forms
forms — noun
1. papers or digital documents with set spaces where you write information or choos
papers or digital documents with set spaces where you write information or choose answers.
Nadia filled in the visa forms at the airport help desk.
fill in forms
Please send the tax forms before the end of April.
The nurse checked that all consent forms had been signed.
Parents can download the school lunch forms from the website.
- paperwork
broader and more general; it can include documents beyond blank forms
- documents
neutral and broad; not every document has spaces to complete
- applications
narrower; mainly used when requesting a job, place, or service
文法句型
fill in forms
send forms to + office
forms for + purpose
用法筆記
Most often used for official paperwork or online documents that ask for personal details, choices, or permission.
常見錯誤
2. different kinds or versions in which something can exist, appear, or be expresse
different kinds or versions in which something can exist, appear, or be expressed.
Water appears in different forms, including ice, steam, and rain.
different forms = kinds or states
Music reaches people in many forms, from lullabies to street songs.
The disease can take several forms, some mild and some dangerous.
Online learning now comes in forms that suit busy parents' schedules.
文法句型
forms of + noun
in many forms
different forms of + noun
用法筆記
Common after 'different', 'various', and 'many'. Distinguish from sense 6: this sense means kinds or versions, not the structure of an artwork or piece of writing.
常見錯誤
3. shapes or outlines that you can see, especially when the details are unclear.
shapes or outlines that you can see, especially when the details are unclear.
Dark forms moved slowly through the fog near the bridge.
forms = visible outlines
The artist painted simple forms before adding colour and detail.
simple forms in art
From the hill, we could see animal forms in the field.
Several clay forms sat drying beside the potter's wheel.
文法句型
dark forms
human forms
forms in + place
用法筆記
Often used when the general shape is visible but the exact identity is not, especially in art, drawing, mist, or shadow.
4. different versions of the same word that change to show tense, number, person, o
different versions of the same word that change to show tense, number, person, or another grammar meaning.
Students practised the past forms of irregular verbs before the test.
past forms of verbs
The chart shows plural forms beside each singular noun.
plural forms
Mina wrote all the verb forms on blue flashcards.
Our teacher explained which forms sound formal in business emails.
- inflections
more technical and mainly used in grammar
- variants
broader; it can refer to non-grammar differences too
- endings
narrower; it only names the changing part at the end of a word
文法句型
verb forms
plural forms
past forms
用法筆記
Used in grammar teaching to talk about inflections such as past forms, plural forms, or polite forms. Unlike sense 2, this sense is specifically about language.
常見錯誤
5. in British schools, class groups of students of about the same age.
in British schools, class groups of students of about the same age.
The school holds a singing contest between the lower forms each winter.
lower forms in a British school
Students from the upper forms helped welcome the new pupils.
upper forms
The headteacher praised the forms that kept their classrooms tidy.
New pupils are placed into forms during their first week.
- classes
broader and more international; it does not carry the British school-system meaning
- tutor groups
used in some schools for administrative class groups
文法句型
upper forms
lower forms
placed into forms
用法筆記
Mainly British. A form is a class group rather than one particular lesson, and older schools often speak of lower forms and upper forms.
6. set patterns or structures that organize a piece of art, music, writing, or argu
set patterns or structures that organize a piece of art, music, writing, or argument.
The course compares poetic forms from Japan, Persia, and Wales.
poetic forms
Jazz musicians often stretch old forms to create fresh sounds.
stretch old forms in music
The exhibition mixes digital forms with hand-painted work from local artists.
Essay forms vary across subjects, so students must learn each pattern.
- structures
focuses on how the parts are arranged
- patterns
stresses repeated or organized shape
- formats
more practical and modern, especially for documents or media
文法句型
poetic forms
art forms
forms of writing
用法筆記
This sense is common in literature, music, art, and academic writing. Distinguish from sense 2: here forms means organizing patterns, not simply kinds of things.
forms — verb
1. the form of the verb 'form' used with he, she, it, or a singular noun when somet
the form of the verb 'form' used with he, she, it, or a singular noun when something takes shape, creates something, or becomes part of a larger whole.
A thin layer of ice forms on the lake before sunrise.
forms on + surface = appears there
The committee forms a new safety team every spring.
forms + group or team
A stone wall forms the border between the two farms.
A small crowd forms outside the bakery when fresh bread arrives.
文法句型
something forms on + surface
subject forms + object
subject forms part of + whole
用法筆記
As a present-tense verb form, forms is used with a singular subject. It can describe something appearing by itself, creating a group, or making up part of a larger thing.