VERB

Definition: Verbs are a class of words used to show the performance of an action (do,
throw, run), existence (be), possession (have), or state (know, love) of a subject. To put it
simply a verb shows what something or someone does.

For example:

 Paul rides a bicycle.

* Here, the verb rides certainly denotes an action which Paul performs - the action of
riding a bicycle.
 We buy some books to learn English verbs.
* In this example, the action word is "to buy". It tells us that the subject "we", that is
the person who performs the action of the verb is "buying some books".

The verb tense shows the time of the action or state. Aspect shows whether the action or
state is completed or not. Voice is used to show relationships between the action and the
people affected by it. Mood shows the attitude of the speaker about the verb, whether it is
a declaration or an order. Verbs can be affected by person and number to show agreement
with the subject.

Most statements in speech and writing have a main verb. These verbs are expressed in
"tenses" which place everything in a point in time.

Verbs are conjugated (inflected) to reflect how they are used. There are two general areas in
which conjugation occurs; for person and for tense.

Conjugation for tense

Conjugation for tense is carried out on all verbs. All conjugations start with the infinitive form
of the verb.
The infinitive is simply the to form of the verb For example, to begin.
The present participle form (the -ing form), is formed by adding ing to the bare infinitive.
For example, to begin - beginning.
There are two other forms that the verb can take, depending on the tense type and time,
the simple past form and the past participle.

The form of the verb or its tense can tell when events take place.
For example, the verb kiss:

Present Simple Past Simple Future Simple

kiss/kisses kissed will kiss
Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect
has/have kissed had kissed will have kissed
Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous
(Progressive) (Progressive) (Progressive)
is/am/are kissing was kissing will be kissing
Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous
(Progressive) (Progressive) (Progressive)
 has/have been kissing had been kissing will have been kissing

Conjugation for person

Conjugation for person occurs when the verb changes form, depending on whether it is
governed by a first, second, or third person subject. This gives three conjugations for
any verb depending on who is acting as the subject of the verb. For example: we have I
begin, you begin , and he begins. Note that only the third conjunction really shows a
difference.

In English, we distinguish between regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs are those
ones which form their past simple and past participle just by adding "-ed" to the base of the
verb. The rest are irregular.

Examples:

 Dracula bites his victims on the neck.

 In early October, Giselle will plant twenty tulip bulbs.
 She travels to work by train.
 We walked five miles to a gara

AUXILARRY VERBS.

Definition: Auxiliary verbs are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and
therefore add extra meaning to a sentence, which is not given by the main verb.

Be, Do and Have are auxiliary verbs, they are irregular verbs and can be used as main verbs.

Modal verbs are also auxiliary verbs, but will be treated separately, these are can, could, may, might, must,
shall, should, will, and would.

To be: Be is the most common verb in the English language. It can be used as an auxiliary and a main verb
It is used a lot in its other forms.

Present tense form Past tense form

am/is/are was/were

Uses:

Am/Is/Are:

Question Positive Statement Negative Statement

Singular
Am I? I am (I'm) I am not (I'm not)
Are you? You are (You're) You are not (You're not/You aren't)
Is he/she/it? He/she/it is (He's/She's/It's) He/she/it is not (He/she/it isn't// He/she/it's not)
 Plural
Are we? We are (We're) We are not (We aren't/We're not)
Are you? You are (You're) You are not (You aren't/You're not)
Are they? They are (They're) They are not (They aren't/They're not)

Examples:

Am/Are Is
Question - ? "Am I disturbing you?" "Is this your coat"
Positive Answer - Yes "Yes you are." "Yes it is"
Negative Answer - No "No you're not." "No it isn't"
Note: The auxiliary verb 'be' can be followed either by the -ed form or by the -ing form.

To do: The verb do is one of the most common verbs in English. It can be used as an auxiliary and a main
verb. It is often used in questions.

Uses:

Do / Does

Question Positive Statement (spoken) Negative Statement (spoken)

Singular
Do I? I do I do not (I don't)
Do you? You do You do not (You don't)
Does he/she/it? He/she/it does He/she/it does not (He/she/it doesn't)
Plural
Do we? We do We do not (We don't)
Do you? You do You do not (You don't)
Do they? They do They do not (They don't)

Examples:

Do Does
"Do you always take the bus to "Does she ever do her homework on
Question - ?
work?" time?"
Positive Answer -
"Yes I do." "Yes she does."
Yes
Negative Answer -
"No I don't." "No she doesn't."
No

Note: The auxiliary verb 'do' is always followed by the base form (infinitive).

To have: Have is one of the most common verbs in the English language. Have is used in a variety of ways

Uses:
Have/Has

Question Positive Statement (spoken) Negative Statement (spoken)

Singular
Have I? I have (I've) I have not (I haven't/I've not)
Have you? You have (You've) You have not (You haven't/You've not)
Has he/she/it? He/she/it has (He/she/it 's) He/she/it has not (He/she/it hasn't)
Plural
Have we? We have (We've) We have not (We haven't/We've not)
Have you? You have (You've) You have not (You haven't/You've not)
Have they? They have (They've) They have not (They haven't/They've not)

Have is often used to indicate possession (I have) or (I have got).

