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Verbs
Definition of Terms
In Chapter 3 you will learn about parts of speech called VERBS.
An ACTIO VERB tell what the sub!ect does" did" or will do.
A #I$%I$ VERB connects the sub!ect to its description.
A RE$&#AR VERB adds 'd or 'ed to for( the past tense.
An IRRE$&#AR VERB does not follow any spellin) rules to for( the
past tense.
The BASE *OR+ of the ,erb is the present for( of the ,erbb with no s at
the end.
The -RESET -ARTICI-#E is for(ed by addin) 'in) to the base for(
of the ,erb.
A CO+-#ETER follows the #I%I$ VERB to describe the sub!ect.
TESE is the chan)e of ,erb for( to indicate when the action occurred
-ER*ECT TESE are for(ed by usin) a for( of the au.iliary ,erb ha,e
and the past participle of the (ain ,erb.
An A&/I#IAR0 VERB is a helpin) ,erb used with the (ain ,erb to for(
a ,erb pharese.
Lesson 1 Present and Past Tenses : Regular Verbs
E,ery sentence (ust ha,e a VERB. Since the sub!ect and the ,erb are the two
(ost i(portant parts of sentence" learnin) to reco)nie ,erb is essential to your
pro)ress in beco(in) a better writer. #et1s re,iew three characteristic of ,erbs
help to identify the(.
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2. The ,erb tells what the sub!ect does" did" or will do 3action4" is" was" or
will be 3lin5in)4.
Example : Re))ie cau)ht the fly ball.
6hat did Re))ie do 7
8e cau)ht. Therefore" cau)ht is the ,erb.
9. The ,erb chan)es its for( to show ti(e 3 tense4.
Example : Re))ie catches the fly ball. 3 The ti(e is the present4.
Re))ie cau)ht the fly ball. 3 The ti(e is the past4.
Re))ie will catch the fly ball. 3 The ti(e is the future4.
3. The ,erb chan)es its for( in the third person sin)ular" present tense to
a)ree with the sub!ect.
Example : I catch the fly ball.3 *irst person4
She: 8e catches the fly ball. 3 third person 4
There are two 5inds of ,erb ; action ,erbs and lin)5in) ,erbs.
Action Verbs
+ost ,erbs tell what the sub!ect 3 so(eone or so(ethin)4 does" did" or will
do. These ,erbs are usually easy to identify" especially when the action is a
fa(iliar one" such as swi(" tal5" buy" chew" study" or e.plode.
*ill in the blan5s with ,erbs that tell what the sub!ect does" did" or will do.
Cathy <<<<<<<< her boy friend on the chee5 and <<<<<<<<her father on
the bac5.
In this sentence you (i)ht ha,e supplied the followin) ,erbs ; Cathy
kissed, or slapped, or pinched her boyfriend on the chee5 and hit, slapped,
or paited her father on the bac5.
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Lingking Verbs
There is another )roup of ,erbs that you (i)ht find (ore difficult to
identify than the action ,erbs abo,e. These ,erbs show a relationship
between the sub!ect and a co(pleter that follows the sub!ect. The
co(pleter usually describes or rena(es the sub!ect" and the lin5in) ,erb
lin5s the sub!ect to this co(pleter.
Subject linking Verb Completer
+r. #ope= Is (y Spanish teacher
8e see(s tired.
The lin5in) ,erb used (ost fre>uently is so(e for( of the ,erb be 3a(" is"
are" was" were4. So(e other lin5in) ,erb are see(" )row" loo5" sound"
taste" and appear.3 See lin5in) ,erbs in a Chapter ?4.
*ill the blan5s with ,erbs that lin5 the sub!ect to descripti,e or rena(in)
words that follow the blan5.
The cat <<<<<<<<<hun)ry.
+y brother <<<<<<<<<<<an artist.
Those chocolate chip coo5ies<<<<<<<<<delicious.
In these sentences you could ha,e supplied the followin) ,erbs ;
The cat loo5s" or see(s" or is hun)ry.
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+y brother is" or was" or beca(e an artist.
Those chocolate chip coo5ies taste" or s(ell" or are delicious.
EXEC!SE 1A
&sin) the three characteristics of ,erbs as and the noun test 3 Chapter 94"
identify the words below as ,erbs" nouns" or both. -lace chec5s in the
appropriate colu(s. &se the dictionary.
