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Verbs
The verb is an essential part of English grammar. In English’s fixed, subject-verb word order,
the verb describes the subject’s actions, thoughts, feelings, or states of being. Verbs can be
single words such as “rides” or phrases up to four words with “helping” verbs such as “must,”
“have,” and “been.”
a. The woman rides her bike. The verb rides describes the woman’s action.
b. Professor Smith must have been pleased with our papers. The verb phrase must have been
pleased describes Smith’s feelings.
Correct verb use is fundamental to writing effectively, and as you advance in your academic
career and in your profession, your writing, right down to your verbs, will need to become
more advanced too. This tutorial covers both basic and advanced verb types and tenses with
helpful explanations and practical examples meant to help all English users, native and
nonnative alike, understand and develop more mastery over the verb.
Table of Contents
Verb Forms
 Regular
 Irregular
Verb Types
 Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking
 Be Verbs
 Stative Verbs
 Helping Verbs
Verbals: Infinitives, Gerunds, and Participles
Phrasal Verbs
Active and Passive Voice
Verb Tenses
List of Irregular Verbs
Verb Forms
Regular Verbs
Verbs change form to agree with a singular or plural subject and to express the different times (tenses)
that actions occur. A present tense verb, for example, has a different form than a past tense verb.
Regular verbs follow the same pattern when changing form. Each form is made from the base or root
form, and most regular verbs have five forms:
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Examples:
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1. Root: the root form has no endings and is the base form for all regular verbs. The root is the present
tense verb for first person (I/we), second person (you), and third person (they) subject nouns. It is
also paired with “will” to form the future tense, helping verbs such as “do” to form questions, and
modals such as “would” to make requests.
a.
b.
c.
d.
To try > try
To breathe > breathe
To hear > hear
To be > be
When “to” comes before a root form, it’s an “infinitive”; it doesn’t show tense or agree in
number with a subject, so instead of a verb, it can be a noun: To wait seemed like a waste of
time; an adjective: The best way to travel is by car; or an adverb: I want to read a good book!
2. Third person singular: when the subject for a regular verb is he, she, it, one, or another singular noun,
add –s or –es to the root form of the verb:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Try > tries (when verbs end in a consonant + y, change -y to -ies)
Breathe > breathes
Hear > hears
Be > is * Be is an irregular verb. It does not follow a set pattern when it changes tenses. See a
complete list of irregular verbs here.
3. Present participle: Add –ing to the root form to create the present participle. When this form follows
a conjugated “be” verb, it forms a progressive tense: he is playing a game. However, some stative
(state) verbs do not have progressive tenses, and other stative verbs change meaning in the
progressive form.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Try > trying
Breathe > breathing (When verbs end in a silent -e, drop the -e and add –ing.)
Hear > hearing > hear (Hear is a stative verb that doesn’t have a progressive form)
Be > being (Be is a stative verb that means “exist” in the root form and changes meaning to
“behaving” in the progressive form.)
When a present participle is not paired with a conjugated “be” verb, it can function as a noun (in
which case it is called a “gerund”): Playing soccer is important to me. A present participle can
function as an adjective: The fort overlooked a sparkling sea.
4. Past participle and 5. Past tense: Add –ed or –d to the root form to create the past participle or
simple past tense. When this form follows a “have” verb, it forms a perfect tense.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Try > tried
Breathe > breathed
Hear > heard
Be > been/was, were * Be is an irregular verb. Irregular verbs do not follow a set pattern
when changing tenses.
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When a past participle is not paired with a “have” verb, it can be used as an adjective: The
frightened child held his mother’s hand. When the past participle follows a conjugated “be” verb,
it forms the passive voice: The students were excited to tour the capital.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs can also change form to agree with a singular or plural subject and to show the different
times (tenses) that actions occur. However irregular verbs do not have a fixed pattern. Some irregular
verbs do not change at all. The verb put, for example, is the same in every form. Meanwhile, other
irregular verbs change with every form. Write, for example, changes to wrote and written. For a list of
common irregular verbs, click here.
Verb Types
Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs
A sentence in its simplest form is one independent clause that has a subject and verb. Depending on
whether the verb is transitive, intransitive, or linking, other words such as objects or complements may
be required to complete the sentence.
Transitive verbs are action verbs that must be followed by an object—a receiver for the verb’s action.
Examples:
a. The tourists sent (transitive verb) postcards (object—what the tourists sent).
b. Professor Slim answered (transitive verb) the question (object—what the professor answered).
c. Students have found (transitive verb) the class (object—what students have found) challenging.
d. You can leave (transitive verb) the keys (object—what you can leave) in the car.
Linking verbs do not express an action. Linking verbs link the subject to a complement or an
adverbial that describes or provides more information about the subject.
Examples:
a. The paint (subject) seems (linking verb) dry (complement).
b. His office (subject) is (linking verb) in the city (adverbial).
c. The banana (subject) turned (linking verb) brown (compliment).
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Intransitive verbs are action verbs that do not require an object. The subject and verb alone complete
the expression. However, the sentence may include an adverbial such as “already” or a prepositional
phrase such as “before dawn.”
