Bent
/bɛnt/
adjectiveverbnounB1past tense, past participle
Definition
As an adjective, bent describes something that is curved or not straight. As a verb (past tense of "bend"), it means to make something curve or change shape. As a noun, it can mean a natural talent or strong interest in a particular area.
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⚡ See It in Action
Adjective: Curved or not straight
- •The metal rod was bent after the accident.
- •She noticed the bent picture frame on the wall.
- •The road is bent around the hill.
Verb (past tense of bend): To make something curve or change shape
- •He bent the wire to make a hook.
- •She bent down to pick up the book.
- •The branches bent in the wind.
Noun: A natural talent or strong interest
- •He has a bent for music and plays several instruments.
- •Her bent for languages helped her learn quickly.
- •They discovered his bent for painting when he was young.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bent" like "curved" (A2 word), but "bent" often means the result of bending or something permanently not straight.
- ✓Picture a tree branch that has been pushed down and now curves instead of growing straight.
- ✓It's the feeling when you try to straighten a wire, but it stays twisted or curved.
- ✓Sounds like "bent" → imagine a bent tent pole that is no longer straight and holds the tent differently.
- ✓Remember the phrase "bent out of shape," meaning upset or angry, like something physically twisted.
- ✓NOT like "straight" (no curves), "bent" means there is a curve or twist.
- ✓NOT like "folded" (usually sharp edges), "bent" is smoother and more curved.
- ✓As a noun, "bent" means a natural skill, unlike "interest" which is just liking something without skill.
- ✓As a verb, "bent" is the past action of "bend," meaning to make something curve or change shape.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Curved: shaped with a smooth, rounded line (Use when describing shapes without implying force)
- •Twisted: turned in a spiral or uneven way (Use when the shape is more irregular or complex)
- •Inclined: leaning or slanting (Use for slight angles or attitudes)
- •Talent: natural skill or ability (Use when talking about natural ability, instead of "bent" as a noun)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: base root "bend" + past tense suffix "-t" (old form of past tense)
- •Etymology: From Old English "bendian," meaning to curve or turn
- •Historical development: Used since early English to describe curving objects or actions of curving
- •Modern usage: Used as adjective for curved shapes, past tense verb for bending action, and noun for natural skill or interest
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does the meaning of "bent" change when used as an adjective, verb, or noun?
•Can you think of examples where something bent is better than straight? Why?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The metal rod was bent ___ the heavy weight that fell on it.
2.She has a bent ___ music, so she plays many instruments well.
3.The road is bent ___ the hill, making it hard to see around the corner.
4.When strong wind blew, the tree branches bent ___ but did not break.
5.He bent down ___ pick up the keys from the floor.
6.Unlike folded paper, bent objects usually have smooth ___, not sharp edges.
7.The picture frame was bent ___ the accident, so it did not hang straight.