Download Irregular Verbs

Contents
Issue
page
Preface .................................................................................................. a
Verb ...................................................................................................... 2
Types of Verbs ..................................................................................... 3
Action Verbs ......................................................................................... 4
Auxiliary (or Helping) Verbs ................................................................ 6
Stative Verbs ....................................................................................... 15
Phrasal Verbs...................................................................................... 17
Verb Tenses......................................................................................... 18
Regular Verbs ..................................................................................... 20
Irregular Verbs ................................................................................... 22
Confusing Verbs ................................................................................. 23
Gerunds and Infinitives ...................................................................... 23
Passive Voice ..................................................................................... 27
Conclusion .......................................................................................... 31
Source ................................................................................................. 32
English grammar about verb
1
Preface
As we know grammar is very important for a
language and also for grammar important verb and
also when we want to learn a language we must learn
the grammar and According to grammatical
problems I want to write this book and also by
cooperation and courage of my teacher nematullah
nasraty and teacher said sofizade and I want to this
book is a good book about verb and this book include
2 two section verb in form and also verb in meaning
and verb in meaning divided in to two parts action
verbs and also auxiliary verbs and the second part is
verb in form to include regular verb and irregular
verb and also I want to this book is useful for you and
at the last I appreciate from my kinds teacher. Please
aware me from your safety Views.
Thanks
E-mail:[email protected]
Site: www.sask.blog.af
English grammar about verb
2
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
English grammar about verb
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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
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
English grammar about verb
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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.
Action 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
They coughed throughout the lesson.
Transitive Verbs
Transitive verbs always receive a direct object:
well.
English grammar about verb
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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
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
English grammar about verb
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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?
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.)
English grammar about verb
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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, singleword 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.
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.
English grammar about verb
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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
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 .
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English grammar about verb
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
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
S
h
a
l
l
English grammar about verb
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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:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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
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
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English grammar about verb
1. When I was a child I could climb trees.
was
/
were
+
able
to
+
base
form
wasn’t / weren’t + able to + base form
hasn’t / haven’t + been able to + base form of the verb
of
of
the
the
verb
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.
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.
English grammar about verb
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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
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?
English grammar about verb
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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.
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.
English grammar about verb
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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
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
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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
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.
2.
3.
4.
Jessica is taking John to the airport.
If he doesn’t arrive on time, he’ll have to take a later flight.
Unfortunately, our dinner has been eaten by the dog.
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.
English grammar about verb
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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.
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
English grammar about verb
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deserve
detest
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.
1. Ella tore up the letter after she read it.
English grammar about verb
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?
Past Simple
1. Positive:I visited my grandmother yesterday.
2. Negative:We didn’t watch the movie on Saturday.
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English grammar about verb
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3. Yes/No Questions:Did you have spaghetti for dinner last night?
4. Wh-Questions:Why didn’t you wash the car yesterday?
5. 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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Positive:They have been to Paris.
Negative:You haven’t gone overseas.
Yes/No Questions:Have you been to London?
Wh-Questions:Why are we here?
Tag Questions:You haven’t been to Zurich, have you?
Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)
1. Positive:They have been swimming for more than an hour.
2. Negative:You haven’t waited thirty minutes yet.
3. Yes/No Questions:Have you been waiting long?
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English grammar about verb
4. Wh-Questions:What time did you begin waiting?
5. 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. Positive:We had been waiting for more than three hours when the train finally
arrived.
2. Negative:We had not been waiting for more than thirty minutes when her plane
landed.
3. Yes/No Questions:Had you been waiting for longer than three hours?
4. 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.
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.
21
English grammar about verb
With a regular verb, the simple past tense and the past participle are the same. For
example:
Base
Form
Simple
Tense
Past 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
Simple
Past Past
Form
Tense
Participle
run
ran
has run
grow
grew
has grown
tell
told
has told
bleed
bled
has bled
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
English grammar about verb
22
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, fedfed, 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:



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.
→ 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.
English grammar about verb
23
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
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
English grammar about verb

24
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:
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:
English grammar about verb
25
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:
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








go on
have difficulty
have problems
have trouble
imagine
it’s no use
it’s worthwhile
keep
English grammar about verb













26
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








begin
continue
hate
intend
like
love
prefer
start
Common verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a
change in meaning



forget
remember
stop
Common verbs that are followed by an infinitive








afford
agree
appear
arrange
ask
care
decide
demand
English grammar about verb














27
expect
fail
forget
hope
learn
manage
mean
offer
plan
prepare
pretend
promise
refuse
wish
Common verbs that are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by
an infinitive













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)
English grammar about verb
28
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.
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
29
English grammar about verb
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:
Tense
Auxiliary verb + sample V3 (past
participle)
Examples
Present simple
am, is, are + made
Wine
is
made
from
Many cars are made in Japan.
am, is, are + being + sent
The document is being sent right now.
I am being sent to work in the London
office.
was, were + invited
John was invited to speak at the
conference.
We were invited to Daniel and Mary’s
wedding.
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.
Present
progressive
Past simple
Past
progressive
Future (will)
Future
to)
(going
Present perfect
grapes.
30
English grammar about verb
Auxiliary verb + sample V3 (past
participle)
Examples
had + been + hired
The new manager had been hired before
John
left
the
company.
All the employees had hired before the
store opened.
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
Past perfect
Future perfect
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.
English grammar about verb
31
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 and also this book include some
important thing about verb and also in this
book study What is a verb?, Physical Verbs –
Definition and Examples, Mental Verbs –
Definition and Examples, Types of Verbs,
Action Verbs, Auxiliary (or Helping) Verbs,
How to Identify an Auxiliary Verb, Three
Common Auxiliary Verbs, Regular Verbs,
Irregular Verbs
And etc…
English grammar about verb
32
Source:
Book:
Essay English grammar book -author ali reza mohamadi 2012
Grammar book -author kabir qadiri 2013
Site:
http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/verb