1. Understanding Verb Forms
What are the principal parts of verbs?
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs
Six confusing verbs
Sit/Set
Rise/Raise
Lie/Lay
Review A
Review B

2. What are the principal parts of verbs?
Verbs “dress” differently for different occasions.
She dressed for school.
She dresses casually.
She has dressed for graduation.

3. What are the principal parts of verbs?
Verbs have four principal parts. Each principal part has a different function.
Base Form
talk
draw
Present Participle
[is] talk
ing
[is] draw
ing
Past
talk ed dr e w
Past Participle
[have] talk ed
[have] draw n
More about participles

4. What are the principal parts of verbs? Participles
When used as part of a verb phrase, participles follow a helping verb.
Helping Verb
Helping Verb
She was talking.
She was talking.
Lucas has drawn a picture.
Lucas has drawn a picture.
Verb Phrase
Verb Phrase

5. What are the principal parts of verbs?
These principle parts are used to form all of the different verb tenses.
Base Form
They talk every day.
Present Participle
They are talking now.
Past
They talked yesterday.
Past Participle
They have talked for hours.

6. What are the principal parts of verbs? Tense
The tense of a verb indicates the time of the action or state of being expressed by the verb.
Perfect tenses indicate that something happened or existed before a specific point in time.
Past
Present
Future
Past
Future
Present
Past Perfect
Present Perfect
Future Perfect
He will have practiced all the songs by then.
Yesterday he practiced for two hours.
He had practiced less the night before.
Cody practices his trumpet every day.
He has practiced different songs.
Cody will practice for the concert.

7. Regular verbs
A regular verb generally forms its past and past participle by adding –d or –ed to the base form.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
clean
clean ed
[have] clean ed
hope
hope d
[have] hope d
The present participle is formed by adding –ing.
Present Participle
clean
ing

8. Grammar Gal Says... Regular verbs
A common mistake is to leave the –d or –ed ending off the past and past participle forms.
Grammar Gal Says...
Verbs
Nonstandard
He use to play guitar.
We were suppose to meet there.
Standard
He used to play guitar.
We were supposed to meet there.

9. Grammar Gal Says... Regular verbs
Another common mistake is to add unnecessary letters.
Grammar Gal Says...
Verbs
Nonstandard
He almost drownded.
The kitten attackted the paper bag.
Standard
He almost drowned.
The kitten attacked the paper bag.

10. Regular verbs
Most regular verbs that end in e drop the e before adding –ing.
hop
hope
ing
Some verbs double the final consonant before adding –ing or –ed.
hug
hugg
ing
hugg
hug ed

11. Regular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
1. Teresa (call) me yesterday about the party.
2. Then Marty (move) the chairs onto the porch.
3. The salesclerk has (help) my mother before.

12. Regular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
1. Teresa called me yesterday about the party.
The past form of call is called.

13. Regular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
2. Then Marty moved the chairs onto the porch.
The past form of move is moved.

14. Regular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
3. The salesclerk has helped my mother before.
The past participle of help is helped.

15. Regular verbs On Your Own
Give the correct form (past, past participle, or present participle) of the verb in italics, as indicated in parentheses.
1. The dancers are (perform) on stage. (present participle)
2. We (watch) a folk dance an hour ago. (past)
3. We are (learn) dances from different countries. (present participle)
4. Someone in the audience has (request) an Irish square dance. (past participle)
5. I had (hope) to take dance lessons. (past participle)
[End of Section]

16. Regular verbs
Answers
Give the correct form (past, past participle, or present participle) of the verb in italics, as indicated in parentheses.
1. The dancers are performing on stage. (present participle)
2. We watched a folk dance an hour ago. (past)
3. We are learning dances from different countries. (present participle)
4. Someone in the audience has requested an Irish square dance. (past participle)
5. I had hoped to take dance lessons. (past participle)

17. Irregular verbs Some verbs do not fit the regular pattern.
An irregular verb forms its past and past participle in some way other than by adding –d or –ed.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
drink dr a nk
[have] dr u nk
hurt
hurt
[have] hurt

