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Verb Forms
eg1471/jc/dec2008
Verb Forms
All verbs (except be) have 5 forms.
Infinitive / Base form (no -s)
Third person -s form
-ing form Past tense form
Past participle form
drive drives driving drove driven
eg1471/jc/dec2008
Verb Forms
The -ing form and the past participle form need an auxiliary verb to function as a complete verb.
The -s form and the past tense form can function as complete main verbs of a clause.
Many have given this product a try.
Many gave this product a try.
She lives in Clementi.
eg1471/jc/dec2008
Regular and Irregular Verbs
The past tense and past participle of regular verbs end in –(e)d.
Base form Past tense Past Participle
live lived lived
walk walked walked
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Irregular Verbs
The past tense and past participles of irregular verbs do not end in –(e)d.
Some irregular verbs are the same in both forms.
Base form Past tense Past Participle
take took taken
Base form Past tense Past Participle
cut cut cut
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Irregular Verbs
The following have an irregular -s form:
Base form Third Person
do does
go goes
have has
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Auxiliary Verb Do
Do, does, did are followed by the base form of the verb.
In questions for statements with no auxiliary verb, do is placed before the subject.
Statement: The programme works well.
Question: Does the programme work well?
eg1471/jc/dec2008
Auxiliary Verb Do
In negations when no other auxiliary verb is present, do is followed by a verb’s base form.
Do is also used for emphasis.
Statement: The programme works well.
Negation: The programme does not work well.
The employees did/do try their best to meet their monthly target.
eg1471/jc/dec2008
Auxiliary Verb Have
In the present and past perfect tenses, have is followed by a past participle.
Present Perfect Simple
The team has worked very hard. (regular verb)
The team has done well. (irregular verb)
Past Perfect Simple
By the time the team arrived at the conference room, the meeting had commenced. (regular verb)
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Auxiliary Verb Be
Present Past -ing form Past participle
Passive voice
is
are
am
was
were
being been is/are/am/was/were + being
has/have/ had been
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Verb Patterns
A verb can be followed by:
an infinitive (to + verb)
a gerund (verb + -ing)
a base form (infinitive without to)
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Verbs Followed by a Gerund
postpone resume considercomplete risk recommendsuggest discuss regret
Examples:The managers have considered getting everyone involved in the meeting.
The trainers suggest trying another method to overcome the obstacles.
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Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
Examples:
See Lane and Lange (1999), p. 39 for more details.
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Verbs Followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive
begin stop continue start try prefer loveExamples:
I’ve started revising for the test.
I’ve started to revise for the test. (Same meaning)
I love eating Vietnamese cuisine.
I love to eat at 7pm. (Similar meaning: general v specific)
I’ve stopped smoking.
I’ve stopped to smoke. (Different meaning)
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Verbs Followed by a Base Form
make have let help (this verb can also be followed by an infinitive)
Examples:
The authorities will let the people know the outcome.
By making the policies known, the government will help keep / help to keep their citizens informed.
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Infinitives Followed by Adjectives
Use an infinitive after these adjectives
eager amazed anxious careful content determined hesitant pleased proud reluctant ready surprised
Examples:
The minister is anxious to please the people.The parents were amazed to discover the truth.
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Common Verb Form Errors
Incorrect past participle form.
*They knew they had not make time to discuss it.
They knew they had not made time to discuss it.
Incorrect use of the infinitive. *Everyone should be concern about the environment.
Everyone should be concerned about the environment.
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Common Verb Form Errors
Not using the infinitive or gerund as a subject.
* Check the processes helps to make sure everything is in order.
Checking the processes helps to make sure everything is in order.
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Common Verb Form Errors
Not using a gerund as an object of a preposition.
*The lecturer talked everyone into do extra work.
The lecturer talked everyone into doing extra work.
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Common Verb Form Errors
Using a perfective infinitive (to+ have+ past participle) where events or conditions expressed by the infinitive are in the past.
*To produce a higher crop yield was an impossibility given the weather.
Producing a higher crop yield was an impossibility given the weather.
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References
Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd ed.). USA: Heinle and Heinle Publishers. Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, 28-45.
Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 32-40.
