Download Irregular Verbs

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Preface ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Verb ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Types of Verbs ............................................................................................................................. 4
Ordinary Verbs ............................................................................................................................ 5
Auxiliary (or Helping) Verbs ....................................................................................................... 7
Stative Verbs .............................................................................................................................. 17
Phrasal Verbs ............................................................................................................................. 19
Verb Tenses ............................................................................................................................... 20
Regular Verbs ............................................................................................................................ 22
Regular Verbs Are Weak Verbs ................................................................................................. 24
Irregular Verbs ........................................................................................................................... 24
Confusing Verbs ........................................................................................................................ 25
Gerunds and Infinitives .............................................................................................................. 25
Passive Voice ............................................................................................................................. 30
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 34
Source ........................................................................................................................................ 34
English grammar about verb
Preface
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English grammar about verb
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Verb
What is a verb?
A verb is one of the main parts of a sentence or question in English.
In fact, you can’t have a sentence or a question without a verb! That’s how important these
“action” parts of speech are.
The verb signals an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Whether mental, physical, or
mechanical, verbs always express activity.
Physical Verbs – Definition and Examples
Physical verbs are action verbs. They describe specific physical actions. If you can create a
motion with your body or use a tool to complete an action, the word you use to describe it is
most likely a physical verb.
Physical Verb Examples
The physical verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
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Let’s run to the corner and back.
I hear the train coming.
Call me when you’re finished with class.
Mental Verbs – Definition and Examples
Mental verbs have meanings that are related to concepts such as discovering, understanding,
thinking, or planning. In general, a mental verb refers to a cognitive state.
Mental Verb Examples
The mental verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
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I know the answer.
She recognized me from across the room.
Do you believe everything people tell you?
States of Being Verbs – Definition and Examples
Also known as linking verbs, state of being verbs describe conditions or situations that exist.
State of being verbs are inactive since no action is being performed. These verbs are usually
complemented by adjectives.
States of Being Verb Examples
The state of being verbs in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
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I am a student.
We are circus performers.
Please is quiet.
Types of Verbs
How many types of verbs are there? In addition to the main categories of physical verbs,
mental verbs, and state of being verbs, there are several other types of verbs. In fact, there
are more than ten different types of verbs that are grouped by function.
List of all Verb Types
Action Verbs
Action verbs express specific actions, and are used any time you want to show action or
discuss someone doing something.
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. These verbs always
have direct objects, meaning someone or something receives the action of the verb.
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs are action verbs that always express doable activities. No direct object
follows an intransitive verb.
Auxiliary Verbs
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Auxiliary verbs are also known as helping verbs, and are used together with a main verb to
show the verb’s tense or to form a question or negative.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs can be recognized because they express a state rather than an action. They
typically relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and
measurements.
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express abilities, possibilities, permissions,
and obligations.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs aren’t single words; instead, they are combinations of words that are used
together to take on a different meaning to that of the original verb.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are those that don’t take on the regular spelling patterns of past simple and
past participle verbs.
Ordinary Verbs
Action Verbs are verbs that express action. Ex: run, walk, do, drive.
I’ll do my homework when I get home.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Most action verbs are defined as transitive or intransitive. This means that some are used
with a direct object (the person or thing that receives the action of the subject) and others
don’t need a direct object. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on
their meaning.
1. Transitive Verb – Joe will send the price quote as soon as he can.
2. Intransitive Verb – Many of the students are not well. They coughed throughout the
lesson.
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Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs always receive a direct object:
1. Richard annoys his boss so much that he’ll never get a promotion.
(His boss is the direct object of annoys and a promotion is the direct object of get)
2. Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.
(Mrs. Smith is the direct object of brings. Jenna is the subject.
Here’s a list of some common transitive verbs that must be followed by a direct object:
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bring
send
owe
contain
buy
show
take
tell
verify
check
get
wash
finalize
annoy
lay
lend
offer
edit
make
phone
Intransitive Verbs
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Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object in order to complete their meaning. Many are
followed by an adjective, adverb, preposition or verb complement (gerund or infinitive).