18. Grammar Gal Says... Irregular verbs
Since most English verbs are regular, people sometimes try make irregular verbs follow the regular pattern. Such verb forms are not standard.
Grammar Gal Says...
Nonstandard
Standard
breaked
broke
drived
drove
knowed
knew

19. Irregular verbs Changing vowels
1. Some irregular verbs form the past and past participle by changing vowels.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
begin
beg a n
[have] beg u n
Other Verbs that Change Vowels
find
found
[have] found
hold
held
[have] held
ring
rang
[have] rung
swim
swam
[have] swum

20. Irregular verbs Changing consonants
2. Other irregular verbs form the past and past participle by changing consonants.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
make ma d e
[have] ma d e
Other Verbs that Change Consonants
bend
bent
[have] bent
build
built
[have] built
lend
lent
[have] lent
spend
spent
[have] spent

21. Irregular verbs Changing vowels and consonants
3. Some irregular verbs form the past and past participle by changing both vowels and consonants.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
ride r od e
[have] r
idden
Other Verbs that Change Vowels and Consonants
buy
bought
[have] bought
see
saw
[have] seen
speak
spoke
[have] spoken
wear
wore
[have] worn

22. Irregular verbs No change
4. A few irregular verbs make no change at all in their past and past participle forms.
Base Form
Past
Past Participle
put
put
[have] put
Other Verbs that Make No Change
cost
[have] cost
cut
[have] cut
hit
[have] hit
read
[have] read

23. Irregular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
1. My cousin has (find) a new canyon trail.
2. Her grandfather (build) the shed himself.
3. Last night we (see) Mr. Torrence at the mall.
4. The tickets should not have (cost) so much.

24. Irregular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
1. My cousin has found a new canyon trail.
The past participle of find is found.

25. Irregular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
2. Her grandfather built the shed himself.
The past form of build is built.

26. Irregular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
3. Last night we saw Mr. Torrence at the mall.
The past form of see is saw.

27. Irregular verbs
Give the correct past or past participle form of each verb in parentheses.
4. The tickets should not have cost so much.
The past participle of cost is cost.

28. Irregular verbs On Your Own
Give the correct form (past or past participle) of each verb given in parentheses.
1. Two graceful swans ________ across the lake. (swim)
2. Gabriela ________ me her softball glove. (lend)
3. Nate ________ a fleece jacket on the hike. (wear)
4. I have already ________ the wrapping paper. (cut)
5. Have you ________ your best on the science project? (do)
[End of Section]

29. Irregular verbs Answers
Give the correct form (past or past participle) of each verb given in parentheses.
1. Two graceful swans ________ across the lake. (swim)
swam
2. Gabriela ________ me her softball glove. (lend)
lent
3. Nate ________ a fleece jacket on the hike. (wear)
wore
4. I have already ________ the wrapping paper. (cut)
cut
5. Have you ________ your best on the science project? (do)
done

30. Six confusing verbs Six verbs in English require special attention.
sit
set
rise
raise
lie
lay
Are the children
sitting or
setting ?
Do the fans
rise or
raise ?
Does the baby
lie
still or
lay
still?

31. Does the verb have a direct object?
Six confusing verbs
To figure out which verb is correct, ask . . .
Does the verb have a direct object?
Don usually sits up front.
No object
They set the boxes down.
They set the boxes down.
Direct object

32. Grammar Gal Says... Six confusing verbs
Another way to remember which verb to use is to think about what they mean.
Grammar Gal Says...
sit
to be in place
set
to put (something) in place
lie
to recline
lay
to put or place (something)
rise
to go up
raise
to make (something) go up

33. Six confusing verbs
A direct object is a word or word group that receives the action of the verb or shows the result of the action.
Direct
object
They set the boxes down.
boxes
set what down?
boxes

34. Sit / Set The verb sit means “to be seated” or “to rest.”
They sit on the sand.
The verb set means “to put (something) in a place.” Set usually has a direct object.
Direct object
He will set the books down soon.
He will set the books down soon.

