Irregular verbs Regular verbs
overstrew, overstrews, overstrewing, overstrewn, overstrewed
Synonyms: scatter, sprinkle, disperse, spread, litter
Antonyms: gather, collect, assemble, consolidate, concentrate
The Verb Overstrew – Definition, Usage, and Clarification The verb overstrew is a literary and somewhat archaic irregular verb meaning to scatter or strew things over a surface, covering it lightly. VERB FORMS ■ Base Form: overstrew ■ Past Simple: overstrewed ■ Past Participle: overstrewn (or overstrewed) ■ Present Participle/Gerund: overstrewing USAGE AND CONTEXT 'Overstrew' is a descriptive verb used to create a vivid image, most often found in poetry and older literature. 1. Covering a Surface This is the verb's main function, suggesting a random or natural scattering. ■ Literary: 'The ancient battlefield was overstrewn with the remnants of shields and swords.' ■ Descriptive: 'A carpet of fallen leaves overstrewed the forest floor.' ℹ IMPORTANT: LITERARY TONE ■ Formal and Uncommon: This verb is not used in everyday conversation. In casual speech, people would say that a surface was 'covered with,' 'strewn with,' or 'scattered with' something. Its use lends a formal or poetic quality to the text.
| OVERSTREW - PRESENT SIMPLE | |
|---|---|
| ★ I | overstrew |
| ★ you | overstrew |
| ★ he/she/it | overstrews |
| ★ we | overstrew |
| ★ you (plural) | overstrew |
| ★ they | overstrew |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Present Simple |
|---|
| - I overstrew the path with petals for the wedding. |
| - You overstrew your desk with papers. |
| - She overstrews the cake with powdered sugar. | The wind overstrews the lawn with leaves. |
| - We overstrew the garden with seeds in the spring. |
| - You (plural) overstrew the floor with your toys. |
| - They overstrew the stage with flowers after the performance. |
| OVERSTREW - PRESENT CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I am | overstrewing |
| ★ you are | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it is | overstrewing |
| ★ we are | overstrewing |
| ★ you are | overstrewing |
| ★ they are | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Present Continuous |
|---|
| - I am overstrewing the salad with cheese. |
| - You are overstrewing the floor with sawdust. |
| - He is overstrewing the ground with salt to melt the ice. | The protesters are overstrewing the street with leaflets. |
| - We are overstrewing the area with decorations. |
| - You (plural) are overstrewing the table with confetti. |
| - They are overstrewing the field with fertilizer. |
| OVERSTREW - PRESENT PERFECT | |
|---|---|
| ★ I have | overstrewn |
| ★ you have | overstrewn |
| ★ he/she/it has | overstrewn |
| ★ we have | overstrewn |
| ★ you have | overstrewn |
| ★ they have | overstrewn |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Present Perfect |
|---|
| - I have overstrewn the path with rose petals. |
| - You have overstrewn your room with clothes. |
| - The volcano has overstrewn the landscape with ash. | She has overstrewn the pizza with toppings. |
| - We have overstrewn the ground with straw for the animals. |
| - You (plural) have overstrewn the evidence with dust to hide it. |
| - They have overstrewn the ruins with protective tarps. |
| OVERSTREW - PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I have been | overstrewing |
| ★ you have been | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it has been | overstrewing |
| ★ we have been | overstrewing |
| ★ you have been | overstrewing |
| ★ they have been | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| - I have been overstrewing the garden with compost all morning. |
| - You have been overstrewing the floor with your tools. |
| - The wind has been overstrewing the yard with leaves all day. | She has been overstrewing the cupcakes with sprinkles. |
| - We have been overstrewing the site with research equipment. |
| - You (plural) have been overstrewing the path with gravel. |
| - They have been overstrewing the streets with propaganda. |
| OVERSTREW - PAST SIMPLE | |
|---|---|
| ★ I | overstrewed |
| ★ you | overstrewed |
| ★ he/she/it | overstrewed |
| ★ we | overstrewed |
| ★ you (plural) | overstrewed |
| ★ they | overstrewed |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Past Simple |
|---|
| - I overstrewed the ground with seeds. |
| - You overstrewed the bed with rose petals. |
| - She overstrewed the cake with coconut flakes. | The explosion overstrewed the area with debris. |
| - We overstrewed the path with lanterns for the festival. |
| - You (plural) overstrewed the floor with your belongings. |
| - They overstrewed the battlefield with fallen soldiers. |
| OVERSTREW - PAST CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I was | overstrewing |
| ★ you were | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it was | overstrewing |
| ★ we were | overstrewing |
| ★ you were | overstrewing |
| ★ they were | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Past Continuous |
|---|