Here is a list of common intransitive verbs:
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come
explode
laugh
sit
rise
excel
respond
run
cough
swim
emigrate
smile
act
cry
immigrate
lie
arrive
continue
die
go
1. If Cathy continues to be late for work, the boss will fire her.
(Continues is followed by an infinitive (to be), with no direct object.)
2. The bomb exploded in the city center.
(Exploded is followed by a preposition of place with no direct object.)
Many verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings.
Auxiliary (or Helping) Verbs
Auxiliary (or Helping) verbs are used together with a main verb to show the verb’s tense or
to form a negative or question. The most common auxiliary verbs are have, be, and do.
1. Does Sam write all his own reports?
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2. The secretaries haven’t written all the letters yet.
3. Terry is writing an e-mail to a client at the moment.
Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, add functional or grammatical meaning to the
clauses in which they appear. They perform their functions in several different ways:
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By expressing tense ( providing a time reference, i.e. past, present, or future)
Grammatical aspect (expresses how verb relates to the flow of time)
Modality (quantifies verbs)
Voice (describes the relationship between the action expressed by the verb and the
participants identified by the verb’s subject, object, etc.)
Adds emphasis to a sentence
Auxiliary verbs almost always appear together with a main verb, and though there are only a
few of them, they are among the most frequently occurring verbs in the English language.
How to Identify an Auxiliary Verb
You probably know that every sentence has at least one verb in it. There are two main types
of verbs. Action verbs are used to depict activities that are doable, and linking verbs are used
to describe conditions. Both action verbs and linking verbs can accompany auxiliary verbs
including the three main ones: do, be, and have.
Sometimes actions or conditions occur only one time and then they’re over. It’s at times like
these that some of the same verbs that are used as auxiliary verbs are instead used as action
or linking verbs. In this example, we see the word “is”. This is one of the most common
auxiliary verbs, but because it stands alone here, it is not functioning as an auxiliary verb.
Jerry slammed the car door on his thumb. He is in horrible pain.
“Is” is a linking verb in this sentence. Because it stands alone, it is not an auxiliary verb.
At other times, an action or condition is ongoing, happening predictably, or occurring in
relationship to another event or set of events. In these cases, single-word verbs like is are not
accurately capable of describing what happened, so phrases that include auxiliary verbs are
used instead. These can be made up of anywhere from two to four words.
A main verb, also known as a base verb, indicates the kind of action or condition taking
place. An auxiliary or helping verb accompanies the main verb and conveys other nuances
that help the reader gain specific insight into the event that is taking place.
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Read the following sentences and explanations to gain greater insight into how auxiliary
verbs work.
1. Jerry caught his thumb in the car door as coffee spilled from his cup onto his favorite
shirt.
2. Jerry is always spilling things.
3. Since Jerry is also accident prone, he should have been drinking coffee from a mug
with a lid, which would not have spilled on his favorite shirt.
In sentence one, caught and spilled, single-word verbs, describe quick, one-time actions of
both Jerry and his messy coffee. This sentence does not contain an auxiliary verb.
Since Jerry often has unfortunate accidents, is spilling communicates the frequency of his
clumsy actions in sentence two. In sentence three, the auxiliary verbs that make up should
have been drinking and would have stained express time relationships as well as an
evaluation of Jerry’s actions.
Three Common Auxiliary Verbs
There are just three common auxiliary verbs:
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Have
Do
Be
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at how these common verbs work, plus you’ll see
some examples.
Have
“Have” is a very important verb that can stand alone in all its tenses, including has, have,
having, had, and hadn’t or had not. It is usually used to denote ownership, and it can also
be used to discuss ability or describe appearance. “Have” is also a very popular substitute
for the verbs “eat” and “drink.” For example: “Let’s have dinner.”
