Using Verbs
By Ellyn Ball and Lilly Jenkins
• Using refers to the way a word or
expression is used in a sentence. Verb
usage is an area that can cause many
problems.
Using Verbs
• A verb has four principal parts: the present, the present
participle, the past and the past participle.
The Four Principal Parts of Walk
Present
Present Participle
Past
Past Participle
Walk
(am) walking
Walked
(have walked)
Four Principal Parts of Verbs
• The first principal part, called the present, is the form of
the verb that is listed in a dictionary.
• Notice also the helping verbs in parentheses before the
second and fourth principal parts.
• These two principal parts must be combined with helping
verbs before they can be used as verbs in sentences. The
result will always be a verb phrase.
• The way the past and past participle of a verb are formed
shows whether the verb is regular or irregular.
Principal Parts : Present
• Most verbs are regular, which means that their past and
past participle forms follow a standard, predictable
pattern.
• The past and past participle of a regular verb are formed
by adding –ed or-d to the present form.
• To form the past and past participle of a regular verb
such as; chirp or hover, you simply add –ed.
• With regular verbs that already end in e-verbs such as;
move and charge-you simply add-d to the present.
Using Regular Verbs
Present
Chirp
Hover
Move
Charge
Principal Parts of Regular Verbs
Present Participle Past
Past Participle
(am) chirping
(am) hovering
(am) moving
(am) charging
Chirped
Hovered
Moved
charged
(have) chirped
(have) hovered
(have) moved
(have) charged
Using Regular Verbs
• While most verbs are regular, many very common verbs
are irregular-their past and past participle forms do not
follow a participle pattern. These are the verbs that cause
the most problems.
• The past and past participle of an irregular verb are not
formed by adding –ed or-d to the present form.
• *** Check a dictionary whenever you are in doubt about
the correct form of an irregular verb.
• Example: present: bring
past: brought
*** refer to handouts on irregular verbs in
your interactive notebook
Using Irregular Verbs
Present
Present
Participle
Past
Put
put
swinging
choose
rise
swung
chose
drank
hurting
going
hurt
went
came
set
chosen
rising
drink
hurt
Past Participle
setting
eat
Quick Check
ate
• In English verbs have six tenses. Each of these tenses has
a basic form and a progressive form.
• A tense is a form of a verb that shows when something
happens or when something exists.
• The chart below shows the basic forms of the six tenses,
using begin as an example.
The Tense and Forms of
Verbs
Basic Forms of the Six Tenses
Tense
Basic Form
Principal Part
Present
Past
Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
I begin
I begun
I will begin
I have begun
I had begun
I will have begun
Present
Past
Present
Past Participle
Past Participle
Past Participle
The Tense and Forms of
Verbs
• Conjugating verbs can help you become familiar with the
many forms of verbs.
• A conjugation is a list of the singular and plural forms of a
verb in a particular tense.
• Each tense in a conjugation has six forms that fit the first,second-, and third-person forms of the personal pronouns.
• To conjugate any verb, begin by listing its principal parts.
• For example: the principal parts of the verb hide are hide
hiding, hid and hidden. The following conjugation of hide
shows all of the basic forms of this verb in the six tenses.
Conjugating the Basic
Forms of Verbs
Conjugation of the Basic Forms of Hide
Singular
Plural
Present
I hide, you hide
he, she, it hides
we hide, you hide
they hide
Past
I hid, you hid,
he, she it hid
we hid, you hid, they hid
Future
I will hide, you will hide, he,
she, it hide
We will hide, you will hide,
they will hide
Present Perfect
I have hidden
We have hidden
Past Perfect
I had hidden
We had hidden
Future Perfect
I will have hidden
We will have hidden
Conjugating the Basic Forms of
Verbs
• Each of the six tenses introduced above also has a
progressive form, which indicates continuing action. The
present participle and a form of the verb be are used to
make all six progressive forms.
• The following chart, using sing as an example, shows the
progressive forms of the six tenses.
