Introduction

Forms

Verbs are the central element in sentences. Most of the things we say are built around them. English verbs have up to five one-word forms (except be, which has eight). These are:

• the base form: the one found in dictionaries, for example go, write, play. This is used for present tense forms after I, we, you (singular and plural) and they, in infinitives, and in imperatives.
  • We go skating on Saturdays.
  • I must write to Laura.
  • Please play something.
• the third person singular present, for example goes, writes, plays
• the past tense, for example went, wrote, played
• the past participle, for example gone, written, played. Note that in regular verbs the past participle is the same as the past tense.
• the -ing form, for example going, writing, playing. Depending on how it is used, the -ing form may be called a ‘present participle’ or a ‘gerund’ (see here).

Verb forms which show time (e.g. goes, went) are often called finite in grammars; other forms (e.g. written, playing) are non-finite.

Tenses

Tenses are verb forms that show the time of actions and situations, either as single words or including auxiliary verbs (see below).

• We went home. (simple past tense)
• Have you written to Jamie? (present perfect tense)

For a list of active tenses, (see here).

Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary (‘helping’) verbs are used with other verbs to add various kinds of meaning. Be, have and do help to make progressive (or ‘continuous’) and perfect structures, questions and negatives (see below and be, have and do).

Modal auxiliary verbs (must, can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should and ought) are used with other verbs to add ideas such as futurity, certainty, probability, obligation and permission. For details, Modal auxiliary verbs.

What can follow a verb?

Different non-auxiliary verbs can be followed by different kinds of words and structures. This is partly a matter of meaning: after a verb like eat or break, for instance, it is normal to expect a noun; after try or stop, it is natural to expect a verb. It is also partly a matter of grammatical rules that have nothing to do with meaning. Before an object, wait is followed by for; expect has no preposition. One can tell somebody something, but one cannot explain somebody something. One hopes to see somebody, but one looks forward to seeing somebody. One advises somebody to see the doctor, but one does not suggest somebody to see the doctor. One thinks that something will happen, but one does not want that it will happen. Unfortunately, there are no simple rules in this area; it is necessary to learn, for each verb, what kind of structures can follow it. A good dictionary will normally give this information.

Do you know what’s wrong with these, and why?

• I laid down and went to sleep. See here
• She switched off it. See here
• What are you thinking of the government? See here
• I’m seeing what you mean. See here
• Is raining again. See here
• Give back me my watch. See here
• Is that the light off which you switched? See here
• You never listen me. See here
• Listen to! See here
• About what are you thinking? See here
• He gave you it. See here
• Who did you buy it? See here
• I’d like him to explain us his decision. See here
• Can you suggest me a good dentist? See here
• Please describe us your wife. See here
• Sing us. See here
• He painted red the wall. See here
• She made that she disagreed clear. See here
• You surprised! See here
• Do sit that chair. See here
• The problem appears impossibly. See here
• Isabel sudden appeared in the doorway. See here
• He fell unconsciously on the floor. See here
• He pulled his belt tightly and started off. See here
• She crossed the garden dancing. See here

note

For more about nouns and verbs with objects, see here.

For two-part verbs with adverb particles and prepositions (e.g. pick up, look at), see Two-part verbs: phrasal verbs and Two-part verbs: prepositional verbs.

For more about verbs followed by verbal structures, see verb + verb: auxiliary verbs and verb + verb: other structures.