When used as an auxiliary verb, have is always teamed up with another verb to create a
complete verb phrase, making it easy to differentiate between uses. You can see the
difference in the sentences below:
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Jerry has a large coffee stain on his shirt. → Has = action verb
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Jerry has bought a new shirt to replace the one that was ruined earlier. → Has = auxiliary
verb; bought is a past participle that competes the verb phrase.
Jerry should have been more careful! → Have = auxiliary verb; phrase “should have been”
expresses time and evaluates Jerry’s actions.
Do
“Do” can be used as an action verb that stands alone in all its tenses, including to
do, do, does,done, did and didn’t, doesn’t or did not .
When used as an auxiliary verb, do is always paired up with another verb to create a
complete verb phrase. In some cases, it is used to add emphasis: “I did put the garbage
out!” Do is often used to form questions and negated clauses. It is also used in elliptical
sentences, where the main verb is understood and is omitted as a result. For example: “He
plays piano well, doesn’t he?” or “They all had dinner, but I didn’t.”
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Because he spills things so often, Jerry does more laundry than most people.  Does = action
verb
Jerry didn’t put his coffee in a cup with a lid.  Didn’t = auxiliary verb
Jerry doesn’t always spill things, but it happens a lot.  Doesn’t = auxiliary verb
Be
“Be” or “to be” is an important verb that has a multitude of uses in English. It can be used as
an action verb that stands alone in all its tenses including be, to be, been, am, are, is, was,
were, wasn’t, was not aren’t, are not, weren’t and were not.
When used as an auxiliary verb, be is always paired with another verb to create a complete
verb phrase. It can be singular or plural, present or past. Negative sentences are formed by
adding the word “not”.
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Jerry is messy.  Is = action verb
Although he is always complaining about his accidents, Jerry fails to pay attention.  is =
auxiliary verb
Jerry is going to be doing extra laundry for the rest of his life.  to be = auxiliary verb
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
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In addition to the three main auxiliary verbs, have, do, and be, there are additional auxiliary
verbs. These are called modal auxiliary verbs, and they never change form. A complete list
of modal auxiliary verbs follows:
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Can
Could
May
Might
Must
Ought to
Shall
Should
Will
Would
Modal Verbs
Modal and Modal Phrases (Semi-Modals)
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express: ability, possibility,
permission or obligation. Modal phrases (or semi-modals) are used to express the same
things as modals, but are a combination of auxiliary verbs and the preposition to. The
modals and semi-modals in English are:
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2.
3.
4.
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Can/could/be able to
May/might
Shall/should
Must/have to
Will/would
Can, Could, Be Able To
Can, could and be able to are used to express a variety of ideas in English:
Ability/Lack of Ability
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Present and Future:
can/can’t + base form of the verb
1. Tom can write poetry very well.
2. I can help you with that next week.
3. Lisa can’t speak French.
am / is / are / will be + able to + base form of the verb
am not/ isn’t / aren’t/ won’t be + able to + base form of the verb
1. Mike is able to solve complicated math equations
2. The support team will be able to help you in about ten minutes.
3. I won’t be able to visit you next summer.
Past:
could / couldn’t + base form of the verb
1. When I was a child I could climb trees.
was / were + able to + base form of the verb
wasn’t / weren’t + able to + base form of the verb
hasn’t / haven’t + been able to + base form of the verb
1. I wasn’t able to visit her in the hospital.
2. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the client yet.
Note: Can and could do not take an infinitive (to verb) and do not take the future auxiliary
will.
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Incorrect: I can to help you this afternoon.
Correct: I can help you this afternoon.
Correct: I will (I’ll) be able to help you this afternoon.
Possibility / Impossibility
can / can’t + base form of the verb
1. You can catch that train at 10:43.
2. He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.
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could + base form of the verb
1. I could fly via Amsterdam if I leave the day before.
Ask Permission / Give Permission
Can + Subject + base form of the verb (informal)
1. Can you lend me ten dollars?
Can + base form of the verb (informal)
1. You can borrow my car.
Could + subject + base form of the verb (polite)
1. Could I have your number?
2. Could I talk to your supervisor please?
Make a suggestion – To make a suggestion use:
Could + base form of the verb (informal)
1. You could take the tour of the castle tomorrow.
May, Might
Formal Permission / Formal Prohibition
may / may not + base form of the verb
1. You may start your exam now.
2. You may not wear sandals to work.
Polite Request
May + subject + base form of the verb
1. May I help you?
Possibility / Negative Possibility
may/ might + base form of the verb
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1. We may go out dinner tonight. Do you want to join us?
