The past tense of the verb “to ring”
Turns out to be a tricky thing:
Not one past tense; in fact there’s two
Depending on just what you do.
For tracking where across the sky
Migrating birds might choose to fly
Around one leg a ring is placed
With numbers so it can be traced.
So from “to ring” what then is heard
Is “Martin caught and ringed the bird.”
While “ring” exists of course as well
For what you do to hear a bell.
The past tense, though, is always “rang”
While similarly from “to hang”
Two different versions can be made
Depending on the person’s trade:
“I hung the doors!” – a carpenter;
“I hanged him!” – executioner.
