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Standard Verb Forms
Verbs change to show differences in time; this is called tense. Verbs have many tenses. Below are six tenses for the regular verb row.
1. Present Tense (used to express action in the present). 1st person
2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I row You row He/she/it rows
Plural
We row You row They row Present progressive (continuous action): I am rowing
Note:Theprogressive tenses consist of the present, past, or perfect form of the verb “to be” plus a present participle (the “ing” form of the verb, e.g., “cooking,”
“taking.”)
2. Past Tense (used to express action in the past) 1st person
2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I rowed You rowed He/she/it rowed
Plural
We rowed You rowed They rowed Past Progressive (continuous action): I was rowing.
3. Future Tense (used to express action in the future) 1st person
2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I will row You will row He/she/it will row
Plural
We will row You will row They will row Future Progressive (continuous action): I will be rowing
The Perfect Tenses
Note: The perfect tenses consist of the past or present form of the helping verb “to have” plus the past participle of the verb, which is usually formed by adding a “d,”
“ed,” “n,” or an “en” at the end of the verb (e.g., “cooked,” “taken”).
4. Present Perfect Tense (used to express action at no definite time in the past) 1st person
2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I have rowed You have rowed He/she/it has rowed
Plural
We have rowed You have rowed They have rowed Present Perfect Progressive (continuous action): I have been rowing
5. Past Perfect Tense (used to express action completed in the past before another past action)
1st person 2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I had rowed You had rowed He/she/it had rowed
Plural
We had rowed You had rowed They had rowed Past Perfect Progressive (continuous action): I had been rowing.
6. Future Perfect Tense (used to express action that will be completed before another future action)
1st person 2nd person 3rd person
Singular
I will have rowed You will have rowed He/she/it will have rowed
Plural
We will have rowed You will have rowed They will have rowed Future Perfect Progressive (continuous action): I will have been rowing.
IMPORTANT: Using a participial form of a verb requires that you use a helping verb such as has, have, had, is,was, were. Do not use a helping verb with the past tense—only with the participial form.
Yes: Many times I have written you letters. No: Many times I have wrote you letters. Yes: The child has swum the length of the pool. No: The child has swam the length of the pool.
Some Irregular and Troublesome Verbs
Infinitive To be To begin To blow To break To bring To buy To choose To come To do To dive To draw To drink To drive To eat To fall To get To give To go To have To know To pay To ride To ring To see To sing To sneak To steal To swear To swim To swing To take To throw To wake To wear Present Am Begin Blow Break Bring Buy Choose Come Do Dive Draw Drink Drive Eat Fall Get Give Go Have Know Pay Ride Ring See Sing Sneak Steal Swear Swim Swing Take Throw Wake Wear Past Was Began Blew Broke Brought Bought Chose Came Did Dived/dove Drew Drank Drove Ate Fell Got Gave Went Had Knew Paid Rode Rang Saw Sang Sneaked Stole Swore Swam Swung Took Threw Waked/woken Wore Past Participle (always(always add helping verb like “have”) Been Begun Blown Broken Brought Bought Chosen Come Done Dived Drawn Drunk Driven Eaten Fallen Gotten Given Gone Had Known Paid Ridden Rung Seen Sung Sneaked Stolen Sworn Swum Swung Taken Thrown Waked/woken Worn Present Participle(always add helping verb like “am”)
Being Beginning Blowing Breaking Bringing Buying Choosing Coming Doing Diving Drawing Drinking Driving Eating Falling Getting Giving Going Having Knowing Paying Riding Ringing Seeing Singing Sneaking Stealing Swearing Swimming Swinging Taking Throwing Waking Wearing
Examples:
Infinitive: I hope to buy a new car. Present: Today, I buy a new car. Past: Yesterday, I bought a new car.
Past Participle: Many times in the past, I have bought a new car. Present Participle: Frequently, I am buying a new car.
Three irregular verbs pose special problems to students who are accustomed to hearing them used incorrectly. Memorize the following principal parts and learn the difference in usage between
lie/lay, sit/set, and rise/raise.
Lie-Lay
Infinitive To lie
(to rest or recline)
never takes an object
To lay
(to put or place)
always requires an object
Present Lie Lay
Past Lay Laid
Past participle Lain Laid
Present participle Lying Laying
Ex: Often in the afternoon, I lie down for a nap. Ex: Lay the pattern on the floor to cut it out.
Sit-Set
Infinitive To sit
(to be seated)
never takes an object
To set
(to put or place)
always requires an object
Present Sit Set
Past Sat Set
Past participle Sat Set
Present participle Sitting Setting
Ex: Mom always sits at the head of the table. Ex: Set the table with the sterling silver.
Rise-Raise
Infinitive To rise
(to stand)
never takes an object
To raise
(to elevate)
always requires an object
Present Rise Raise
Past Rose Raised
Past participle Risen Raised
Ex: All rise while the judge enters the courtroom. Ex: Raise the blinds so we can see the stars.
Special Verb Forms
Sometimes writers fail to include the final d of the verb in phrases such as used to,
supposed to, and accustomed to.
Yes: I used to dislike computers until I realized how much they can simplify my job. Yes: I’ve grown accustomed to this college campus.
Yes: I’m supposed to be at work by 5:30. Avoid non-standard verb usage.
Yes: I could have (or should have or would have) danced all night No: I could of (should of or would of) danced all night.
Yes: I ought to study for my exams. No: I had ought to study for my finals