2. Our company might get the order if the client agrees to the price.
may not / might not + base form of the verb
1. Adam and Sue may not buy that house. It’s very expensive.
2. They might not buy a house at all.
To Make a Suggestion (when there is no better alternative)
may as well / might as well + base form of the verb
1. You may as well come inside. John will be home soon.
2. We might as well take Friday off. There’s no work to be done anyway.
Polite Suggestion
might + base form of the verb
1. You might like to try the salmon fillet. It’s our special today.
Shall, Should, Ought to
To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are quite sure of a positive answer)
Shall + subject + base form of the verb
1. Shall we go for a walk?
Note: Shall is only used with I or we. It is used instead of will only in formal English.
To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are not sure of a positive answer)
Should + subject + base form of the verb
1. Should I call a doctor?
A Prediction or Expectation that Something Will Happen
should/shouldn’t + base form of the verb
1. The proposal should be finished on time.
2. I shouldn’t be late. The train usually arrives on time.
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To Give Advice
should / ought to + base form of the verb
1. You should check that document before you send it out.
2. You ought to have your car serviced before the winter.
To Give Advice (about something you think wrong or unacceptable)
shouldn’t + base form of the verb
1. James shouldn’t teach him words like those.
Must, Have to, Need to, Don’t have to, Needn’t
Necessity or Requirement
Present and Future:
must / have to / need to + base form of the verb
1. You must have a passport to cross the border.
2. Elisabeth has to apply for her visa by March 10th.
3. I need to drop by his room to pick up a book.
Past:
had to / needed to + base form of the verb
1. I had to work late last night.
2. I needed to drink a few cups of coffee in order to stay awake.
Note: have to and need to are often used in the same context, but many times, need to is
used to express something that is less urgent, something in which you have a choice.
Almost 100% Certain
must + base form of the verb
1. Thomas has lived in Paris for years. His French must be very good.
To Persuade
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must / have to + base form of the verb
1. You must try this wine. It’s excellent.
2. You have to visit us while you’re in town.
Prohibited or Forbidden
must not / mustn’t + base form of the verb
1. You must not drive over the speed limit.
2. You mustn’t leave medicines where children can get to them.
Lack of Necessity
don’t /doesn’t /didn’t + have to + base form of the verb
1. You don’t have to park the car. The hotel valet will do it for you.
2. Tim doesn’t have to go to school today. It’s a holiday.
3. You didn’t have to shout. Everyone could hear you.
needn’t + base form of the verb
1. You needn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.
Modals: Will / Would
will / won’t + base form of the verb
1. John will pick you up at 7:00am.
2. Beth won’t be happy with the results of the exam.
Polite Request or Statement
Will / Would + base form of the verb
1. Will you please take the trash out?
2. Would you mind if I sat here?
3. I’d (I would) like to sign up for your workshop.
Habitual Past Action
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Would/Wouldn’t + base form of the verb
1. When I was a child, I would spend hours playing with my train set.
2. Peter wouldn’t eat broccoli when he was a kid. He loves it now.
Auxiliary Verb Examples
Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs and verb phrases. In the examples below, the
verb phrase is italicized and the auxiliary verb is in bold.
1. Jessica is taking John to the airport.
2. If he doesn’t arrive on time, he’ll have to take a later flight.
3. Unfortunately, our dinner has been eaten by the dog.
4. I have purchased a new pair of shoes to replace the ones that were lost in my luggage.
5. We hope you don’t have an accident on your way to school.
6. She was baking a pie for dessert.
7. Dad has been working hard all day.
8. The bed was made as soon as I got up.
9. Sarah doesn’t ski or roller skate.
10. Did Matthew bring coffee?
Stative Verbs
What are Stative Verbs?
