car and you regularly take care of it. You could say, “I have maintained my car for many years, so it still runs smoothly.” Here, “maintained” correctly describes the action of preserving the car’s condition.
Now, let’s explore why “maintenanced” is not grammatically correct. In English, we do have irregular verbs that don’t follow the -ed rule for creating the past tense. However, “maintain” is not one of them. It is a regular verb, which means it should follow the standard conjugation rules. While it’s true that some irregular verbs take on different forms, such as “go” becoming “went” in the past tense, these exceptions don’t apply to “maintain”.
Using “maintenanced” would be akin to creating a non-existent verb form. It would confuse native speakers and make your English sound unnatural or even incorrect. Imagine if I said, “I dentorized my teeth regularly”. Although you might understand what I mean, you would obviously recognize that “dentorized” is not a proper word.
To emphasize further, there are no documents or reputable sources that approve or acknowledge “maintenanced” as a correct word in English grammar. The Merriam-Webster and Oxford English dictionaries, which are widely recognized as authorities on the English language, do not list “maintenanced” as a valid form of “maintain”. Trust the professionals and stick to “maintained”.
In conclusion, when discussing the past action of keeping something in good condition, “maintained” is the correct term to use. Steer clear of the non-standard term “maintenanced”, which doesn’t follow the rules of English grammar. Remember, prioritizing correct grammar and word usage will not only help you in your IELTS examination but also in your everyday communication. Keep practicing and gradually improve your English skills.