Verb Forms

Verb Forms All verbs (except be) have 5 forms. drive drives driving Infinitive / Base form (no -s) Third person -s form -ing form Past tense form Past participle form drive drives driving drove driven eg1471/jc/dec2008

Many have given this product a try. Many gave this product a try. Verb Forms The -ing form and the past participle form need an auxiliary verb to function as a complete verb. The -s form and the past tense form can function as complete main verbs of a clause. Many have given this product a try. Many gave this product a try. She lives in Clementi. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Regular and Irregular Verbs The past tense and past participle of regular verbs end in –(e)d. Base form Past tense Past Participle live lived lived walk walked walked eg1471/jc/dec2008

Irregular Verbs The past tense and past participles of irregular verbs do not end in –(e)d. Some irregular verbs are the same in both forms. Base form Past tense Past Participle take took taken Base form Past tense Past Participle cut cut cut eg1471/jc/dec2008

Irregular Verbs The following have an irregular -s form: Base form Third Person do does go goes have has eg1471/jc/dec2008

Auxiliary Verb Do Do, does, did are followed by the base form of the verb. In questions for statements with no auxiliary verb, do is placed before the subject. Statement: The programme works well. Question: Does the programme work well? eg1471/jc/dec2008

Auxiliary Verb Do In negations when no other auxiliary verb is present, do is followed by a verb’s base form. Do is also used for emphasis. Statement: The programme works well. Negation: The programme does not work well. The employees did/do try their best to meet their monthly target. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Auxiliary Verb Have In the present and past perfect tenses, have is followed by a past participle. Present Perfect Simple The team has worked very hard. (regular verb) The team has done well. (irregular verb) Past Perfect Simple By the time the team arrived at the conference room, the meeting had commenced. (regular verb) eg1471/jc/dec2008

Auxiliary Verb Be Present Past -ing form Past participle Passive voice is are am was were being been is/are/am/was/were + being has/have/ had been eg1471/jc/dec2008

Verb Patterns A verb can be followed by: an infinitive (to + verb) a gerund (verb + -ing) a base form (infinitive without to) eg1471/jc/dec2008

Verbs Followed by a Gerund postpone resume consider complete risk recommend suggest discuss regret Examples: The managers have considered getting everyone involved in the meeting. The trainers suggest trying another method to overcome the obstacles. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive Examples: See Lane and Lange (1999), p. 39 for more details. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Verbs Followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive begin stop continue start try prefer love Examples: I’ve started revising for the test. I’ve started to revise for the test. (Same meaning) I love eating Vietnamese cuisine. I love to eat at 7pm. (Similar meaning: general v specific) I’ve stopped smoking. I’ve stopped to smoke. (Different meaning) eg1471/jc/dec2008

Verbs Followed by a Base Form make have let help (this verb can also be followed by an infinitive) Examples: The authorities will let the people know the outcome. By making the policies known, the government will help keep / help to keep their citizens informed. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Infinitives Followed by Adjectives Use an infinitive after these adjectives eager amazed anxious careful content determined hesitant pleased proud reluctant ready surprised Examples: The minister is anxious to please the people. The parents were amazed to discover the truth. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Verb Form Errors Incorrect past participle form. *They knew they had not make time to discuss it. They knew they had not made time to discuss it. Incorrect use of the infinitive. *Everyone should be concern about the environment. Everyone should be concerned about the environment. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Verb Form Errors Not using the infinitive or gerund as a subject. * Check the processes helps to make sure everything is in order. Checking the processes helps to make sure everything is in order. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Verb Form Errors Not using a gerund as an object of a preposition. *The lecturer talked everyone into do extra work. The lecturer talked everyone into doing extra work. eg1471/jc/dec2008

Common Verb Form Errors Using a perfective infinitive (to+ have+ past participle) where events or conditions expressed by the infinitive are in the past. *To produce a higher crop yield was an impossibility given the weather. Producing a higher crop yield was an impossibility given the weather. eg1471/jc/dec2008

References Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd ed.). USA: Heinle and Heinle Publishers. Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, 28-45. Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 32-40. eg1471/jc/dec2008