Stative verbs are verbs that express a state rather than an action. They usually relate to
thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being and measurements. These verbs are
not usually used with ing in progressive (continuous) tenses even though they may take on
time expressions such as now and at the moment. We use the simple tenses for them.
1. Paul feels rotten today. He has a bad cold.
2. Do you recognize him? He is a famous rock star.
3. Our client appreciated all the work we did for him.
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Incorrect: I’m smelling your wife’s wonderful spaghetti sauce.
Correct: I smell your wife’s wonderful spaghetti sauce.
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However, there are some verbs that look like they should be stative, but may appear in the
ing form. These verbs differ in meaning to the stative verbs.
Stative Verb Examples:
see
1. I see Michael, but he can’t see me. I’m too far away. (I see him with my eyes.)
2. James is seeing Marsha. They’ve been together for a month. (He’s dating her.)
hear
1. I hear music coming from the Smith’s apartment. Someone must be home now. (To
experience sound)
2. I’m hearing voices. (I’m imagining it)
have
1. Jeremy has a Mercedes. (He owns it.)
2. Sara is having lunch with her editor. (She’s eating lunch)
List of Stative Verbs
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adore
agree
appear (seem)
appreciate
be (exist)
believe
belong to
concern
consist of
contain
cost
deny
depend on
deserve
detest
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disagree
dislike
doubt
equal
feel
hate
have (possession)
hear
imagine
include
involve
know
lack
like
loathe
look (seem)
love
matter
mean
measure
mind
need
owe
Phrasal Verbs
What are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of words (a verb + a preposition or verb +adverb) that when
used together, usually take on a different meaning to that of the original verb.
Phrasal Verb Examples
1. break down, check in, tear up
When we use phrasal verbs, we use them like normal verbs in a sentence, regardless if it’s a
regular or irregular verb.
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1. Ella tore up the letter after she read it.
2. Their car broke down two miles out of town.
3. Did the manager deal with that customer’s complaint.
More phrasal verb examples:
1. Be sure to put on a life jacket before getting into the boat.
2. We left out the trash for pickup.
3. It’s time to get on the plane.
4. What will she think up next?
5. I’m having some trouble working out the solution to this equation.
6. We’re going to have to put off our vacation until next year.
7. Stand up when speaking in class, please.
8. We’ll have to wake up early if we want breakfast.
9. Take off your shoes before you walk on the carpet.
10. My dog likes to break out of his kennel to chase squirrels.
Click here for an extensive list of phrasal verbs
Verb Tenses
Present Simple
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Positive: Most kids like milk.
Negative: I do not like milk unless it’s chocolate.
Yes/No Questions: Do you like milk?
Wh-Questions: When do we board the train for Paris?
Tag Questions: You like scuba diving, don’t you?
Present Progressive (Continuous)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Positive:You are learning to use perfect English.
Negative:You are not sleeping now.
Yes/No Questions:Are you eating?
Wh-Questions:What are you watching?
Tag Questions:You aren’t eating liverwurst, are you?
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Past Simple
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Positive:I visited my grandmother yesterday.
Negative:We didn’t watch the movie on Saturday.
Yes/No Questions:Did you have spaghetti for dinner last night?
Wh-Questions:Why didn’t you wash the car yesterday?
Tag Questions:You went to Paris last year, didn’t you?
Past Progressive (Continuous)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Positive:We were watching TV when the power went out.
Negative:You were not listening to the teacher’s instructions yesterday.
Yes/No Questions:Were you skateboarding when you broke your leg?
Wh-Questions:What were you doing when you heard the news?
Future
Future Simple
1. Be Going To:We are going to the movies tonight.
2. Shall:You will help your grandmother later.
Future Progressive (Continuous)
1. Present Simple and Present Progressive with Future Meaning: Sam will be coming
home any minute.