Examples:
a. The sun is already setting (“set” is an intransitive verb, used here in the progressive tense).
b. They arrived (intransitive verb) before dawn.
The most common linking verbs are be, become, and seem. Other linking verbs are appear, feel, get,
grown, look, prove, remain, smell, stay, sound, taste, and turn. If you can replace the verb with is or are,
and the sentence still makes sense, it’s a linking verb. Examples: He looks great.  He is great.  “looks”
is a linking verb. The sky turned dark  The sky was dark  “turned” is a linking verb. The researcher
found the answer  The researcher was the answer  “found” is an action verb, NOT a linking verb.
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condition.
Examples:
a. I think therefore I am. Am indicates one’s existence.
b. Margaret is a pediatrician. Is indicates Margaret’s identity.
c. The poem was thought provoking. Was indicates the poem’s quality.
d. The bananas are not ripe. Are (not) indicates the bananas’ condition.
e. The cat is being finicky. This example shows why be is a “stative” verb; it doesn’t
express action except when it’s in the progressive tense (be + [root + ing]). Is being
expresses the action of the cat acting or behaving finicky.
Be not only functions as a main (linking) verb and part of the progressive tense as the above examples
show; be also functions as a helping verb to modify or express the tense of a main verb, and it also forms
part of the passive voice: be + [verb root + ed].
Be is also one of the most irregular verbs. It does not follow the regular pattern when changing form to
show tense or agree in number with a subject. Table 1 reviews the tenses and forms of be.
Table 1: The Tenses and Forms of Be
TENSE
1st Person
2nd Person
Singular and Plural Forms Singular and Plural Forms
3rd Person
Singular and Plural Forms
Present
I am
We are
You are
You (all) are
He/ she/ it is
They are
Past
I was
We were
You were
You (all) were
He/ she/ it was
They were
Future
I will be
We will be
You will be
You (all) will be
He/ she/ it will be
They will be
Present Progressive
I am being
We are being
You are being
You (all) are being
He/ she/ it is being
They are being
Past Progressive
I was being
We were being
You were being
You (all) were being
He/ she/ it was being
They were being
Future Progressive
I will be being
We will be being
You will be being
You (all) will be being
He/ she/ it will be being
They will be being
Present Perfect
I have been
We have been
You have been
You (all) have been
He/ she/ it has been
They have been
Present
Perfect Progressive
I have been being
We have been being
You have been being
You (all) have been being
He/ she/ it has been being
They have been being
Past Perfect Progressive I had been being
We had been being
You had been being
You (all) had been being
He/ she/ it had been being
They had been being
Future Perfect
Progressive
You will have been being
He/ she/ it will have been being
You (all) will have been being They will have been being
I will have been being
We will have been being
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Be Verbs: Be is one of the most common verbs in English. Be indicates existence, identity, quality, or
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Stative Verbs show abstractions, possession, and emotion. They are not visible actions, and they do not
have a duration or endpoint. There are two types: those without a progressive (-ing) form and those that
change meaning (and become dynamic actions) in the progressive (-ing) form.
Table 2: Stative Verbs
Stative Verbs with No Progressive Form
Love  I am loving my son.  I love my son.
Hear  She is hearing music. She hears music.
See  He sees the mountains.
Believe  I believe in magic.
Own  Mary owns a house.
Need  They are needing help  They need help.
Want  We want to see a movie.
Hate  I hate to see you go.
Forget  The man forgot his keys.
Remember  You remember well.
Stative Verbs that Change Meaning (and become dynamic actions) in the Progressive Form
Act = behave  Acting = performing
They act immaturely. They are acting in the movie.
Imagine = think  Imagining = visualizing
I imagine I’ll get the job. I’m imagining working there.
Appear = look  Appearing = performing
She appears confident. She is appearing in the play.
Look = appear  Looking = gazing
The child looks confused. The child is looking at me.
Be = state; trait  Being = temporary behavior
He is Irish; he is kind. He is being selfish and noisy.
Measure = length; size  Measuring = gauging; assessing
The wall measures 8 ½ feet high. He is measuring the wall.
Become = change  Becoming = a process
The dog becomes aggressive. The tadpole is
becoming a frog.
Realize = know  Realizing = process of awareness
I realize this is serious. I’m realizing that I’ve changed.
Come = nationality  Coming = traveling
They come from Spain. They are coming from Spain.
Cost = price  Costing = a process over time
The car costs a fortune! The car is costing a fortune!
Do = job  Doing = action
I do hair for a living. I’m doing the mambo.
Enjoy = like; permanent state  Enjoying =
experiencing; temporary state
He enjoys learning. He is enjoying college.
Feel = believe  Feeling = in a mood; touching
I feel that I’m ready to go. I’m feeling good; I’m
feeling the waves between my toes.
Forget = neglect; overlook  Forgetting = process
I forget his name. I’m forgetting the lyrics.
Get = sate; gain  Getting = process
He always gets a burger at lunch. He’s getting fat.
Guess = believe  Guessing = solving
I guess I should call. I’m guessing she isn’t home.
