1. Verb Forms

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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,
Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press,
eg1471/jc/dec2008