Perfect Tenses
The perfect tenses describe actions that have already been completed or that began in the
past and are relevant to the present or that will have happened at a particular time in the
future. They are also referred to as the perfective aspect.
Present Perfect Simple
1. Positive:They have been to Paris.
2. Negative:You haven’t gone overseas.
3. Yes/No Questions:Have you been to London?
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4. Wh-Questions:Why are we here?
5. Tag Questions:You haven’t been to Zurich, have you?
Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Positive:They have been swimming for more than an hour.
Negative:You haven’t waited thirty minutes yet.
Yes/No Questions:Have you been waiting long?
Wh-Questions:What time did you begin waiting?
Tag Questions:You haven’t been waiting long, have you?
Past Perfect Simple
1.
2.
3.
4.
Positive:He had studied French before traveling to Paris.
Negative: She hadn’t studied French before last semester.
Yes/No Questions:Had you studied French before you traveled to Paris?
Wh-Questions:Why hadn’t you studied French when you knew you’d be traveling to
Paris soon?
5. Tag Questions:You hadn’t visited the U.S. before your trip in 2010, had you?
Past Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Positive:We had been waiting for more than three hours when the train finally arrived.
Negative:We had not been waiting for more than thirty minutes when her plane landed.
Yes/No Questions:Had you been waiting for longer than three hours?
Wh-Questions:Why had you been waiting for the last two hours?
Future Perfect Simple / Future Perfect Progressive
1. Future Perfect Simple:You will have perfected your French by the time you come back
from Paris.
2. Future Perfect Progressive:We will be waiting for him when his plan arrives tonight.
Regular Verbs
A regular verb is one that conforms to the usual rule for forming its simple past tense and
its past participle.
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In English, the "usual" rule is to add -ed or -d to the base form of the verb to create the past
forms. However, there are some spelling rules to consider (see right).
Regular verbs contrast with irregular verbs which form their simple past tenses and past
participles in a variety of ways.
Read more about irregular verbs.
With a regular verb, the simple past tense and the past participle are the same. For example:
Base Form Simple Past Tense Past Participle
paint
painted
has painted
yawn
yawned
has yawned
dance
danced
has danced
With irregular verbs, however, the past forms can be same or different. For example:
Base Form Simple Past Tense Past Participle
run
ran
has run
grow
grew
has grown
tell
told
has told
bleed
bled
has bled
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Regular Verbs Are Weak Verbs
A regular verb is a type of weak verb.
Be ware that a number of sources state that the terms regular verb and weak
verb are synonyms (i.e., they mean the same). Likewise, they claim that the terms irregular
verb and strong verb are synonyms.
It would be easier for us all if this were the only story. Unfortunately, here at Grammar
Monster, we don’t get to decide how to classify verbs. Still, here is a Venn diagram which
explains the complicated version of how they are classified:
rregular Verbs
I
What Are Irregular Verbs?
Irregular verbs are verbs that don’t take on the regular –d, -ed, or -ied spelling patterns of
the past simple (V2) or past participle (V3). Many of the irregular V2 and V3 forms are the
same, such as: cut – cut, had – had, let – let, hurt – hurt, fed- fed, sold-sold
Irregular Verb Examples
Irregular verbs are also known as strong verbs. Here are nine that are used more often than
the rest. These nine irregular verb examples also happen to be among the most commonly
used words in the English language. They are:
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Go
Get
Say
The following examples show how irregular verbs are used in sentences. Some sentences
contain more than one example.
1. Go get your brother. It’s time to eat dinner.
→ In this example, all three irregular verbs (go, get, and eat) are in base form.
2. I want to build a sand castle like the one we built last year.
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→ In this example, the irregular verb build is in base form. The irregular verb built is the
past simple form of “build”. When you look at the complete list of examples, you’ll
notice that built is also the past participle of the irregular verb “build”.
3. He bet me that I couldn’t run five miles without stopping. I proved him wrong; I ranseven
miles before I had to catch my breath.
