Action words verbs
- 2. Grammatically, the verb is the most important word in the sentence. If you can find the verb and manage it properly, your grammar and usage problems will be solved easily. Every sentence must contain a word that tells what is happening. That is the verb. Most verbs change their forms to tell time of an action, event, or condition. They are the only part of speech that can do so. This fact can help you decide which word in the sentence is the verb.
- 3. Tense Generally, verbs change their forms to indicate the present, past, and future time. Tense means “time”. There are three simple tenses and three perfect tenses for each verb. They are formed as follows: 1.) Simple Present Tense The present tense is used under the following conditions: a. To talk about something that exists at the present moment
- 4. Examples: The boxes are in the storage room. This milk smells sour. John loves reading. b. To express something that is generally true or true at all times Examples: All living things need oxygen The earth moves around the sun. Fruits and vegetables are good for the body.
- 5. c. To indicate repeated or regular and habitual action Examples: We attend classes regularly. Department stores usually open at 9:00 am. I visit my doctor every month. d. To describe some action or state of being in the past as though it is occurring in the present. Example: The captain picks up the key and opens the room while the masked intruder watches anxiously in the dark.
- 6. 2.) Simple Past Tense The past tense is used to indicate an action which happened in the past. Examples: I ate a heavy breakfast this morning. Lucy came to my office last month. We recorded this music last night. John took them to the airport last night. The guest arrived late. 3.) Simple Future Tense The future tense is shown by using shall or will with the base form of the verb. It is used to indicate an action which to be done sometime in the future.
- 7. The future tense may also be illustrated by using the verbs to be auxiliary or helping verb (am, is, are) plus the present form of the verb, or the phrase about to with the present form of the verb. Examples: Our guest speaker will arrive before the program starts. Grace is going to see her doctor next week. We shall watch the school play on Sunday. They are about to start the program.
- 8. 4.) Present Perfect Tense The present perfect tense is used under the following conditions: a. To express an action or state of being at some indefinite time in the past Examples: We have heard that story several times already. Luis has visited Japan many times. b. To show action or state of being that began in the past and continues into the present
- 9. Examples: Mrs. Santos has lived in Manila for 15 years. (She still lives there.) The girls have started to practice since this morning. 5.) Past Perfect Tense The past perfect tense tells of an action or state of being completed in the past before some other action occurred. This is formed by using had with the past participle of the verb.
- 10. Examples: Earlier Later We had finished writing before the teacher came. Marie had taken the test before the letter arrived. Mark had waited for an hour before the dean came. 6.) Future Perfect Tense This is formed by using will have or shall have with the past participle of the verb. This used to tell an action to be completed in the future before some other action or state of being takes place.
- 11. Examples: By the time the sun sets, he will have written the conclusion of his report. Before the museum closes, the exhibit will have had one hundred visitors. * Students are always faced with this perennial problem in verb usage: forming the past tense and the past participle of the regular and the irregular verbs.
- 12. Regular verbs form the past and the past participle by adding -d or -ed. Present Past Past Participle pray prayed prayed change changed changed cook cooked cooked Irregular verbs form their past and the past participle by changing the structure or spelling of the verb.
- 13. Present Past Past Participle bear bore borne beat beat beaten begin began begun bite bit bitten blow blew blown bring brought brought catch caught caught choose chose chosen come came came do did done draw drew drawn
- 14. drink drank drunk eat ate eaten fall fell fallen fight fought fought flee fled fled freeze froze frozen get got gotten grow grew grown know knew known lead led led lend lent lent lie ( to recline) lay lain
- 15. lay (to place) lay laid lose lost lost ride rode ridden rise rose risen say said said see saw seen shake shook shaken shine shone shose slay slew slain speak spoke spoken tear tore torn
- 16. This are verbs which do not change in their present, past, and past participle forms. Present Past Past Participle burst burst burst cost cost cost hit hit hit hurt hurt hurt set set set shut shut shut spread spread spread
- 17. 7.) Present Progressive Tense The present progressive is used to indicate an action that is currently in progress. Examples: Judith is delivering her speech now. The basketball team is playing in the gym. 8.) Past Progressive Tense The past progressive tense is used to indicate past action in progress before another past action occurred.
- 18. Examples: The teacher was lecturing when the communion took place. They were walking when they saw a man hit by a speeding car.
- 19. Modal Verbs 1. Can and could (negative: can’t and couldn’t) Can is used to express possibility and ability and could is used as the simple past of could. They are used under the following conditions:
- 20. A. To express ability Examples: Rachelle can speak French. Mico can play the piano. Justine can’t attend the party. I could dance the Hawaiian when I was young.
- 21. B. To express possibility Examples: We know you can finish our report. George play the role of Julius Caesar. Josephine couldn’t come last night.
- 22. C. To give and deny permission Examples: You can sleep here if you want to. She can’t come with us today. When we were students, we couldn’t wear short skirts and dresses. D. To ask permission (politely) Examples: Can I offer you anything? Could you please leave the room right away?
- 23. 2. Should and ought The use of should and ought is similar. Should, however, is followed by the base form of the verb, where ought is used with infinitive to. They are used under the following conditions: A. To give advice Examples: We should drink plenty of water. Children ought to obey their parents.
- 24. B. To recommend, to anticipate, and to state a present situation Examples: You should read Maya Angelou’s novels. The guests ought to attend the morning mass. This door shouldn’t be opened at anytime.
- 25. 3. May and might May and might are used for expressing possibility, asking and giving permission, and expressing wishes for the future. Examples: Roger might come after all. Diana may use the computer anytime she wants to. The students might not be allowed to attend the concert. May I use your phone?
- 26. 4. Must Must is used to express obligation, certainty, probability, and necessity. Examples: We must eat fruits and vegetables all the time. The team must practice more often. You must always follow traffic rules. I must not leave the house without asking my parent’s permission.
- 27. Auxiliary Do, Does, and Did Another problem that students encounter is the use of do, does, and did. These verbs are used under the following conditions: 1. To indicate an action or situation true at the present time and in the past. Does is used in the third person singular, present time. Do is used in the first person, second person, and third person plural. Did is the past form of do and does.
- 28. Examples: Mico does his work well. Nicole and Justine do their project together. Jaymah and Rachelle did not participate in the game. 2. To frame question which requires either the present or past action response Examples: Do you speak French? Answer: Yes, I do/ I do. No, I don’t.
- 29. Does your job require intensive writing? Answer: Yes, it does. No, it doesn’t. Did you forget the key? Answer: Yes, I did. No, I didn’t.
- 30. Reference: Sebastian, Evelyn L., Cayao, Erlinda A., Asuncion, Risa P., Reyes, Shirly B., English Proficiency 1 Second Edition 2013, page.,87-95