to spit

[beachboy]

Hey, be careful! You´ve just ________________ in my eye!
What´s the most commonly used participle of the verb to spit? I´ve found spitted, spat and even spit....

[kfredson]

Hey, be careful! You´ve just ________________ in my eye!
What´s the most commonly used participle of the verb to spit? I´ve found spitted, spat and even spit....

Well, I can't say that I have heard the past participle of spit very often, so I am not sure what "sounds" better. but I would personally say "have spit." Apparently "have spat" works, as well.

I wouldn't worry about making this sentence part of your regular lexicon.

[TheParser]

Hey, be careful! You´ve just ________________ in my eye!
What´s the most commonly used participle of the verb to spit? I´ve found spitted, spat and even spit....

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Beachboy.

(1) I checked in A DICTIONARY OF MODERN AMERICAN USAGE by Mr.

Bryan A. Garner. Many people feel that he is a good guide.

(2) Mr. Garner says that you have three choices:

spit spat spat

spit spat spit

spit spit spit

(3) I think that many Americans probably follow the third set.

(4) Mr. Garner recommends following the first set -- "as good writers
generally do." (His words)

(5) Thus, you might want to say: "You've just spat in my eye!"

(6) As I have already said, I suspect that many people would use

spit.

Thank you


*****

P. S. Mr. Garner is an American, and he also writes books that give

advice to lawyers regarding proper English usage.