The Six Progressive
Forms of Verbs
Progressive Forms of the Six Tenses of Sing
Tenses
Progressive Form
Present
Past
Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
I am singing
I was singing
I will be singing
I have been singing
I had been singing
I will have been singing
The Six Progressive
Forms of Verbs
Principal Part
Present Participle
• Many people have problem with certain verbs. Some of
the problem arises when the wrong principal is used.
Other problems are caused when the meanings of certain
parts of the verbs are confused.
• Ain’t is not correct English. Avoid using it in speaking
and in writing.
• Example: This ain’t the Statue of Liberty. incorrect
•
This isn’t the Statue of Liberty. correct
This is not the Statue of liberty. The best
Troublesome Verbs
• Did and Done
• Done is a past participle and can be used as a verb only
with a helping verb such as; have or has. If you find you
are using done without a helping verb, try using did
instead. Otherwise add the helping verb before done.
• I done all my studying in Florida. (incorrect)
• I did all my studying in Florida. (correct)
• I have done all my studying in Florida. (correct)
Troublesome Verbs
• Gone and went
• Gone is the past participle of go and can be used as a verb
only with a helping verb such as have or has. Went is the past
of go and is never used with a helping verb.
• The Martins gone on vacation to Florida. (incorrect)
• Niva has went along with them. (incorrect)
• The Martins went on vacation to Florida. (correct)
• The Martins has gone on vacation to Florida. (correct)
• Niva has gone along with them. (correct)
• Niva went along with them. (correct)
Troublesome Verbs
• Have and of
• In conversation, the words have and of sound very much
alike. Be careful not to write of when you really mean the
helping verb have or its contraction ‘ve.
• He should of apologized. (incorrect)
• He should have apologized. (correct)
• He should’ve apologized. (correct)
Troublesome Verbs
• Lay and lie
• These verbs cause many problems because some of their
forms are alike and have similar meanings. The first step
in learning to distinguish between lay and lie is to
memorize their principal parts.
• Principal Parts: lay laying laid laid
lie lying lay lain
Troublesome Verbs
• Next, compare the meanings and use the two verbs.
• Lay usually means “ to put (something) down” or “to place (something).”
This verb is almost always followed by a direct object.
• Lie usually means “to rest in a reclining position” or “to be situated.” Lie
is never followed by a direct object.
• When using lay and lie, pay special attention to one particular area of
confusion. Lay is the present tense of lay and lay is also the past tense of
lie.
• Present tense of lay: The settlers always lay their clothes out in the sun to
dry.
• Past tense of lay: Because she was tired, my mother lay down for a nap
after dinner.
Troublesome Verbs
• Raise and Rise
• Raise has several common meanings “to lift or increase
(something) upward”, “to build (something)”, “to build or
grow (something)”.
• Raise the colonial flag higher.
• Rise on the other hand is usually not followed by a direct
object, but usually followed by an adverb or prepositional
phrase. Rise means to “get up,” “to go up,” or “to be
increased.”
• The waves have risen steadily.
Troublesome Verbs
• Saw and seen
• Seen is a past participle and can be used as a verb only with
a helping verb such as have or has.
• We seen important changes in colonial rule.(incorrect)
• The governor seen how the colonist responded. (incorrect)
• We saw important changes in colonial rule. (correct)
• We have seen important changes in colonial rule. (correct)
• The governor saw how the colonist responded. (correct)
• The governor had seen how the colonist responded.
(correct)
Troublesome Verbs
• Set and sit
• These verbs are often confused. The first step is learning to
distinguish between set and sit id to learn their principal parts.
• Set : set, setting, set, set
• Sit: sit, sitting, sat, sat
• Set usually means “to put (something) in a certain place.” it is
usually followed by a direct object.
• Set the candle on the top of the mantel.
• Sit usually means “to be seated or to rest.” Sit is never followed by a
direct object.
• The duke’s castle sits high up on a mountain.
Troublesome Verbs
• Questions?
• On the left side of your interactive
notebook, list one of each kind of verb
learned today (do not use any examples
given today). Make sure to illustrate and
color code.
You do