Verb Forms

There are up to 5 forms for each verb: base, third-person singular, present participle, past, and past participle.

Root The root form of the verb is the absolute base form; from here, the verb can’t get any smaller. There are no endings, and nothing in front of it. The root form is usually the easiest form to figure out: it’s the infinitive form with to removed:

To see: see To be: be To wear: wear To go: go

The root form is used to create most other forms of verbs.I am going to school.What did you do yesterday?The girl showed her mother the picture she did in school.He had eaten three hamburgers.

Third person singularThe third person singular (he/she/it/one) is the one which tends to be different from other conjugations. The regular verbs end in -s (or possibly -es).He seesShe watchesIt thinksOne doesThe main irregular verb to be concerned with for this form is the verb to be.I am, you are, he is, she is, it is, we are, you are, they are.

Present participleThe present participle is the root word + -ing. It’s used in the past, present, and future progressive tenses.Come: coming, Draw: drawing, Wash: washing, Swear: swearingWhat are we doing today?Andrew is meeting with the professor after class.They’ve been living in Columbia for three years.Next month, the company will be merging with their former competitor.

Past and Past participleA past participle indicates past or completed action or time. It is often called the 'ed' form as it is formed by adding d or ed, to the base form of regular verbs, however it is also formed in various other ways for irregular verbs. It can be used to form a verb phrase as part of the present perfect tense.For example:-I have learnt English. (Learnt is part of the verb phrase 'have learnt') It can be used to form the passive voice.For example:-Her hair was well brushed. It can also be used as an adjective.For example:- As an adjective: He had a broken arm. (Broken is used here as an adjective.)

The past and past participle for regular verbs is the root word + -ed. It’s only used with the past tenses.Look: looked, Touch: touched, Clean: cleaned, Cook: cookedWe shopped for hours on Saturday afternoon.The books were stacked on the shelf.He had played computer games for the whole weekend.

Irregular verbs: The past participle can be difficult to determine for some irregular verbs. It’s best to look these ones up in a dictionary if you’re at all unsure of the past participle. Here is a list of irregular verbs:I had forgiven him for his unkind words.We made paper flowers to decorate the walls.Simon had lit candles all around the room.