Regret = feeling  Regretting = process
He regrets giving up. He is regretting that he hasn’t retried.
See = understand  Seeing = visiting; dating
I see what you mean. She is seeing a guy from Washington.
Smell = detect; sense  Smelling = sensing with the nose
Something smells fishy. The dog is smelling the ground.
Suppose = believe  Supposing = assuming
I suppose I’ll go next. I’m supposing he got the mail.
Take = measure  Taking = process of doing/carrying
She takes a size ten. She is taking the bus/an umbrella.
Taste = detect; sense  Tasting = sensing with the tongue
The coffee tastes strong! He is tasting local wines tonight.
Think = believe  Thinking = contemplating
I think you have a good idea. I’m thinking about you.
Understand = know  Understanding = process
She understands her options. He is understanding more as
time passes.
Weigh = amount  Weighing = act of measuring weight
He weighs 38 pounds. He is weighing the package.
Have = possess  Having = occurring
We have a dog. We are having a fence built.
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Helping Verbs: Every clause has one main verb that can have up to three “helping” or “modal” verbs
modifying it to show the possibility or probability of the action. Helping verbs help form the Perfect and
Progressive tenses and the Passive voice. They also help form questions and negative expressions.
There are 23 helping verbs. Some such as “be verbs” are “primary” as they can
also stand alone as main verbs in addition to functioning as helping verbs.
Primary Helping Verbs change tense:




am, are, was, were (used in the Progressive tenses and questions)
be, being, been (used in the Progressive tenses and questions)
have has, had (used in the Perfect tenses and questions)
do, does, did (used in negative expressions and questions)
Modal Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs always have the same form:
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


will, shall, should, would
can, could
may, might, must
Modals are used in the present, future, and past tenses to express necessity, advisability, permission,
possibility, and probability. Refer to Tables 3 and 4 for examples of the structures and uses.
Table 2: The Modal Verb “Might” in the Present, Future, and Past Tense
Modals in Present and Future Tense
Modals in Past Tense
Modal + the root form of the verb
a) She might come to the party. (future)
b) She might be on her way. (present)
Modal + have + been + part particle form of the verb
a) She might have been at the library. (past)
Figure 4: Use of Modals to Express Necessity, Advisability, Permission, Possibility, and Probability
Modal
Uses
Present/Future
should
a) advisability
a) You should go to the doctor.
b) expectation
b) She should be there by now.
Past
a) She should have gone to the
doctor.
b) She should have gotten there
by now.
may
a) polite request
b) formal permission
might
a) Less than 50% certainty a) He might be in the library.
a) He might have been in the library.
have to
a) necessity
a) I have to cook tonight.
a) I had to cook tonight.
b) lack of necessity
b) I do not have to cook
tomorrow.
b) I did not have to cook yesterday.
a) necessity
a) I have got to study for the test.
a) No uses
have got to
a) May I borrow your book?
b) You may leave now.
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a) No uses.
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Modal
Uses
ought to
a) advisability
a) I ought to call home soon.
a) She ought to have called home.
b) expectation
b) She ought to take the test.
b) She ought to have taken the test.
a) strong necessity
a) I must finish my work.
a) No uses
b) prohibition (negative)
b) You must not cross the street
without looking both ways.
b) No uses
must
Present/Future
c) 95% certainty
c) She must be tired after working
12 hours.
can
Past
c) She must have been tired after
working 12 hours.
a) ability/possibility
a) I can play the piano.
a) I could play the piano as a child.
b) informal
permission
b) You can go now.
b) No uses
c) Can you open the window?
c) No uses
c) informal polite
request
d) I cannot speak French.
d) I could not speak French before
now.
a) polite request
a) Would you please come in?
a) No uses
b) preference
b) I would like a cup of water.
c) repeated actions in the
past
c) no uses
b) I would have liked to be at your
wedding.
d) impossibility (negative)
would
d) no uses
d) unfulfilled wishes or
desires
had better
a) threat of bad results
c) I would play with my brother every
day.
d) I would have liked to go to Spain,
but I had to go to school.
a) You had better be on time, or
you will be grounded.
a) No uses
Verbals: Participles, Gerunds, and Infinitives
Participles, gerunds, and infinitives are verbals: words derived from verbs. Like verbs, they express
actions or states; however, as “verbals” they don’t act like verbs. Participles are used as adjectives, and
gerunds and infinitives are used as subjects and objects.
Participles have past and present forms and can be used as adjectives to describe nouns.
To form the present participle, add –ing to a root form of a verb: enchant + ing = enchanting.
Present participles describe the performer of the action being described
by the participle.
Examples:
The fort overlooked a sparkling sea. Sparkling describes the sea.
The views were enchanting. Enchanting describes the views.
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To form the past participle, add –d or –ed to a root: excite + d = excited. To form the past participle of an
irregular verb, refer to the List of Irregular Verbs.
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Past participles describe the receiver of the action being described by
the participle, so they usually describe the subject’s feelings.
Examples:
The students were excited to tour the capital. Excited describes how the
students felt about the tour.
The frightened child held his mother’s hand. Frightened describes how
the boy felt.
