1. Recognizing Verb Forms
in subject-verb combinations

2. Facts about verb forms
Fact #1: A verb form is a word or a group of words that combines with a subject to form a subject-verb combination.
In this fact we find two verb forms: is, combines.
Fact #2: Verb forms in English have either one word, two words, three words, or four words.
In this fact we find just one verb form: have.
Fact #3: Several factors influence the number of words in a verb form.
In this fact we find just one verb form: influence.

3. Facts about verb forms (2)
Fact #4: Sometimes a verb form appears right beside the subject and sometimes the verb form appears some distance away.
How many verb forms appear in this fact? Where are they in relation to their subjects?
Fact #5: In any verb form with more than one word, sometimes all of the parts of the verb form appear together and sometimes they are separated.

4. One-word verb forms Fact: Many verb forms include just one word.
They graduated two years ago.
What happened?
Who did that?
We were really scared.
Is that the next book?
She takes at least two courses every term.

5. One-word verb forms (revealed)
Fact: Many verb forms include just one word.
They graduated two years ago.
What happened?
Who did that?
We were really scared.
Is that the next book?
She takes at least two courses every term.

6. Two-word verb forms (a)
Fact: Express some ideas in the negative and the verb form grows from one word to two.
positive
negative
They graduated last year.
They did not graduate last year.
She lives in that area.
She does not live in that area.

7. Two-word verb forms (b)
Fact: Create a question and in some cases the verb form grows from one word to two.
statement
question
They graduated last year.
Did they graduate last year?
She lives in that area.
Does she live in that area?

8. Two-word verb forms (c)
Fact: Express an idea using the progressive aspect and the verb form grows from one word to two.
One-word verb form
Two-word verb forms
She takes three courses each term.
She is taking three courses this term.
She is not taking any math course this term.
What courses is she taking this term?

9. Two-word verb forms (d)
Fact: Express an idea using the perfect aspect and the verb form grows from one word to two.
Progressive aspect
Perfect aspect
He is taking that course this term.
She has taken that course twice.
She has not taken that chemistry course yet.
Have you already taken that biology course?

10. Two-word verb forms (e)
Fact: Express an idea using a modal and the verb form grows from one word to two.
One-word form
Two-word form with a modal
She takes fewer courses in the summer.
She can take more courses in the regular semester.
I might take two more courses in the fall.
Would you like to take more courses in the regular semester?

11. Two-word verb forms (f)
Fact: Express an idea using the passive voice and the verb form grows from one word to two.
Active voice
Passive voice
They offer that course almost every term.
That course is offered almost every term.
They did not offer that course last term.
That course was not offered last term
Did they offer that course last term?
Was that course offered last term?

12. Two-word verb forms: Review (a)
positive
negative
+ negative
They did not graduate last year.
+ question
Did they graduate last year?
+ progressive aspect
She is taking three courses this term.
+ perfect aspect
She has taken that course twice.
+ modal
I might take that course in the fall.
+ passive voice
That course was not offered last term.

13. Three-word verb forms (a)
Fact: Express an idea using a modal and the progressive aspect and the verb form grows from two words to three.
Two-word verb form
Three-word verb form
What are they doing this afternoon?
They should be studying for that test tomorrow.
They might be studying or watching videos or texting their friends.
Would they be working at this time of the day?

14. Three-word verb forms (b)
Fact: Express an idea using a modal with the perfect aspect and the verb form grows from two words to three.
One-word verb forms
Three-word verb forms
I wonder what happened to them.
They might have taken an earlier flight.
They could not have studied more for the test.
Should they have gotten help to prepare better?

15. Three-word verb forms (c)
Fact: Express an idea using the progressive aspect with the perfect aspect and the verb form grows from two words to three.
Two-word verb forms
Three-word verb forms
Was she working there two weeks ago?
She has been working there for several months.
Have you been here long?
We have not been waiting very long.
Everyone has been wondering about his condition.

16. Three-word verb forms (d)
Fact: Express an idea in the passive voice with the progressive aspect and the verb form grows from two words to three.
Two-word verb form
Three-word verb form
That course is offered every term in the evening.
That course is being offered this term in the morning only.
When is that course being offered in the evening again?
More courses are not being offered in the evening next term either.

17. Three-word verb forms (e)
Fact: Express an idea in the passive voice with the perfect aspect and the verb form grows from two words to three.
Two-word verb form
Three-word verb forms
That math course is offered in the morning each term.
That math course has been offered in the morning for two years now.
Has that math course ever been offered in the evening?
Other math courses have not been offered in the evening either.

18. Three-word verb forms: Review (a)
positive
negative
+ modal
+ progressive aspect
They should be studying for that chemistry test.
+ perfect aspect
They might have taken an earlier flight.
Everyone has been wondering about his condition.

19. Three-word verb forms: Review (b)
positive
negative
+ passive voice
+ progressive aspect
That course is being offered this term in the morning only.
+ perfect aspect
Has that math course ever been offered in the evening?

20. Four-word verb forms (a)
Fact: Express an idea using a modal, the perfect aspect, and the progressive aspect and the verb form grows from three words to four.
Three-word verb form
Four-word verb form
They might be visiting relatives there.
They might have been visiting relatives there.
They might not have been visiting relatives there.
What relatives might they have been visiting there?

21. Four-word verb forms (b)
Fact: Express an idea using a modal, the perfect aspect, and the passive voice and the verb form grows from three words to four.
Three-word verb form
Four-word verb form
Someone could have given her the wrong medication.
She could have been given the wrong medication.
She could not have been given the wrong medication.
How could she have been given the wrong medication?

22. Four-word verb forms: Review
positive
negative
+ modal
+ perfect aspect
+ progressive aspect
They might have been anticipating your call.
+ passive voice
Many people think she should have been convicted.