V " V "
2. sell <<< <<< 22. 6al5 <<< <<<
9. suppose <<< <<< 29. Choose <<< <<<
3. sale <<< <<< 23. Ride <<< <<<
?. is <<< <<< 2?. -laced <<< <<<
@. call <<< <<< 2@. Tests <<< <<<
A. drin5 <<< <<< 2A. 8as <<< <<<
B. wei)h <<< <<< 2B. *i)hts <<< <<<
C. ,isited <<< <<< 2C. 6atch <<< <<<
D. praise <<< <<< 2D. 8an) <<< <<<
2E. hears <<< <<< 9E. 8ope <<< <<<
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Before you )o on to E.ercise 2B" chec5 your answers with the Answer
%ey at the end of Chapter 3. As you wor5 in this boo5" chec5 your
answers after you co(plete each e.ercise.
EXEC!SE 1#
6rite fi,e senteces of your own. In each sentece use a ,erb fro( E.ercise
2A. &se a different ,erb in each sentence. &nderline the ,erb.
Example : +r. Rico sells real estate in philadelphia.
2. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
9. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
3. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
?. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
@. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
EXEC!SE 1C
In the followin) sentences" underline the ,erbs and write the( on the lines
at the ri)ht.
2. The train stops for only a few (o(ents at Oa5hurst. <<<<<<<<<<
The train stopped for only a few (o(ents at Oa5hurst <<<<<<<<<<
9. $ene hurries to )et on the train already in (otion <<<<<<<<<<
$ene hurried to )et on the train already in (otion <<<<<<<<<<
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3. 8e trips o,er a wo(an1s suitcase in the aisle. <<<<<<<<<<
8e tripped o,er a wo(an1s suitcase in the aisle. <<<<<<<<<<
?. $ene and the wo(an )lare at each other. <<<<<<<<<<
$ene and the wo(an )lared at each other. <<<<<<<<<<
@. In his seat at last" he watches the dawn thou)ht the
S(eary windows of the rain. <<<<<<<<<<
In his seat at last" he watched the dawn thou)ht the
S(eary windows of the rain. <<<<<<<<<<
The ,erb in E.ercise 2C fro( the past tense by addin) $% or $e% to the
base for(. +ost ,erb follow this pattern. These are called RE$&#AR
VERB.
Verb chan)e their for(s to indicate the ti(e the action ta5es place. 6e
call this si)n of ti(e TESE. The -RESET TESE is used in
co((ands and su))estions and to indicate habitual action or continuin)
ability.
Examples : Co((and ; Feli,er this (assa)e i((endiately.
Su))estion ; Fiscoura)e the( fro( co(in) if you can.
8abitual action ; 8e paints beautifully.
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-RESET -RO$RESSIVE TESE indicates that so(ethin) is ta5in) place ri)ht
now and (ay continue to occur for a while. The words now and ri)ht now often
indicate the use of the present pro)ressi,e tense.
Examples ; I a( dri,in) carefully
8e is cuttin) the potatoes now
The -AST TESE is used in sentences about action that happened before the
present ti(e. Say G0esterdayH at the be)innin) of the sentence to re(ind you to
use the past tense.
Example; 0esterday I cut the potatoes for toni)ht1s dinner.

&o%el Verb''(alk
-resent tense past tense
)erson singular plural )erson singular plural
2
st
I wal5 we wal5 2
st
I wal5ed we wal5ed
9
nd
you wal5 you wal5 9
nd
you wal5ed you wal5ed
3
rd
he wal5s they wal5 3
rd
he wal5ed they wal5ed
She wal5s they wal5 She wal5ed they wal5ed
It wal5s they wal5 It wal5ed they wal5ed
Answer these >uestions by loo5in) at the (odel ,erb *alk in the chart.
2. 6hat the latter do you add to the base for( of the ,erb for the third person
sin)ular" present tense 7
if you answered s" you are correct. otice that the sin)ular adds an s to the
base for(
Here is a chart showing the pattern of the regular verbs in the present and
the past tenses.
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of the ,erb" but the plural has no s.
9. 6hat letters do you adds to the base for( of the ,erb to for( the past
tense 7
If you answered e%" you are correct. otice that both sin)ular and plural
add e% to for( the past tense.