Writing tip: The difference between the past and present participle becomes clear when you compare the
meanings of each when applied to a root verb. Consider the verb “bore.” With a past participle, one can
say, “I am bored” to say nothing is interesting. With the present participle, the statement becomes “I am
boring,” which means I’m the one who isn’t interesting.
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Gerunds function as nouns. To form a gerund, add –ing to the root verb form: play + ing = playing.
A gerund looks just like a present participle! The difference is where it is in
the sentence and how it’s used. Alone, present participles are used as
adjectives whereas gerunds can be subjects, subject complements, direct
and indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Examples:
Playing soccer is important to me. Playing is the subject of the sentence.
Melody’s first love is playing soccer. Playing is a subject complement. It follows the linking verb “is.”
Melody’s son also loves playing soccer. Playing is the direct object. It tells what the son loves.
They give playing soccer all their free time. Playing is the indirect object. It tells for or to whom or what
the free time is given.
They went home after playing soccer. Playing is the object of the preposition “after.”
Infinitives also function as nouns, and because nouns can be adjectives and adverbs, infinitives can be
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adjectives and adverbs too. To form an infinitive, add to before a root verb form: to + play = to play.
Examples:
To play violin at the festival is an honor. To play is the sentence subject.
I hope to play violin at the festival. To play is the object of the sentence.
Whenever I visit my parents, I bring my violin to play. To play is an adjective
here; it modifies violin.
Kurt braved the rain to play his violin at the outdoor festival. To play is an adverb here; it explains why he
endured the rain.
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Writing tip: “To” is a preposition, so it can be paired with words other than verbs. In the sentence, “I am
taking my violin to the park,” the prepositional phrase “to the park” expresses a direction or place.
Gerunds and Infinitives as Subjects in a Sentence
Every sentence has a subject: the person or topic the sentence is about. Subjects can be nouns, noun
phrases, gerunds, or infinitives. Refer to Table 5 for examples.
Table 5: Types of sentence subjects and an example of each type in a sentence.
Type of Subject
Examples
Noun
Mary introduced her boyfriend.
Noun Phrase
The giant steel workboat left port at noon.
Infinitive
To wait seemed like a waste of time.
Gerund
Winning felt great!
Gerunds and Infinitives as Objects in a Sentence
Most sentences, in order to convey a complete idea, have objects. An object is a person or thing affected
by the action described in the verb.
Table 6: Types of sentence objects and an example of each type in a sentence.
Type of Subject
Examples
Noun
I like music.
Noun Phrase
The student received a community service award.
Infinitive
I intended to call first, but then I decided to surprise you instead.
Gerund
The young child enjoyed watching the big kids play basketball.
Common Verbs Followed Only by Gerunds or Only by Infinitives
Learning to use gerunds and infinitives as objects involves deciding which one to use: a gerund or an
infinitive. In English, some verbs can only be followed by infinitives; some can only be followed by
gerunds, and some can be followed by BOTH.
Table 7: Common verbs that can only be followed by gerunds and an example of each in a sentence.
Verb or Verb Phrase
Examples of a Gerund Following a Verb
Consider
Please consider accepting the invitation
Discuss
They discussed going to New York.
Enjoy
He enjoys racing sailboats.
Finish
Bob has finished working in the garden.
Keep
I keep rereading the same paragraph!
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Mind
I do not mind watching the baby.
Put off
We put off going on vacation.
Postpone
She postponed seeing us for now.
Quit
Maria quit smoking cigarettes.
Think about
Please think about finishing the paint job soon.
Walk around
He walked around wondering about the results.
Table 8: Common verbs that can only be followed by infinitives and an example of each in a sentence.
Verb or Verb Phrase
Examples of a Gerund Following a Verb
Agree
They agreed to lower the price.
Decide
Tim decided to go out to dinner.
Expect
I expect to finish very soon.
Forget
Do not forget to call us back
Hope
Michael hopes to be there early.
Intend
Management intends to save jobs.
Mean
I meant to arrive earlier.
Need
He needs to take medication.
Offer
They offered to drive me to the airport.
Plan
We plan to vacation in Puerto Rico.
Pretend
The boy’s mother pretended not to see his mistake.
Promise
Amanda promised to come today.
Refuse
She refused to take a break.
Seem
Lidia seems to like the new schedule.
Try
She tried to see the doctor today.
Would like
I would like to go to the theater.
Want
I want to learn a new language.
Would love
They would love to meet us for lunch.
Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives
When either a gerund or an infinitive can follow a verb, usually there is no change in meaning. The chart
illustrates just some of these verbs. Not all verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive
without changing the meaning.
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Take the verb “stop,” for example: “Sue stopped smoking cigarettes” means something different than
“Sue stopped to smoke cigarettes.” In this example, using a gerund created the opposite meaning as the
same sentence with an infinitive.
Table 9: Common verbs that can be followed by gerunds or infinitives and sample sentences of each.
Verb
Gerund Following the Verb
Infinitive Following the Verb
Begin
I began reading the book yesterday.
I began to read the book yesterday.
Can’t stand
We can’t stand waiting in long lines.