Examples:
Have Have got
Question - ? "Do you have a car?" or "Have you a car?" "Have you got a car?"
Positive Answer - Yes "Yes I have a car." "Yes I've got a car."
Negative Answer - No "No I don't have a car." "No I haven't got a car."

Have is also used to indicate necessity (I have to) or (I have got to).
Have to Have got to
Question - ? "Do you have to leave early?" "Have you got to leave early?"
Positive Answer - Yes "Yes I have to." or "Yes I do" "Yes I've got to."
Negative Answer - No "No I don't have to." "No I haven't got to."

Have is used to show an action.

Question - ? "Have you washed your face?"
Positive Answer - Yes " Yes I have."
Negative Answer - No " No I haven't."

Note: When showing an action the auxiliary verb 'have' is always followed by the past participle form.

COPULA VERB.
Definition: A copula (or copular) verb is a verb that connects the subject to the
complement. They are sometimes called linking verbs. Linking verbs do not describe
action.

Formation:
subject + linking verb + information about the subject

For example:
  That food smells nice. ('Smells' connects the subject to the adjective that describes
it.)

Some verbs are always linking verbs because they never describe an action. Other verbs
can be linking verbs in some sentences and action verbs in other sentences.

Verbs that are ALWAYS LINKING verbs

The following three verbs are always linking verbs:

to be (is, am, are, was, were, has been, have been, had been, is being, are being,
was being, will have been, etc.)
to become (become, becomes, became, has become, have become, had become,
will become, will have become, etc.)
to seem (seemed, seeming, seems, has seemed, have seemed, had seemed, is
seeming, are seeming, was seeming, were seeming, will seem)

For example:

 The dog became thin after his surgery. ('Became' links the subject, the dog, with
information about him (that he became thin))

Verbs that can be both ACTION and LINKING verbs

There are verbs that can be linking verbs in SOME sentences, but are action verbs in other
sentences. One way to determine if the verb is functioning as an action verb or a linking
verb is to substitute the word “is” for the verb in [Link] the sentence still makes sense,
then it is probably a linking verb. If the sentence would not make sense with the word “is,”
then it is probably an action verb in the sentence.

Examples:

look prove remain

smell sound taste
appear feel grow

For expample:

 Jhon appeared uninjured after the accident.

In this example you could substitute the word 'is,' for the word 'appeared' and the
sentence would still make sense: "Jane is uninjured after the accident." This lets you
know that appeared is a linking verb in this sentence.

 Before I could leave, Jhon appeared.

In this sentence, appeared is not linking anything. It is telling the action that Jhon did.
He appeared, or showed up.
DISTRENSIVE VERB.
Definition: A ditransitive verb is one that takes two complements, a direct object and an
indirect object at the same time.

Examples

 He gave her the letter.

* "The letter" is the direct object, what he gave, and "her" is the indirect object, the
person he gave it to.

Examples

 He gave her the letter.

* "The letter" is the direct object, what he gave, and "her" is the indirect object, the
person he gave it to.
 Robin gave Linda a book.
 The teacher asked James a question.
 That horrid music gave me a headache.

DYNAMIC VERB.

Definition: A dynamic verb is one that can be used in the progressive (continuous) aspect, indicating an
unfinished action. Dynamic verbs have duration, that is, they occur over time. This time may or may not
have a defined endpoint, and may or may not yet have occurred.

 Jhon plays soccer every Saturday.

=> Jhon is playing soccer right now.

 The snow melts every spring.

=> The snow is melting right now.

 When one boxer hits another, brain damage can result.

=> When one boxer is hitting another, brain damage can result.

Dynamic verbs, can be used in the simple and perfect forms, for example: plays, played, has played, had
played, as well as the continuous or progressive forms, for example: is playing, was playing, has been
playing, had been playing.

The progressive forms occur only with dynamic verbs, that is, with verbs that show qualities capable of
change as opposed to stative verbs, which show qualities not capable of change.

For example:

 He is being tall. (incorrect)

=> He is tall. (correct)
 He is resembling his mother. (incorrect)
=> He resembles his mother. (correct)
 I am wanting spaghetti for dinner. (incorrect)
=> I want spaghetti. (correct)
 It is belonging to me. (incorrect)
=> It belongs to me. (correct)

Sometimes verbs can be used in progressive forms when they have certain meanings. In another meaning i
is not possible to use them in progressive forms.
For example:

Verb Simple Forms Progressive Forms

feel (to have an opinion) I feel I should go on holiday. ---
How do you feel when you are on
feel (to feel sth.) How are you feeling today?
holiday?
have (to possess) I have a new computer. ---
have (to eat) I always have a cola for lunch. I am having dinner right now.
see (to understand) Oh, I see. ---
see (to meet someone) I often see Mandy at the disco. I am seeing Peter tonight.
think (to believe) I think you should see a doctor. ---
I am thinking about my girlfriend
think (to think about) I have to think about it.
now.
Examples:

 She's lying on the bed.