EXEC!SE 1D
6rite a chart of your own li5e the one abo,e usin) the ,erb look
-resent tense past tense
)erson singular plural )erson singular plural
2
st
I <<<<< we <<<< 2
st
I<<<<< we <<<<<
9
nd
you <<< you<<<< 9
nd
you<<< you<<<<<
3
rd
he" She they <<< 3
rd
he" She they <<<<
It <<<<< It<<<<<

EXEC!SE 1E
6rite fi,e sentences with re)ular ,erbs in present tense
2. 3attend4
9. 3,ote4
3. 3share4
?. 3en!oy4
@. 3decide4
&nderline each ,erb in the sentences you ha,e !ust written. Rewrite each sentence
and chan)e each ,erb to the past tense

2.
9.
3.
?.
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@.
EXEC!SE 1+
&nderline the ,erb in each of the followin) sentences. 6rite the present tense
for( of each ,erb on the line at the ri)ht
2. +o(o5o planned a s5i ,acation in the (ountains .<<<<<<<<<<
9. She wor5ed e.tra hours in the e,enin)s and on wee5ends. <<<<<<<<<<
3. She sa,ed half of her paychec5 e,ery wee5. <<<<<<<<<<
?. +o(o5o opened a special ban5 account. <<<<<<<<<<
@. She watched her (oney )row ,ery slowly. <<<<<<<<<<
A. She waited for the first hea,y snowfall. <<<<<<<<<<
B. She listened to the weather forecast e,ery day. <<<<<<<<<<
C. *inally" the weather chan)ed. <<<<<<<<<<
D. It snowed for three days and ni)hts. <<<<<<<<<<
2E. +o(o5o re(o,ed her (oney fro( the ban5 happily <<<<<<<<<<

Lesson , Present and past tenses : Irregular verbs
+ost ,erbs are irre)ular ,erbs. 6e add 'd or 'ed the( to for( the past tense.
Verbs that do not add 'd or 'ed to for( the past tense are called IRRE$&#AR
VERBS. &se your dictionary to find the past tense of irre)ular ,erbs or consult
the chart of irre)ular ,erbs that follows.
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8ere is a chart listin) so(e of the (ost co((only used irre)ular ,erbs.
EXEC!SE ,A
All of ,erbs in the followin) sentences are past tense for(s of irre)ular ,erbs.
&nderline each ,erb. 6rite the present tense for( on the line at the ri)ht.
Example ; Ricardo and his father rose early. Rise
2. Ricardo and his father dro,e to the la5e cabin to)ether. <<<<<<<<<<
9. The ne.t (ornin) they awo5e to the bri)ht <<<<<<<<<<
frost on the )rass.
3. The sweet s(ell of coffee ca(e fro( the 5itchen. <<<<<<<<<<
?. After a brea5fast of e))s and bacon" They too5 a boat <<<<<<<<<<
Out on the la5e.
@. Ricardo held ti)htly to the fishin) pole. <<<<<<<<<<
A. 8e threw the line far out into the water. <<<<<<<<<<
B. Suddenly the rod bent in his hands. <<<<<<<<<<
C. A lar)e trout hun) on his hoo5. <<<<<<<<<<
D. 8e brou)ht the lar)e trout into the boat. <<<<<<<<<<
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2E. Ricardo and his father cau)ht se,eral fish that day. <<<<<<<<<<
EXEC!SE ,#
All of ,erbs in the followin) sentences are presen tense for(s of irre)ular ,erbs.
&nderline each ,erb. Then write the past tense for( of each ,erb on the line at the
ri)ht.
Example ; The con,ention be)ins on Thursday. be)an
2. Iu))lers (eet once a year at an international con,ention. <<<<<<<<<<
9. They co(e fro( all a)e )roups and (any occupations. <<<<<<<<<<
3. Each one )i,es a de(onstration of his or her specialty. <<<<<<<<<<
?. E,eryone (a5es his or her presentation uni>ue. <<<<<<<<<<
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@. These artists throw !ust about e,erythin) fro( ci)ar <<<<<<<<<<
Bo.ed to )old la(e bean ba)s up in the air.
A.So(e ride unicycles durin) their perfor(ances. <<<<<<<<<<
B.One (an e,en eats parts of an apple and a cucu(ber <<<<<<<<<<
In his act.
C.Iu))lers ha,e their na(es in the Guinness <<<<<<<<<<
Book of World Records.
D.Rastelli" an Italian !u))ler" still holds the record; ten <<<<<<<<<<
Balls or ei)ht plates in (otion at once.
2E. A(ateur or professional" !u))lers 5eep thin)s on the (o,e. <<<<<<<<<<