We can’t stand to wait in long lines.
Continue
We continued watching the movie.
We continued to watch the movie.
Hate
They hated seeing their loved one suffer.
They hated to see their loved one suffer.
Like
I like going shopping.
I like to go shopping.
Love
I loved playing in the snow when I was a
child.
I loved to play in the snow when I was a
child.
Start
She started going to school.
She started to go to school.
Phrasal Verbs
English contains many main verbs that are two or three words in length. These verbs consist of a base
verb, like “put,” “take,” or “get,” and a preposition (out, over, in, across, off, on, etc.…).
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Examples:
Put on
Take up
Get in
The meaning of the phrasal verb can be a combination of its parts (to run away
means “to leave quickly”) or it can intensify the main verb to indicate something
done thoroughly or completely (to close down means “to close permanently”).
Phrasal verbs are either separable, meaning words can come between them, or inseparable, meaning
other words cannot. For example, “to figure out” (meaning “to understand”) is a separable phrasal verb
because we can say, “Stephanie will figure it out.” The pronoun “it” comes between “figure” and “out.”
On the other hand, “to come down with” (meaning “to catch an illness”), cannot be separated:
Correct: Maggie came down with the flu.
Incorrect: Maggie came the flu down with.
Incorrect: Maggie came down the flu with.
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Tables 10 and 11 list common separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
Table 10: Common Separable Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Examples
Bring on
cause to happen
The earthquake brought on the tsunami.
The earthquake brought the tsunami on.
Bring over
Bring up
bring (often to someone’s
house)
Can you bring over that new DVD so we can watch it?
raise (children)
She brought up nine children all by herself.
Can you bring that that new DVD over so we can watch it?)
She brought nine children up all by herself.
Call off
cancel
Can you believe they called off the wedding?
Can you believe they called the wedding off?
Close down
close permanently
They closed down the restaurant because it was losing
money. They closed the restaurant down because it was
losing money.
Close up
close temporarily
They close up the restaurant for a week every summer.
They close the restaurant up for a week every summer.
Table 11: Common Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Examples
Come across
find or express
Sheila came across a rare painting at a garage sale.
Sheila came across as rude.
Come along
with
accompany (a person) or
make progress (on a task)
I came along with him to the mall. He asked me how I was
coming along with my job search.
Come down
with
catch an illness
Martha came down with the flu.
Get around
avoid
Stan was able to get around the height requirement.
Get away with
do without getting caught
Many people think O.J. Simpson got away with murder.
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Active and Passive Voice
In addition to forms and tenses, verbs have two voices: active and passive. Each voice
indicates the performer or actor of the verb.
 In the active voice, the subject is the actor of the verb, and the object is the receiver
of the verb’s action.
 In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb, and the actor is
optionally included as the object of the preposition “by.”
To form the passive voice, add “be” in the appropriate tense to a past participle. Refer to
Table 1: The Tenses and Forms of Be to review the tenses of “be” and Table 12 to see how to
structure the passive voice using be + a past participle.
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Table 12: Structuring Active and Passive Verbs
Structures
Examples in Past Tense
Active
Subject (actor) + verb + object (receiver)
A graduate student discovered a cure.
Passive
Subject (receiver) + be + past participle + by +
object (actor).
A cure was discovered by a graduate student.
Comparing the Active and Passive Voice
A characteristic of clear and concise writing is an active voice where the sentence subject is the actor of
the verb. When the receiver of the action is more important than the actor, as is common in legal and
scientific writing, use the passive form. Also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the
action or if that information is irrelevant. See Table 13 for examples.
Table 13: Comparing Active and Passive Voice. The Bold font indicates the best choice given the topic.
Active Voice
Passive Voice
The research suggests that…
It is suggested by the research that…
I found high levels of fluoride in the water.
High levels of fluoride were found in the water.
The people held the election yesterday.
The election was held yesterday.
The injured man’s friend had taken him to the
hospital.
The injured man had been taken to the hospital by
his friend.
The storm buried our car under snow.
The car was buried under the snow.
The oil spill caused the oyster population to
decline.
The oyster population decline was caused by the oil
spill.
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Verb Tense
Verb tense shows the relationship between the action or state described by the verb and the time it
occurs or exists. There are two basic tenses: past and present. The future is expressed with modals
(“will,” “shall,” and “be going to”). The helping verbs be and have can also be added to each tense to
express whether the action or state is progressive (continuous) or perfect (for a specific period of time).
Table 7 shows the tenses for regular verb “smile.” Click the tense to jump to the discussion of that tense.
Table 7 Tenses and Forms of the Regular Verb "Smile." Each tense is linked to a discussion of it with examples.
Present Tense
I smile.
Past Tense
I smiled.
Future Tense
I will smile.
Present Progressive
You are smiling.
Past Progressive
You were smiling.
Future Progressive
You will be smiling.
Present Perfect
She has smiled.
Past Perfect
She had smiled.
Future Perfect
She will have smiled.
Present Perfect Progressive
They have been smiling.
Past Perfect Progressive
They had been smiling.
Future Perfect Progressive
They will have been smiling.