35. Grammar Gal Says... Sit / Set
Set has other meanings that do not require a direct object. Check a dictionary to see whether or not the meaning you intend takes an object.
Grammar Gal Says...
Set
The sun sets in the West.
No object

36. Principal Parts of Sit and Set
Sit / Set
Principal Parts of Sit and Set
Base Form
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
sit
[is] sitting
sat
[have] sat
set
[is] setting
[have] set
We are sitting on the bench.
We sit on the park bench.
We have sat on the bench before.
We sat there all day.
She is setting it down now.
She has sat it down already.
She set the lantern on the table.
She sets the lantern down.

37. Sit / Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
1. The family (sat, set) down at the table.
2. She (sat, set) the basket on the floor.
3. The lawn chairs are (sitting, setting) by the pool.

38. Sit / Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
1. The family (sat, set) down at the table.
Sat is the past form of sit, which means “to be seated” and takes no object.

39. Sit / Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
Direct object
2. She (sat, set) the basket on the floor.
Set is the past form of set, which means “to put (something) in a place.” Set takes the direct object basket.

40. Sit / Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
3. The lawn chairs are (sitting, setting) by the pool.
Sitting is the present participle form of sit, which means “to rest” and does not take an object.

41. Sit / Set
On Your Own
Give the correct form of sit or set for each of the following sentences.
1. I ______ on a broken chair at the party yesterday.
2. Last night Kim ______ her ring on the dresser.
3. At the game, Kevin was ______ next to Paolo.
4. I have ______ here for hours waiting for you.
5. Before she left, Josie had ______ a loaf of bread on the counter.
[End of Section]

42. Sit / Set
Answers
Give the correct form of sit or set for each of the following sentences.
1. I ______ on a broken chair at the party yesterday.
2. Last night Kim ______ her ring on the dresser.
3. At the game, Kevin was ______ next to Paolo.
4. I have ______ here for hours waiting for you.
5. Before she left, Josie had ______ a loaf of bread on the counter.
sat
set
sitting
sat
set

43. Rise / Raise The verb rise means “to go upward.”
Slowly the balloons rise into the sky.
The verb raise means “to lift (something) up.” Raise usually has a direct object.
Direct object
They raised the flag.
They raised the flag.

44. Grammar Gal Says... Rise / Raise
Raise can also mean “to grow” or “to bring to maturity.” Both of these uses also take a direct object.
Grammar Gal Says...
Direct object
The Johnsons raise wheat.
The Johnsons raise wheat.
Direct object
My aunt raises sheep.
My aunt raises sheep.

45. Principal Parts of Rise and Raise
Rise / Raise
Principal Parts of Rise and Raise
Base Form
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
rise
[is] rising
rose
[have] risen
raise
[is] raising
raised
[have] raised
The sun is rising now.
The sun has risen.
The sun rose at 7:15 A.M.
The sun rises in the East.
Shawn has raised the blinds often.
Shawn raised the blinds yesterday.
Shawn is raising the blinds for us.
Shawn raises the blinds each morning.

46. Rise / Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
1. The winner proudly (rises, raises) her trophy.
2. Smoke is (rising, raising) from the factory.
3. He gently (rose, raised) the injured turtle from the lake.

47. Rise / Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
Direct object
1. The winner proudly (rises, raises) her trophy.
Raises is the correct form because the verb means “to lift (something) up” and takes the object trophy.

48. Rise / Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
2. Smoke is (rising, raising) from the factory.
Rising is the correct form because the verb means “to lift (something) up” and takes no object.

49. Rise / Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
Direct object
3. He gently (rose, raised) the injured turtle from the lake.
Rising is the correct form because the verb means “to lift (something) up” and takes the object turtle.

50. Rise / Raise
On Your Own
Give the correct form of rise or raise for each of the following sentences.
1. Please ______ the sign higher.
2. I hope the bread is ______.
3. Sparks ______ from the fire and scattered into the night sky.
4. They ______ the couch while I looked under it.
5. Prices have ______ steadily for almost a year.
[End of Section]

51. Rise / Raise
Answers
Give the correct form of rise or raise for each of the following sentences.
1. Please ______ the sign higher.
2. I hope the bread is ______.
3. Sparks ______ from the fire and scattered into the night sky.
4. They ______ the couch while I looked under it.
5. Prices have ______ steadily for almost a year.
raise
rising
rose
raised
risen

52. Lie / Lay
The verb lie means “to rest,” “to recline,” or “to be in a place.”
The pigs lie in the grass.
The verb lay means “to place (something somewhere).” Lay usually takes a direct object.
Direct object
The chef lays the food on the plate.
The chef lays the food on the plate.

