VERB RULES Verb- a word to describe an action, state, or occurrence and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear.

Verb Forms A verb has three or more forms. A regular verb has four forms: Base form: form you find in the dictionary. -s form: add to the base form s or es. -ing form or present participle: add “ing” to base form. Past form or past participle.

Irregular verbs have 5 main forms. Base form -s form -ing form Past form Past participle

A phrasal verb consists of a main verb and an adverbial participle. -a combination of a verb and adverbial participle such as up, out, or on. Such a verb + participle unit is often idiomatic, conveying a meaning that differs from the common meanings of the individual word. Ex: She CALLED the meeting OFF.

Auxiliary verbs combine with main verbs Participles are accompanied by auxiliary verbs

Verb Tenses Verb tenses make time relationships clean Simple tenses have many uses, not all related to specific points in time. Progressive tenses indicate that events have begun but have not been completed The present progressive tense consists of a form of the auxiliary verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb

Perfect tenses indicate action performed prior to a particular time. Formed by combining the auxiliary have with the past participle of the main verb Perfect progressive tenses combine the forms of the progressive and the perfect tense Consists of two auxiliaries, have and be, plus the present participle of the main verb

The auxiliary verb do is used to question, negate, or emphasize. Unlike be and have, the auxiliary verb do doesn’t occur with other verbs to indicate tense.

Tense forms should appear in logical sequence Should be combined to show (logically) how actions and events are related in time and duration Verbs may be linking, intransitive or transitive Linking: relates subject and word referring to subject (Used only in the active voice) Intransitive: doesn’t take an object (used only in active voice) Transitive: takes a direct object (can be used in the passive voice)

The active voice emphasizes the actor and the action The passive voice highlights the recipient of the action

The mood of a verb expresses the writer’s attitude toward an action, a state, or an event. Indicative: We will be on time. Imperative: Be on time! Subjunctive: the director insists that we be on time.

Verb forms signal Moods The present subjunctive is the base form of the verb. The past subjunctive has the same form as the simple past (for ex: had, offered, found or wrote). The subjunctive is mainly used in dependent clauses.