The Present Tense: To indicate an event or situation happening or existing now
Simple Present: I smile; you smile; he, she, it smiles; they smile; we smile
Uses
Examples
1. Repeated actions in the present
I play tennis.
Use the present tense with dynamic (action) verbs to
She never forgets my birthday.
express recurring actions: habits, hobbies, and daily events.
We drink coffee in the morning.
2. Facts and opinions in the present
They belong to a gym.
Use the present tense with stative verbs to express facts and
Does he live in the suburbs?
opinions that are true now, were true before, and will continue
Charlotte is in North Carolina.
to be true in the future.
He takes excellent pictures.
3: Actions at a set time in the near future
The bus leaves at ten in the morning.
Use the present tense with times such as 5 pm or “as soon as” to What time does class begin?
express arrivals and departures or when events begin or end.
I’ll call as soon as I hear from him.
4. Instantaneous actions in the present
We beg you to reconsider.
Use the present tense to express actions without a specific
I appreciate your support.
duration that are happening in the moment of communication.
Serena aces the serve!
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Present Progressive: I am smiling; you are smiling; he, she, it is smiling; they are smiling; we are smiling
Uses
Examples
1. Unfinished actions happening now
You are learning grammar.
Use the present progressive to express an action happening or
They are not watching television.
not happening now. Now can mean this second, today, this
I am dieting.
month, this year, or this century.
What is he doing? He is sleeping.
2. Planned or anticipated actions in the near future
I am meeting my friends after school.
Use the present progressive to express a definite plan or action
He is taking a class in business ethics.
that is going to happen or is in progress but not happening now. Are you working on any projects?
3. Annoying actions or habits having limited durations
That cat is always coming around.
Use the present progressive with dynamic verbs to express an
He is constantly texting her.
action that “always” happens but for a limited period of time.
They are taking forever to get here!
Present Perfect: I have smiled; you have smiled; he, she, it has smiled; they have smiled; we have smiled
Uses
Examples
1. Actions that began and finished sometime before now
She has already applied for college.
Use the present perfect to express past actions, experiences, or
Have you ever lived overseas?
events that have a result or consequence in the present.
We have gone camping once (and we
Common time markers with the present perfect are ever, never, might go again someday).
once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, and yet, He has missed the plane (so he won’t
month, so far, up to now, etc.
arrive tonight after all).
2. States that began in the past and continue into the present
I have been so worried about her!
Use the present perfect with stative verbs to express a state of
He has always loved writing.
being or unfinished situation that began in the past, continues
She has become a fine educator.
now, and may continue in the future.
Present Perfect Progressive: I have been smiling; you have been smiling; he, she, it has been smiling;
they have been smiling; we have been smiling
Uses
Examples
1. Temporary unfinished situations leading up to the present
I have been writing for two hours.
Use the present perfect progressive to express an action that
She has been napping since noon.
began in the past and continues into the present for a specified
He’s been staying here for a week.
length of time. For one night, for three years, and since last week
are durations used with the present perfect progressive.
2. Repeated situations or temporary habits leading to the
He has been working long hours.
present and continuing into the future
How have they been doing?
Use the present perfect progressive to express habits or
I have been reading a great book.
repeated events that began in the past, continue in the present,
and may continue into the future.
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The Past Tense: To indicate an event or situation happened or existed in the past
Simple Past: I smiled; you smiled; he, she, it smiled; they smiled; we smiled
Uses
Examples
1. Single action at a specific time in the past
She washed her car.
Use the simple past tense with dynamic (action) verbs
The French invaded Mexico in 1862.
to express something happened at a specific time or for
I finished school, walked to the library,
a period of time in the past.
and checked out a book. (Note: Checked
out is a phrasal verb.)
2. Repeated or habitual actions completed in the past
I took piano lessons when I was a child.
Use the past tense with dynamic verbs to express events that He always danced at parties.
occurred repeatedly in the past. Common modifiers to
They brought us mementos from their
express a past habit are always, often, usually, never, when I
travels.
was a child, or when I was younger.
3. A single emotion or situation that existed in the past
I had a headache while I was working.
Use the past tense with stative verbs to express a state
She loved riding the glass elevator.
of being or having that existed for a single period of
We owned three horses in those days.
time in the past.
Past Progressive: I was smiling; you were smiling; he, she, it was smiling; they were smiling; we were smiling
Uses
Examples
1. Events in the past interrupted by another event
He was watching TV until the power went
Use the past progressive with dynamic (action) verbs to
out.
express an event that was not completed or was
I was mowing the lawn when the bee stung
interrupted by another action (expressed by the simple
me.
past tense: “went,” “stung,” “called”).
The movie was just beginning when he
called.
2. Events in the past interrupted by a specific time
At 9 pm last night, I was finishing my
Use the past progressive with dynamic verbs to express that a assignment.
specific time interrupted a longer event happening in the
She was cooking breakfast at 6 am.
past.
Last week at this time, they were just
arriving.
3. Multiple events in the past occurring at the same time
The cat was hiding while I was vacuuming.
