Transcript English has just 2 kinds of verbs

Past-Tense Verbs
English has only two kinds of verbs, each
with the same three main parts.
REGULAR
o Infinitive: to WALK
IRREGULAR
o Infinitive: to FLY
o Past tense: FLEW
o Past tense: WALKED
(no helping verb used)
(no helping verb used)
o Past participle:
WALKED
(with helping verb)
o Past participle:
FLOWN
(with helping verb)
What’s the difference between a regular
and an irregular verb?
o A regular verb never changes the main verb
itself; it just adds a -d or an -ed when
describing past actions:
dance—danced
talk—talked
o Irregular verbs are unpredictable. When
describing past actions, they might (1) stay the
same, (2) change just a part of the word, or
(3) change the whole word:
cut—cut grow—grew think—thought
Regular Past-Tense Verbs: Tip #1
o Remember to add the -d or -ed endings to
mark the past, especially those endings that
we don’t hear clearly!
o Every day, I walk downtown.
o Yesterday, I walked downtown.
o For weeks now, I have walked downtown.
o Every day, we dance until dawn.
o Yesterday, we danced until dawn.
o For weeks, we have danced until dawn.
Regular Past-Tense Verbs: Tip #2
o Be extra careful when the word “to” follows a
past tense verb; it’s easy to forget the verb
ending because we don’t hear it.
o Grammar used to be easy.
o This is supposed to be fun.
Regular Past-Tense Verbs: Tip #3
o Remember to use the “change y to i when you
add -ed” rule!
Present
Past
We testify.
We testified.
They apply.
They have
applied.
Irregular Past-Tense Verbs: Tip #1
o Some verbs stay the same in the present and
the past. Don’t be tempted to add an ending.
Present
Past
I quit!
Yesterday I quit!
They cost a lot
nowadays.
Earlier, they had
cost a lot.
Irregular Past-Tense Verbs: Tip #2
o Unlike other verbs, to be has both a singular
and a plural form in the past tense. Be sure to
use the right form.
Present
Past
Singular
Today she is
happy.
Yesterday she
was happy.
Plural
Today they are
happy.
Yesterday they
were happy.
Memorize any of the irregular past tense
verbs that don’t sound natural to you.
Present
Past
Present
Past
become
became
lay
laid
begin
began
lie (down) lay
build
built
see
saw
choose
chose
light
lit
cut
cut
sit
sat
lead
led
set
set
read
read
keep
kept
What about other tenses?
o All other past-tense verbs are formed from the
past participle and some kind of a helping verb
like has/have/had/is/was/were:
o He has asked the $64,000 question.
o The case was decided in their favor.
o She had succeeded beyond her wildest
hopes.
o You have been selected to enter the
Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes!
Past participles of regular verbs end in -d
or -ed, just as the past-tense verb does.
Present
Past
Past Participle
talk
talked
(has) talked
depend
depended
(has) depended
testify
testified
(has) testified
scare
scared
(has) scared
Unfortunately, the past participles of irregular
verbs are as unpredictable as the past tense is.
Present
Past
Past
participle
Present
Past
Past
participle
begin
began
begun
go
went
gone
become
became
become
see
saw
seen
choose
chose
chosen
forget
forgot
forgotten
cut
cut
cut
give
gave
given
lead
led
led
do
did
done
And just to make things really confusing,
consider…
Present
Past
Past Participle
lie (= recline)
lay
has lain
lay (= put)
laid
has laid
sit
sat
has sat
set (= place)
set
has set
Warning: Potential Trouble Spot!
o Past participles are often used as adjectives, to
describe other words. Remember the -ed
ending!
o What is the prescribed solution?
( = the solution that someone has prescribed)
o You seem shocked.
( = something has shocked you)
Try some out! Are there any missing
endings below?
o She appears to be a very prejudiced person.
o My critical thinking teacher was astonished
that I finished the quiz so early.
o I think everything is finally settled to
everyone’s satisfaction.
Warning: Potential Trouble Spot #2!
o Don’t confuse the past tense of the irregular
verbs (no helping verb) with the past participle
(with helping verb).
o I begun my homework early this week.
X
began: past tense
begun: past participle
o He had gave me his address.
X
gave: past tense
given: past participle
Warning: Potential Trouble Spot #3!
o Watch the passive verbs (= a combination of is,
are, was, were, be, been, or being plus the past
participle). Be sure to use the participle form.
o My heart is broken.
o (not is broke)
o The course was well designed.
o (not was well design)
o The report will soon be written.
o (not will soon be wrote)
To review past-tense verbs, see
Chapter 19.