Principal Parts, Verb Tense, Consistency of Tense, Troublesome Verbs

Kinds of Verbs Action Linking Helping Physical or mental action Describes a state of being. It connects the subject with a word in the predicate that explains or describes the subject (PN or PA). Linking verb attached to the main verb. Helps the main verb express an action (linking verb + action verb = verb phrase)

Principal Parts of Verbs The principal parts of verbs are used to create all tenses of verbs. Base or Infinitive Present Participle Past Past Participle

Base or Infinitive Indicates time in the present Base form of a verb For example: start or wear

Past Verbs used to indicate something happened at a previous point in time. Regular verbs in the past tense add “ed” or “d” to the ending. For example: start becomes started Some verbs in the past tense are irregular. They totally change spelling. For example: wear becomes wore

Present Participle The present participle is used to indicate that something is currently happening. Form the present participle by adding “ing” to the base form of the word and “be”, “am”, or “is” “are” in front of this new word. For example: start becomes is starting wear becomes is wearing

Past Participle The past participle is used to indicate something happened at an undefined period of time. To form the past participle 1. Add “ed” to the end of a regular verb or correctly create the past participle tense of an irregular verb 2. Add “has”, “have”, or “had” in front of the verb For example: 1. start becomes has started 2. wear becomes has worn

Irregular Verbs Irregular verbs do not follow the normal pattern of conjugation into each of the principal parts of verbs These verbs often change spelling to form the past, present participle, and past participle tenses. There are a few verbs that keep the same spelling for all four principal parts. The only way to know these verbs is to memorize them.

Sample Common Irregular Verbs (not a complete list of irregular verbs) Base Past Present Participle Past Participle Begin Began Is beginning Has begun Blow Blew Is blowing Has blown Do Did Is doing Has done Drink Drank Is drinking Has drunk Go Went Is going Has gone Write Wrote Is writing Has written Break Broke Is breaking Has broken Become Became Is becoming Has become Bring Brought Is bringing Has brought Burst Is bursting Has burst Swim Swam Is swimming Has swum Know Knew Is knowing Has known

Simple Tenses We use clocks and watches to tell time. We use verbs the same way. The tense of the verb tells time in the sentence. Present – action that happens now Past – action that already happened Future – action that will happen Present Perfect – Past Perfect – Future Perfect –

Present Tense Base form of the verb modified to agree with the subject in number. For example: We run to the store. She runs to the store.

Past Tense Create the past tense by adding an “ed” to the base verb, if it is a regular verb. If it is an irregular verb, change the verb accordingly. For example: We create things. (present) We created things. (past regular) We drink water. (present) We drank water. (past irregular)

Future Tense Form the future tense by adding “will” or “shall” to the base form of the verb. For example: They swim in the pool. (present) They will swim in the pool. (future)

Perfect Tenses Present Perfect – “have or has” plus past participle – has walked Past Perfect - “had” plus past participle - had walked Future Perfect – “will have or shall have” plus past participle – will have walked

Present Progressive Shows that the action(s) is (are) in progress You are learning English.

Past Progressive Shows the action(s) was (were) in progress You were learning English.

Future Progressive Shows the actions(s) will be in progress You will be learning English.

Present Perfect I have worn jeans. (present perfect) The present perfect tense is used to show something that is existing or happening sometime before now. Key word – during Form the present perfect tense by 1. creating the correct past participle of the verb and 2. add “have” or “has” in front of it. For example: I wear jeans. (present) [irregular verb] I have worn jeans. (present perfect) He looks nice. (present) [regular verb] He has looked nice. (present perfect)

Past Perfect The past perfect tense is used to show something existing or happening before a specific time in the past. (It is a double past something happened before something else happened) Key word - after Form the past perfect by 1. creating the correct past participle of the verb and 2. add “ had” in front of the main verb For example: She walked the trail. (past ) [regular verb] She had walked the trail. (past perfect) The compost became soil. (past) [irregular verb] The compost had become soil. (past perfect)

Future Perfect The future perfect tense is used to represent something existing or happening before a specific time in the future. (It is a double future. Something happens before something else happens.) Key word - before To form the future perfect 1. form the past participle of the verb 2. add “will have” or “shall have” in front of the past participle. For example: She has smiled today. (past participle) [regular verb] She will have smiled today. (future perfect) They have worn boots. (past participle) [irregular verb] They will have worn boots. (future perfect)

Progressive Form Present Progressive – “be”, “am”, “is” or “are” plus a verb ending with “ing” – means something is in progress – is talking Past Progressive – “was” or “were” plus a verb ending with “ing” – means something was in progress – was talking Future Progressive – “will be” plus a verb ending with “ing” – means something will be in progress – will be talking

Progressive Form Present Perfect Progressive - has, have been walking Past Perfect Progressive – had been walking Future Perfect Progressive – will, shall have been walking

Example Sit and Set Please, sit in your chair. (present) He sat in his seat, yesterday. (past) He is sitting in his seat. (present participle) He has sat there for an hour. (past participle) Set your books on the desk. (present) She set her book on the desk. (past) She is setting her book on the desk. (present participle) She has set her book on the desk. (past participle)

Rise and Raise Rise – means “to go upward” or “to get up.” (no object) Raise – means “to lift something up” (usually takes a direct object) Present Past Present participle Past participle rise rose is rising have risen Present Past Present participle Past participle raise raised is raising have raised

Example Rise and Raise They always rise early on Sunday. (present) They rose early on Sunday. (past) They are rising early on Sunday. (present participle) They have risen early on Sunday. (past participle) They raise geese. (present) They raised geese. (past) They are raising geese. (present participle) They have raised geese. (past participle)

Lie and Lay Lie – means “to recline” or “to be in place” (no object) Lay – means “to put down” or “to place” (usually takes a direct object) Present Past Present participle Past participle lie lay is lying have lain Present Past Present participle Past participle lay laid is laying have laid

Example Lie and Lay Lie down and take a nap. (present) He lay down and took a nap. (past) He is lying down for a nap. (present participle) He has lain down for a nap. (past participle) Lay your clothes on the bed. (present) She laid her clothes on the bed. (past) She is laying her clothes on the bed. (present participle) She has laid her clothes on the bed. (past participle)