Use the past progressive with dynamic verbs to express
She was relaxing, drinking tea, and reading
actions with limited durations in the past were
a book.
happening simultaneously.
Mom was rinsing the dishes, and I was
loading them in the dishwasher.
4. Repeated or habitual, temporary actions in the past
That cat was always coming around.
Use the past progressive with dynamic verbs to express
He was constantly texting her.
actions with limited durations that “always” happened.
I was writing a book.
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Past Perfect: I had smiled; you had smiled; he, she, it had smiled; they had smiled; we had smiled
Uses
Examples
1. Single action completed before another past action
The fireworks had ended by the time we
Use the past perfect to express that an action occurred
found a parking spot.
before another action or time in the past.
I had already eaten, so I wasn’t hungry.
2. Continuous action completed before another past action
They had lived in Michigan before they
Use the past perfect to show that an action happened over an moved to Alabama.
unspecific duration of time in the past before another action
The boat had rotted long before they
or time in the past.
pulled it out of the water.
3. Single or continuous actions in the past occurring before
She said she had known him since college.
the action of reported speech and in if…then clauses
I thought he had gone to work already.
Use the past perfect to express an action that occurred
They questioned how we had gotten lost
before the action of reported speech: said, told, asked,
following their directions.
thought, wondered, or questioned. Also use the past perfect
If I had known you were coming, then I
to express hypothetical “if…then” situations of one action
would have baked a cake.
occurring before another action in the past.
Past Perfect Progressive: I had been smiling; you had been smiling; he, she, it had been smiling; they had
been smiling; we had been smiling
1. Unfinished, temporary action in the past that leads
We had been driving for two hours when
up to another action or time in the past
the rain finally stopped.
Use the past perfect progressive with dynamic verbs to
He had been working for 10 hours before
express a temporary action that was unfinished when
she realized the time.
another action began in the past.
We had been living here for only a month
when the roof started leaking.
2. Continuous, temporary action in the past that
The sink overflowed because I had not been
caused another past action
paying attention.
Use the past perfect progressive to express the cause of
Terry was tired because she had been
something that happened in the past.
painting the house all day.
The Future Tense: To indicate an event or situation will happen or exist in the future
Simple Future: I will smile; you will smile; he, she, it will smile; they will smile; we will smile. I am going to
smile; you are going to smile; he, she, it is going to smile; they are going to smile; we are going to smile.
Uses
Examples
1. Using the will + root form: Facts, promises, predictions,
He will turn six on his next birthday.
assumptions, and spontaneous actions in the future
I will always love you.
Use “will” when stating simple facts about the future, when
The rain will stop by this afternoon.
making predictions or assumptions, or when deciding to do
They will bring chips and dip to the party.
an action at the time of speaking.
I hear the doorbell. I’ll answer it.
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2. Using the be going to + root form: Intentional and
planned actions in the future
Use “be going to” to express future actions that were
intended or planned prior to the time of speaking and that
depend on present knowledge or a present situation.
* Use the simple present tense to express an action at a
specific time in the future.
How are you going to solve the problem?
I am going to solve it democratically.
Mary filled her gas tank because she is
going to drive across the country.
Look at this traffic! It’s going to take us
forever to get home.
The new term begins on July 30.
Dinner is at 6 o’clock.
Future Progressive: I will be smiling; you will be smiling; he, she, it will be smiling; they will be smiling; we
will be smiling. I am going to be smiling; you are going to be smiling; he, she, it is going to be smiling; they
are going to be smiling; we are going to be smiling.
Uses
Examples
With the will or be going to forms: Ongoing actions at a
She will be flying to Japan when she gets
future time.
her promotion next month.
We are going to raise organic vegetables
Use the future progressive to express ongoing future actions
during the summer.
with limited durations.
Future Perfect: I will have smiled; you will have smiled; he, she, it will have smiled; they will have smiled; we
will have smiled. I am going to have smiled; you are going to have smiled; he, she, it is going to have smiled;
they are going to have smiled; we are going to have smiled.
Uses
Examples
With the will or be going to forms: Action completed before Amanda will have finished her workout by
another future action or time
the time the gym closes.
Use the future perfect to express an action that will begin and You can’t arrive until 9:00? The show will
end in the future before another action or time in the future. have begun by then.
I am going to have lived here seven years
on my son’s fourth birthday.
Future Perfect Progressive: I will have been smiling; you will have been smiling; he, she, it will have been
smiling; they will have been smiling; we will have been smiling. I am going to have been smiling; you are
going to have been smiling; he, she, it is going to have been smiling; they are going to have been smiling; we
are going to have been smiling.
Uses
Examples
With the will or be going to forms: Continuous actions that
Next summer, she will have been walking
will end in the future.
for ten years at the Relay for Life marathon.
Use the future perfect progressive to express continuous
When I go to the doctor tomorrow, I am
actions with limited durations that will end in the future.
going to have been fasting for 24 hours.
