Verb FormsVerb Forms

Intensive Course in Research WritingTexas A&M University July 11-15, 2011

Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELSsusan@words-world.net

WordsWorld Consultingwww.words-world.net

ESL Short SubjectESL Short Subject

Verb FormsVerb Forms

InfinitiveInfinitive to walk, to speakto walk, to speakBase formBase form walk, speakwalk, speakGerund or Gerund or walking, speakingwalking, speakingpresent participlepresent participlePast participlePast participle walked, spokenwalked, spokenSimple pastSimple past walked, spokewalked, spokeVerb phraseVerb phrase am speaking, am speaking,

has spoken, has spoken, has been speaking, has been speaking, will have spoken will have spoken

Verb-form ErrorVerb-form Error

An error in the formation of the main verb or An error in the formation of the main verb or any part of a verb phraseany part of a verb phrase

Can significantly affect reader’s ability to Can significantly affect reader’s ability to understand the meaningunderstand the meaning

Essential to know formation of verb tenses Essential to know formation of verb tenses in English, but some specific situations (eg, in English, but some specific situations (eg, verbals that follow verbs) don’t follow rulesverbals that follow verbs) don’t follow rules

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Main verb incorrectly formedMain verb incorrectly formed

Past participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formedPast participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formed

Main verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of Main verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of [[bebe + past participle] + past participle]

Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together have been used in verb phrasehave been used in verb phrase

Form of a verbal following a verb is incorrectForm of a verbal following a verb is incorrect

Infinitive incorrectly formedInfinitive incorrectly formed

Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund or infinitiveor infinitive

All are compounded by the many irregular verbs in English.

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Main verb incorrectly formedMain verb incorrectly formedExamples:Examples:My comment ____ my cousin’s feelings. (to hurt)My comment ____ my cousin’s feelings. (to hurt)Susan ____ to Los Angeles for an Editorial Board Susan ____ to Los Angeles for an Editorial Board meeting. (to fly)meeting. (to fly)

Past participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formedPast participle in a verb phrase incorrectly formedExamples:Examples:One of my colleagues One of my colleagues waswas ____ because of work ____ because of work issues that could not be resolved. (to fire)issues that could not be resolved. (to fire)The choir The choir had had _____ their last song before I arrived. _____ their last song before I arrived. (to sing)(to sing)

Common ProblemsCommon ProblemsMain verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of Main verb or adjective incorrectly used instead of [[bebe + past participle] + past participle]Examples:Examples:I ____ about what you just said. (to confuse)I ____ about what you just said. (to confuse)San Francisco ____ on the northern coast of California. San Francisco ____ on the northern coast of California. (to locate)(to locate)

Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together Auxiliary verb and main verb that do not go together have been used in verb phrasehave been used in verb phraseExamples:Examples:John felt he deserved his low grade because he ____ John felt he deserved his low grade because he ____ enough. (to study)enough. (to study)Tina was discouraged because she ____ very quickly. (to Tina was discouraged because she ____ very quickly. (to progress)progress)

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Form of a verbal following a verb is incorrectForm of a verbal following a verb is incorrectExamples:Examples:He decided ____ to the concert tonight. (to go)He decided ____ to the concert tonight. (to go)David avoided ____ the issue. (to discuss)David avoided ____ the issue. (to discuss)

Remember:Remember:The form of a verbal (infinitive, gerund, or base form) The form of a verbal (infinitive, gerund, or base form) that follows a verb is not rule-based and is that follows a verb is not rule-based and is determined on a case-by-case basis (see handout determined on a case-by-case basis (see handout for list of common verbs).for list of common verbs).

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Infinitive incorrectly formedInfinitive incorrectly formedExamples:Examples:I rarely forget ____ my e-mail on the weekend. (to I rarely forget ____ my e-mail on the weekend. (to check)check)It was hard for Sandy ____ that she used the wrong It was hard for Sandy ____ that she used the wrong files for data entry. (to admit)files for data entry. (to admit)

Remember:Remember:Infinitives consist of either [Infinitives consist of either [toto + base form] with no + base form] with no -ed ending, or [-ed ending, or [toto + + havehave + past participle] for the + past participle] for the past form of an infinitive.past form of an infinitive.

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund Base form of verb has been used instead of gerund or infinitiveor infinitiveExamples:Examples:Jim says that ____ his divorce would be too painful. Jim says that ____ his divorce would be too painful. (to discuss)(to discuss)After hearing Karen’s argument, she changed her After hearing Karen’s argument, she changed her way of ____ at the problem. (to look)way of ____ at the problem. (to look)

Rules for Verb-Phrase FormationRules for Verb-Phrase Formation

DO (do, does, did) + BASE FORMDO (do, does, did) + BASE FORMI do not know. She does not…I do not know. She does not…

HAVE (have, has, had) + PAST PARTICIPLEHAVE (have, has, had) + PAST PARTICIPLEI have already left. She has left. She had…I have already left. She has left. She had…

BE (am, is, are, was, were, have been, has been, BE (am, is, are, was, were, have been, has been, had been) + PRESENT PARTICIPLEhad been) + PRESENT PARTICIPLEI am studying. She is studying. We are…I am studying. She is studying. We are…

Gerunds and InfinitivesGerunds and InfinitivesUse an infinitive or gerund, not a base form, when a Use an infinitive or gerund, not a base form, when a verbal functions as a subject or an object.verbal functions as a subject or an object.

We have benefited greatly from We have benefited greatly from listeninglistening to Dr. Gastel’s to Dr. Gastel’s lectures.lectures.ReadingReading is one of my favorite hobbies. is one of my favorite hobbies.

Use a gerund, not a base form, as an object of a Use a gerund, not a base form, as an object of a preposition.preposition.

Peter helped me by Peter helped me by comingcoming over to visit. over to visit.Abigail talked me into Abigail talked me into helpinghelping her. her.

Use an infinitive, not a base form, after many adjectives.Use an infinitive, not a base form, after many adjectives.I am sorry I am sorry to see to see you so unhappy.you so unhappy.I am eager I am eager to get to get my PhD degree.my PhD degree.

Gerunds and InfinitivesGerunds and InfinitivesUse an infinitive, not a base form, to express a purpose.Use an infinitive, not a base form, to express a purpose.

He went to his supervisor’s office He went to his supervisor’s office to ask to ask a question.a question.

Use a perfective infinitive (Use a perfective infinitive (toto + + havehave + past participle) in + past participle) in cases in which the event or condition expressed by the cases in which the event or condition expressed by the infinitive is in the past.infinitive is in the past.

To have won To have won the election fulfilled all his dreams.the election fulfilled all his dreams.(He already won the election.)(He already won the election.)I am sorry I am sorry to have seen to have seen Mike so unhappy at the last Mike so unhappy at the last

meeting.meeting.(I saw that Mike was unhappy at the last meeting, and I am (I saw that Mike was unhappy at the last meeting, and I am sorry about this fact.)sorry about this fact.)It was thoughtful of you It was thoughtful of you to have done to have done that.that.(You already did something thoughtful, and the speaker is (You already did something thoughtful, and the speaker is

acknowledging it now.)acknowledging it now.)