| - I was overstrewing the garden path with pebbles. |
| - You were overstrewing the floor with confetti. |
| - The autumn wind was overstrewing the ground with colorful leaves. | She was overstrewing the salad with nuts. |
| - We were overstrewing the area with supplies from the helicopter. |
| - You (plural) were overstrewing the stage with flowers. |
| - They were overstrewing the fields with lime. |
| OVERSTREW - PAST PERFECT | |
|---|---|
| ★ I had | overstrewn |
| ★ you had | overstrewn |
| ★ he/she/it had | overstrewn |
| ★ we had | overstrewn |
| ★ you had | overstrewn |
| ★ they had | overstrewn |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Past Perfect |
|---|
| - I had overstrewn the path with flowers before the bride arrived. |
| - You had overstrewn the floor with evidence. |
| - The rebels had overstrewn the streets with barricades. | She had overstrewn the dessert with sugar. |
| - We had overstrewn the campsite with our gear. |
| - You (plural) had overstrewn the room with decorations. |
| - They had overstrewn the valley with landmines. |
| OVERSTREW - PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I had been | overstrewing |
| ★ you had been | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it had been | overstrewing |
| ★ we had been | overstrewing |
| ★ you had been | overstrewing |
| ★ they had been | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| - I had been overstrewing the garden with mulch all day. |
| - You had been overstrewing the desk with your notes. |
| - The children had been overstrewing the house with toys for hours. | She had been overstrewing the canvas with paint. |
| - We had been overstrewing the field with seeds. |
| - You (plural) had been overstrewing the path with salt. |
| - They had been overstrewing the city with pamphlets from an airplane. |
| OVERSTREW - FUTURE SIMPLE | |
|---|---|
| ★ I will | overstrew |
| ★ you will | overstrew |
| ★ he/she/it will | overstrew |
| ★ we will | overstrew |
| ★ you will | overstrew |
| ★ they will | overstrew |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Future Simple |
|---|
| - I will overstrew the salad with croutons just before serving. |
| - You will overstrew the area with your equipment. |
| - She will overstrew the cake with sprinkles. | The festival will overstrew the park with litter. |
| - We will overstrew the ground with hay for the nativity scene. |
| - You (plural) will overstrew the whole house with your things. |
| - They will overstrew the path for the procession. |
| OVERSTREW - FUTURE CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I will be | overstrewing |
| ★ you will be | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it will be | overstrewing |
| ★ we will be | overstrewing |
| ★ you will be | overstrewing |
| ★ they will be | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Future Continuous |
|---|
| - I will be overstrewing the garden with wildflowers. |
| - You will be overstrewing your room with books again. |
| - She will be overstrewing the path with confetti for the newlyweds. | The trees will be overstrewing the ground with blossoms. |
| - We will be overstrewing the tables with decorations for the party. |
| - You (plural) will be overstrewing the floor with your project materials. |
| - They will be overstrewing the field with seeds next week. |
| OVERSTREW - FUTURE PERFECT | |
|---|---|
| ★ I will have | overstrewn |
| ★ you will have | overstrewn |
| ★ he/she/it will have | overstrewn |
| ★ we will have | overstrewn |
| ★ you will have | overstrewn |
| ★ they will have | overstrewn |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Future Perfect |
|---|
| - I will have overstrewn the entire garden with mulch by tonight. |
| - You will have overstrewn the room with your clothes by the end of the week. |
| - She will have overstrewn the cake with decorations by party time. | The storm will have overstrewn the town with debris. |
| - We will have overstrewn the path with lights. |
| - You (plural) will have overstrewn the floor with toys. |
| - They will have overstrewn the area with leaflets by morning. |
| OVERSTREW - FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |
|---|---|
| ★ I will have been | overstrewing |
| ★ you will have been | overstrewing |
| ★ he/she/it will have been | overstrewing |
| ★ we will have been | overstrewing |
| ★ you will have been | overstrewing |
| ★ they will have been | overstrewing |
| Examples of the verb 'overstrew' in the Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| - By the end of the day, I will have been overstrewing the field with fertilizer for eight hours. |
| - You will have been overstrewing your apartment with your belongings for years. |
| - By the end of autumn, the trees will have been overstrewing the ground with leaves for months. |
| - We will have been overstrewing the site with equipment. |
| - You (plural) will have been overstrewing the house with your stuff. |
| - The children will have been overstrewing the playroom with toys all day. |