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Jump to Participles
List of Irregular Verbs
For an explanation of irregular verbs, click here: Irregular Verbs
Base Form
Past Simple (V2)
Past Participle (V3)
arise
arose
arisen
awake
awoke
awoken
be
was/were
been
bear
bore
born(e)
beat
beat
beaten
become
became
become
begin
began
begun
bend
bent
bent
bereave
bereft, bereaved
bereft, bereaved
beseech
besought, beseeched
besought, beseeched
beset
beset
beset
bet
bet
bet
bid
bad(e), bid
bade, bid, bidden
bind
bound
bound
bite
bit
bitten
bleed
bled
bled
blow
blew
blown
break
broke
broken
breed
bred
bred
bring
brought
brought
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broadcast
broadcast
broadcast
build
built
built
burn
burnt, burned
burnt, burned
burst
burst
burst
buy
bought
bought
cast
cast
cast
catch
caught
caught
choose
chose
chosen
cling
clung
clung
come
came
come
cost
cost
cost
creep
crept
crept
cut
cut
cut
deal
dealt
dealt
deepfreeze
deepfrozen,
deepfreezed
deepfrozen,
deepfreezed
dig
dug
dug
dive
dove
dived
do
did
done
draw
drew
drawn
dream
dreamt, dreamed
dreamt, dreamed
drink
drank
drunk
drive
drove
driven
eat
ate
eaten
fall
fell
fallen
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feed
fed
fed
feel
felt
felt
fight
fought
fought
find
found
found
flee
felt
felt
fling
flung
flung
fly
flew
flown
forbid
forbade, forbad
forbidden
forecast
forecast
forecast
forget
forgot
forgotten
forgive
forgave
forgiven
forgo
forwent
forgone
forsake
forsook
forsaken
freeze
froze
frozen
get
got
got, gotten
give
gave
given
go
went
gone
grind
ground
ground
grow
grew
grown
hamstring
hamstrung
hamstrung
hang
hung (hanged: put to
death by hanging)
have
had
had
hear
heard
heard
heave
heaved, hove
heaved, hove
hung (hanged: put to
death by hanging)
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hide
hid
hidden
hit
hit
hit
hold
held
held
hurt
hurt
hurt
keep
kept
kept
kneel
knelt
knelt
knit
knitted, knit
knitted, knit
know
knew
known
lead
led
led
lean
leant, leaned
leant, leaned
leap
leapt, leaped
leapt, leaped
learn
learnt, learned
learnt, learned
leave
left
left
lend
lent
lent
let
let
let
lie (in bed)
lay
lain
light
lit, lighted
lit, lighted
lose
lost
lost
make
made
made
mean
meant
meant
meet
met
met
miscast
miscast
miscast
mislead
misled
misled
misspell
misspelt, misspelled
misspelt, misspelled
mistake
mistook
mistaken
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mow
mowed
mown, mowed
offset
offset
offset
overtake
overtook
overtaken
put
put
put
quit
quit, quitted
quit, quitted
read
read
read
rend
rent
rent
rid
rid, ridded
rid, ridded
ride
rode
ridden
ring
rang
rung
rise
rose
risen
run
ran
run
saw
sawed
sawn/sawed
say
said
said
see
saw
seen
seek
sought
sought
sell
sold
sold
send
sent
sent
set
set
set
sew
sewed
sewn, sewed
shake
shook
shaken
shear
sheared
shorn, sheared
shed
shed
shed
shine
shone, shined
shone, shined
shoot
shot
shot
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show
showed
shown
shrink
shrank
shrunk
shut
shut
shut
sing
sang
sung
sink
sank
sunk
sit
sat
sat
sleep
slept
slept
slide
slid
slid
sling
slung
slung
slit
slit
slit
smell
smelt, smelled
smelt, smelled
sow
sowed
sown, sowed
speak
spoke
spoken
speed
sped, speeded
sped, speeded
spell
spelt, spelled
spelt, spelled
spend
spent
spent
spill
spilt, spilled
spilt, spilled
spin
spun, span
spun
spit
spat, spit
spat, spit
split
split
split
spoil
spoilt, spoiled
spoilt, spoiled
spread
spread
spread
spring
sprang
sprung
stand
stood
stood
steal
stole
stolen
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stick
stuck
stuck
sting
stung
stung
stink
stank
stunk
stride
strode
stridden, strid, strode
strike
struck
struck
swear
swore
sworn
sweep
swept
swept
swell
swelled
swollen, swelled
swim
swam
swum
swing
swung
swung
take
took
taken
teach
taught
taught
tear
tore
torn
telecast
telecast
telecast
tell
told
told
think
thought
thought
throw
threw
thrown
thrust
thrust
thrust
tread
trod
trodden
underbid
underbid
underbid
undergo
underwent
undergone
understand
understood
understood
undertake
undertook
undertaken
underwrite
underwrote
underwritten
uphold
upheld
upheld
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upset
upset
upset
wake
woke, waked
woken, waked
wear
wore
worn
weave
wove
woven
wed
wedded, wed
wedded, wed
weep
wept
wept
wet
wetted, wet
wetted, wet
win
won
won
wind
wound
wound
withdraw
withdrew
withdrawn
withhold
withheld
withheld
withstand
withstood
withstood
wring
wrung
wrung
write
wrote
written
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