Verb Forms Intensive Course in Research Writing Texas A&M UniversityJuly 11-15, 2011 Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS WordsWorld Consultingwww.words-world.netwww.words-world.net ESL Short Subject

Verb Forms Infinitiveto walk, to speak Base formwalk, speak Gerund or walking, speaking present participle Past participlewalked, spoken Simple pastwalked, spoke Verb phraseam speaking, has spoken, has been speaking, will have spoken

Verb-form Error An error in the formation of the main verb or any part of a verb phrase Can significantly affect reader’s ability to understand the meaning Essential to know formation of verb tenses in English, but some specific situations (eg, verbals that follow verbs) don’t follow rules

Common Problems Main verb incorrectly formed Past participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formed Main verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of [be + past participle] Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together have been used in verb phrase Form of a verbal following a verb is incorrect Infinitive incorrectly formed Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund or infinitive All are compounded by the many irregular verbs in English.

Common Problems Main verb incorrectly formed Examples: My comment ____ my cousin’s feelings. (to hurt) Susan ____ to Los Angeles for an Editorial Board meeting. (to fly) Past participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formed Examples: One of my colleagues was ____ because of work issues that could not be resolved. (to fire) The choir had _____ their last song before I arrived. (to sing)

Common Problems Main verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of [be + past participle] Examples: I ____ about what you just said. (to confuse) San Francisco ____ on the northern coast of California. (to locate) Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together have been used in verb phrase Examples: John felt he deserved his low grade because he ____ enough. (to study) Tina was discouraged because she ____ very quickly. (to progress)

Common Problems Form of a verbal following a verb is incorrect Examples: He decided ____ to the concert tonight. (to go) David avoided ____ the issue. (to discuss) Remember: The form of a verbal (infinitive, gerund, or base form) that follows a verb is not rule-based and is determined on a case-by-case basis (see handout for list of common verbs).

Common Problems Infinitive incorrectly formed Examples: I rarely forget ____ my on the weekend. (to check) It was hard for Sandy ____ that she used the wrong files for data entry. (to admit) Remember: Infinitives consist of either [to + base form] with no -ed ending, or [to + have + past participle] for the past form of an infinitive.

Common Problems Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund or infinitive Examples: Jim says that ____ his divorce would be too painful. (to discuss) After hearing Karen’s argument, she changed her way of ____ at the problem. (to look)

Rules for Verb-Phrase Formation DO (do, does, did) + BASE FORM I do not know. She does not… HAVE (have, has, had) + PAST PARTICIPLE I have already left. She has left. She had… BE (am, is, are, was, were, have been, has been, had been) + PRESENT PARTICIPLE I am studying. She is studying. We are…

Gerunds and Infinitives Use an infinitive or gerund, not a base form, when a verbal functions as a subject or an object. We have benefited greatly from listening to Dr. Gastel’s lectures. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. Use a gerund, not a base form, as an object of a preposition. Peter helped me by coming over to visit. Abigail talked me into helping her. Use an infinitive, not a base form, after many adjectives. I am sorry to see you so unhappy. I am eager to get my PhD degree.

Gerunds and Infinitives Use an infinitive, not a base form, to express a purpose. He went to his supervisor’s office to ask a question. Use a perfective infinitive (to + have + past participle) in cases in which the event or condition expressed by the infinitive is in the past. To have won the election fulfilled all his dreams. (He already won the election.) I am sorry to have seen Mike so unhappy at the last meeting. (I saw that Mike was unhappy at the last meeting, and I am sorry about this fact.) It was thoughtful of you to have done that. (You already did something thoughtful, and the speaker is acknowledging it now.)