53. Grammar Gal Says... Lie / Lay
Lie can also mean “to tell an untruth.” The past and past participle forms for this meaning of lie are lied and [have] lied.
Grammar Gal Says...
Lie
The girl lied about spilling the paint.

54. Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Lie / Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Base Form
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
[is] laying
laid
[have] laid
lay
lay
These verbs are easy to confuse because the past form of lie is also lay.
Base form
of lay
Please lay the blanket on the bed.
Past form
of lie
After his walk, the dog lay on the grass.

55. Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Lie / Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Base Form
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
[is] laying
laid
[have] laid
The cat has lain there a long time.
The cat lay down an hour ago.
The cat is lying there still.
The cat lies on the chair.
He has laid it there before.
He laid the cane there earlier.
He lays the cane against the wall.
He is laying the cane against the wall.

56. Lie / Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
1. Please do not (lie, lay) your gloves on the heater.
2. Micki (lay, laid) in bed all day with a cold.
3. The napkins are (lying, laying) on the table.

57. Lie / Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
Direct object
1. Please do not (lie, lay) your gloves on the heater.
Lay is the correct form because the verb means “to place (something somewhere)” and takes the object gloves.

58. Lie / Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
2. Micki (lay, laid) in bed all day with a cold.
In this sentence, lay is the past form of lie. The verb means “to rest” or “to recline” and does not take an object.

59. Lie / Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct verb form in parentheses. If the verb has a direct object, identify it.
3. The napkins are (lying, laying) on the table.
Lying is the correct present participle form because the verb means “to be in a place” and takes no object.

60. Lie / Lay 1. Then the clerk ______ the small package on the scale.
On Your Own
Give the correct form of lie or lay for each of the following sentences.
1. Then the clerk ______ the small package on the scale.
2. Those clothes will ______ on the floor until you pick them up.
3. Who ______ this paintbrush on the bare floor?
4. That wet towel has been ______ here all day long.
5. After his playtime, the puppy ______ down and slept.
[End of Section]

61. Lie / Lay 1. Then the clerk ______ the small package on the scale.
Answers
Give the correct form of lie or lay for each of the following sentences.
1. Then the clerk ______ the small package on the scale.
2. Those clothes will ______ on the floor until you pick them up.
3. Who ______ this paintbrush on the bare floor?
4. That wet towel has been ______ here all day long.
5. After his playtime, the puppy ______ down and slept.
laid
lie
laid
lying
lay

62. Review A
Give the correct form (past, past participle, or present participle) of each italicized verb, as indicated in parentheses.
1. After lunch we (wash) the car and mowed the lawn. (past)
2. Marcos has (look) everywhere for his boots. (past participle)
3. My aunt is (bring) the salad. (present participle)
4. I (know) the answer, but I ran out of time. (past)
5. Most of the leaves have already (fall) from the trees. (past participle)

63. Review A
Give the correct form (past, past participle, or present participle) of each italicized verb, as indicated in parentheses.
1. After lunch we washed the car and mowed the lawn. (past)
2. Marcos has looked everywhere for his boots. (past participle)
3. My aunt is bringing the salad. (present participle)
4. I knew the answer, but I ran out of time. (past)
5. Most of the leaves have already fallen from the trees. (past participle)

64. Review B
For each sentence, choose the correct verb form in parentheses.
Geraldo (rose, raised) the branch so I could get by.
I had (lain, laid) my hat on the back of the chair.
Everyone (sat, set) quietly during the recital.
The children were (sitting, setting) in their seats waiting for the show to start.
The foam has (rise, raised) to the top of the drink.
6. The baby is (laying, laying) in his crib.

65. Review B
For each sentence, choose the correct verb form in parentheses.
Geraldo raised the branch so I could get by.
I had laid my hat on the back of the chair.
Everyone sat quietly during the recital.
The children were sitting in their seats waiting for the show to start.
The foam has risen to the top of the drink.
6. The baby is lying in his crib.

66. The End