INFINITIVE.

Definition: Infinitive is the base form of the verb. The infinitive form of a verb is the form which follows "to"

For example:

 (to) go, (to) be,(to) ask, (to) fight, (to) understand, (to) walk .

Infinitives may occur with or without the infinitive marker "to". Infinitives without "to" are known as "bare
infinitives".

For example:
 Help me open the door.

OTHER FORMS
The infinitive can have the following forms:

1. The perfect infinitive

to have + past participle

For example: to have broken, to have seen, to have saved.

This form is most commonly found in Type 3 conditional sentences, using the conditional perfect.

For example:
 If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake.
 Someone must have broken the window and climbed in.
 I would like to have seen the Taj Mahal when I was in India.
 He pretended to have seen the film.
 If I'd seen the ball I would have caught it.

2. The continuous infinitive

to be + present participle

For example: to be swimming, to be joking, to be waiting

Examples:
 I'd really like to be swimming in a nice cool pool right now.
 You must be joking!
 I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

3. The perfect continuous infinitive

to have been + present participle

Examples: to have been crying, to have been waiting, to have been painting

Examples:
 The woman seemed to have been crying.
 You must have been waiting for hours!
 He pretended to have been painting all day.

4. The passive infinitive

to be + past participle

For example: to be given, to be shut, to be opened

Examples:
 I am expecting to be given a pay-rise next month.
 These doors should be shut.
  This window ought to be opened.

NOTE: As with the present infinitive, there are situations where the "to" is omitted.

Examples

 He claimed to be an expert.
 I managed to reach the top of the hill.
 Don't pretend that you know the answer.
 She failed to explain the problem clearly.
 The customs man demanded to search our luggage.
 I can't afford to go out tonight.

IRREGULAR VERB.

Definition: A verb in which the past tense is not formed by adding the usual -ed ending for the Past Simple
and Past Participle forms. Some irregular verbs (like put) do not change; while others change completely
(like buy). Irregular verbs have no rules for conjugation. These can only be learnt in context.

List of irregular verbs:

Base Form Simple Past Tense Past Participle

awake awoke awoken
be was, were been
bear bore born
beat beat beat
become became become
begin began begun
bend bent bent
beset beset beset
bet bet bet
bid bid/bade bid/bidden
bind bound bound
bite bit bitten
bleed bled bled
blow blew blown
break broke broken
breed bred bred
bring brought brought
broadcast broadcast broadcast
build built built
burn burned/burnt burned/burnt
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
cast cast cast
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
cling clung clung
come came come
cost cost cost
creep crept crept
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
dig dug dug
dive dived/dove dived
do did done
draw drew drawn
dream dreamed/dreamt dreamed/dreamt
drive drove driven
drink drank drunk
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fit fit fit
flee fled fled
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbid forbade forbidden
forget forgot forgotten
forego (forgo) forewent foregone
forgive forgave forgiven
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
get got gotten
give gave given
go went gone
grind ground ground
grow grew grown
hang hung hung
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
kneel knelt knelt
knit knit knit
know knew know
lay laid laid
lead led led
leap leaped/lept leaped/lept
learn learned/learnt learned/learnt
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light lighted/lit lighted
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
misspell misspelled/misspelt misspelled/misspelt
mistake mistook mistaken
mow mowed mowed/mown
overcome overcame overcome
overdo overdid overdone
overtake overtook overtaken
overthrow overthrew overthrown
pay paid paid
plead pled pled
prove proved proved/proven
put put put
quit quit quit
read read read
rid rid rid
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
run ran run
saw sawed sawed/sawn
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
sew sewed sewed/sewn
shake shook shaken
shave shaved shaved/shaven
shear shore shorn
shed shed shed
shine shone shone
shoe shoed shoed/shod
shoot shot shot
show showed showed/shown
shrink shrank shrunk
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slay slew slain
slide slid slid
sling slung slung
slit slit slit
smite smote smitten
sow sowed sowed/sown
speak spoke spoken
speed sped sped
spend spent spent
spill spilled/spilt spilled/spilt
spin spun spun
spit spit/spat spit
split split split
spread spread spread
spring sprang/sprung sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stank stunk
stride strod stridden
strike struck struck
string strung strung
strive strove striven
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swell swelled swelled/swollen
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
thrive thrived/throve thrived
throw threw thrown
thrust thrust thrust
tread trod trodden
understand understood understood
uphold upheld upheld
upset upset upset
wake woke woken
wear wore worn
weave weaved/wove weaved/woven
wed wed wed
weep wept wept
wind wound wound
win won won
 withhold withheld withheld
withstand withstood withstood
wring wrung wrung
write wrote written
Examples:

 Mary became a star tennis player.

 She gave her old car to her younger brother.
 We have seen the secret maps.
 The author wrote several books and many more short stories