→ In this example, bet is a past simple form. When you look at the complete list, you
will see that all three forms of “bet” are the same. Next, in the same sentence, the
irregular verb run is in base form. In the next sentence, ran is the past simple form of
“run” and had is the past simple form of “have.” Meanwhile, catch is base form.
4. I awoke to find that a spider had bitten me. Although the wound didn’t bleed, it itched
terribly.
→ In this example, the irregular verb awoke is the past simple form of “awake.” Bitten is
past participle form of “bite” and bleed is base form.
5. Let’s drink some of this lemonade. I drank some yesterday and found it delicious.
→ In this example, the irregular verb drink is in base form. Drank is the past simple form
of “drink,” and found is the past simple form of “find.”
For more examples, read our complete list of irregular verbs in the English language.
Confusing Verbs
There are many verbs that sound similar and it’s easy to get confused between them. Here is
a list of some of the most common confusing verb pairs, their meanings and examples of
how they should be used in a sentence.
Verb
Meaning/ Use
The Verb in Context
borrow
To take a loan
Can I borrow $20 from you please?
Gerunds and Infinitives
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Gerunds and infinitives are sometimes referred to as verb complements. They may function
as subjects or objects in a sentence.
What are Gerunds?
A gerund is a verb in its ing (present participle) form that functions as a noun that names an
activity rather than a person or thing. Any action verb can be made into a gerund.
Spelling Tip
Verbing (Present Participle)




Add ing to most verbs. Ex. play > playing, cry > crying, bark > barking
For verbs that end in e, remove the e and add ing. Ex: slide > sliding, ride > riding
For verbs that end in ie, change the ie to y and add ing. Ex: die > dying, tie > tying
For a verb whose last syllable is written with a consonant-vowel-consonant and is stressed,
double the last letter before adding ing. Ex: beg > begging, begin > beginning. However:
enter > entering(last syllable is not stressed)
Gerund Examples
Gerunds can appear at the beginning of a sentence when used as a subject:
1. Jogging is a hobby of mine.
Gerunds can act as an object following the verb:
1. Daniel quit smoking a year ago.
Gerunds can serve as an object after a preposition:
1. I look forward to helping you paint the house.
Note: The same spelling rules that apply to the progressive tenses also apply to gerunds.
Some verbs and verb phrases are directly followed a gerund:
1. Paul avoids using chemicals on the vegetables he grows.
Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive without causing a change in
meaning:
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1. Some people prefer getting up early in the morning.
2. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning
Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a change in meaning:
1. He remembered sending the fax. (He remembered the act of send the fax)
2. He remembered to send the fax. (He remembered the fax and sent it.)
What are Infinitives?
An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in a sentence. It is formed with
to + base form of the verb. Ex: to buy, to work.
Infinitive Examples
Infinitives can be used as:
an object following the verb:
1. Jim always forgets to eat
a subject at the beginning of a sentence:
1. To travel around the world requires a lot of time and money.
an adverb modifying a verb:
1. You promised to buy me a diamond ring.
an adjective modifying a noun:
1. Tara has the ability to succeed.
Some verbs are directly followed by an infinitive:
1. Do you want to call your family now?
Some verbs are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by an infinitive:
1. I convinced Catherine to become vegetarian.
2. He advised me to sell all my shares of stock.
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund without causing a change in
meaning:
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1. Will you continue working after you give birth?
2. Will you continue to work after you give birth?
Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund but with a change in meaning:
1. He stopped drinking coffee. (He never drank coffee again.)
2. He stopped to drink coffee. (He stopped what he was doing and drank some coffee.)
Reference Lists – Gerunds and Infinitives
Common verbs and phrases that are followed by a gerund
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go on
have difficulty
have problems
have trouble
imagine
it’s no use
it’s worthwhile
keep
look forward to
mention
mind
miss
recommend
remember
quit
spend time
stop
suggest
understand
waste time
work at
Common verbs that can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without causing
a change in meaning
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
begin
continue
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hate
intend
like
love
prefer
start
Common verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a change in
meaning
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forget
remember
stop
Common verbs that are followed by an infinitive
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afford
agree
appear
arrange
ask
care
decide
demand
expect
fail
forget
hope
learn
manage
mean
offer
plan
prepare
pretend
promise
refuse
wish
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Common verbs that are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by an
infinitive
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advise
allow
ask
cause
challenge
command
convince
expect
forbid
force
hire
instruct
invite
Passive Voice
What is the passive voice?
In general we tend to use the active voice. That is when a subject does an action to an object.
1. Somebody stole my laptop. (subject = Somebody / action(verb) = stole / object = my
laptop)
The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action (the verb) and the object of
a sentence rather than subject. This means that the subject is either less important than the
action itself or that we don’t know who or what the subject is.
1. My laptop was stolen. (The object – now the subject = My laptop / action= was stolen)
1. Passive: Napa Valley is known for its excellent wines.
2. Active: [Many people] know Napa Valley for its excellent wines.
1. Passive: Twenty civilians were killed in the bomb explosion.
2. Active: Someone killed twenty civilians in the bomb explosion.
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The passive agent
When we know who the subject is, we put it at the end with by. We call this an agent.
1. Passive: The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (agent =Leonardo Da Vinci
)
2. Active: Leonaro Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
Most writing instructors and editors recommend against using the passive voice, when
possible. The reason for this is that when you use the active voice, your writing is clearer
and less complicated.
1. Active: While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, a police officer pulled him
over and gave him a speeding ticket.
2. Passive: While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, he was pulled over and given
a ticket by a police officer.
If it’s a long sentence and you know who the subject is, it’s best to use the active voice.
The passive is often used to report something or to state a fact.
1. Highway 15 was closed yesterday due to a serious road accident.
2. A lot of corn is grown in Iowa.
Forming the passive voice
The passive voice is not a tense in English. Each tense has its own passive voice which is
created by using a form of the auxiliary verb to be + V3 (past participle)
The passive voice in each tense:
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English grammar about verb
Tense
Auxiliary verb + sample V3 (past
participle)
Examples
Present simple
am, is, are + made
Wine is made from grapes.
Many cars are made in Japan.
Present
progressive
am, is, are + being + sent
The document is being sent right now.
I am being sent to work in the London office.
Past simple
was, were + invited
John was invited to speak at the conference.
We were invited to Daniel and Mary’s
wedding.
Past progressive
was, were + being + washed
The dog was being washed when I got home.
Their cars were being washed while they were
in the mall shopping.
will be + signed
The contract will be signed tomorrow.
The documents will all be signed by next
week.
am, is, are + going to be + built
A bridge is going to be built within the next
two years.
New houses are going to be built in our
neighborhood.
has, have + been + sold
That start-up has been sold for $5 million.
The rights to his book have been sold for
$250,000.
Future (will)
Future (going
to)
Present perfect
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Auxiliary verb + sample V3 (past
participle)
Examples
Past perfect
had + been + hired
The new manager had been hired before John
left the company.
All the employees had hired before the store
opened.
Future perfect
will + have been + finished
The car will have been loaded by the time he
gets home.
The crates will have been loaded by then.
can, could + be + issued
A passport can only be issued at the embassy.
He said the documents could be issued within
the week.
Modal: have to
have to, has to, had to + be+
arranged
A babysitter has to be arranged for this
evening.
Joan’s travel plans have to be arranged by
December.
Modal: must
must + be + stopped
Criminals must be stopped before they commit
crimes.
Tense
Modals:
can/could
All of the rules for passive negatives and questions are the same as for the active voice.
Note: Verbs that have no object (no one to “receive” the action) cannot be put into the passive,
such as, arrive, come, die, exist, go, happen, have, live, occur sleep, etc.
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Conclusion
in the base that you read verb is something that all sentences need and
also in this book you read that verb how to use and also how to work
from verb and in where we can use what verb and also
Source
Essay English grammar book author ali reza mohamadi 2013
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