What are the forms of the What are the forms of the verb?verb?  

In English there are several In English there are several different kinds of verbs.  All different kinds of verbs.  All verbs except modal auxiliary verbs except modal auxiliary ("helping") verbs have at least ("helping") verbs have at least three distinct forms:three distinct forms:

The simple formThe simple form (or uninflected or base) form: (or uninflected or base) form:  

ex.ex.

dance, play, type, hurry, dance, play, type, hurry, concentrate, communicate, pull, concentrate, communicate, pull, lives, cut, put, bring, run, sing, lives, cut, put, bring, run, sing, drink, speak, writedrink, speak, write

The 3rd person singular The 3rd person singular present tense form (or present tense form (or -s-s) ) form:form:

ex.ex.

  dances, plays, types, hurries, dances, plays, types, hurries, concentrates, communicates, concentrates, communicates, pulls, lives, cuts, puts, brings, pulls, lives, cuts, puts, brings, runs, sings, drinks, speaks,writesruns, sings, drinks, speaks,writes

The present (or The present (or -ing-ing) participle ) participle and gerund form:and gerund form:

ex. ex.

  dancing, playing, typing, hurrying, dancing, playing, typing, hurrying, concentrating, communicating, pulling, concentrating, communicating, pulling, living, cutting, putting, running, living, cutting, putting, running, bringing, singing, drinking, speaking, bringing, singing, drinking, speaking, writingwriting

the past tense and past participle the past tense and past participle form: form: 

ex.ex.

danced, played, typed, hurried, danced, played, typed, hurried, concentrated, communicated, pulled, concentrated, communicated, pulled, lived, broughtlived, brought

The past tense form: The past tense form: 

IRREGULAR VERBSIRREGULAR VERBS

ex.ex. Ran, ate, woke, ran, won, Ran, ate, woke, ran, won, sang, drank, spoke, wrotesang, drank, spoke, wrote

The past participle form:The past participle form:

ex.ex.

  sung, drunk, spoken, sung, drunk, spoken, writtenwritten

Simple Form

-s FormPast Tense Form

-ing Form

Past Participle Form

Regular help helps helped helping helped

carry carries carried carrying carried

clutch clutches clutched clutching clutched

Irregular cut cuts cut cutting cut

bring  brings brought bringing brought

run runs ran running run

fall falls fell falling fallen

The verbThe verb be be  the simple form: the simple form: bebethe -the -inging participle form:  participle form: beingbeingthe past participle: the past participle: beenbeenthe first person singular present the first person singular present tense form:tense form:  amamthe third person present tense (-the third person present tense (-ss) ) form: form: isisthe plural present tense form: the plural present tense form: arearethe singular past tense form: the singular past tense form: waswasthe plural past tense form: the plural past tense form: werewere

EXERCISESEXERCISES

1) There (goes, go) the parade of 1) There (goes, go) the parade of beauties.beauties.2) Where (is, are) the books that 2) Where (is, are) the books that you borrowed?you borrowed?3) My mother and I (am, are) 3) My mother and I (am, are) hesitant to go.hesitant to go.4) Each boy and girl (participate, 4) Each boy and girl (participate, participates) in the decision participates) in the decision making.making.5) Salmon (survive, survives) in 5) Salmon (survive, survives) in deep seas. deep seas.

6) Mumps (has, have) caused 6) Mumps (has, have) caused many absences in the class.many absences in the class.

7) Grandmother’s spectacles 7) Grandmother’s spectacles (lies, lie) on the table.(lies, lie) on the table.

8) The president and chairman 8) The president and chairman of the board (leave, leaves) of the board (leave, leaves) for abraod every month.for abraod every month.

9) Above the tall 9) Above the tall trees (appear, trees (appear, appears) the golden appears) the golden moon.moon.

10) Antique 10) Antique pieces of furniture pieces of furniture (is, are) sold in (is, are) sold in the shop.the shop.

SUBJECT SUBJECT VERB VERB AGREEMENTAGREEMENT

Basic RuleBasic Rule

The basic rule states that The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural subject takes a plural verb.plural verb.

HintHint: : Verbs do not form their plurals by Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use think of which verb you would use with with hehe or  or sheshe and which verb you  and which verb you would use with would use with theythey..

Example:Example:

talks, talktalks, talkWhich one is the singular form?Which one is the singular form?Which word would you use Which word would you use with with hehe??We say, "He talks." We say, "He talks." Therefore, Therefore, talkstalks is singular. is singular.We say, "They talk." We say, "They talk." Therefore, Therefore, talktalk is plural. is plural.

Rule 1Rule 1Two singular subjects Two singular subjects connected by connected by oror or  or nornor require  require a singular verb.a singular verb.Example:Example:My aunt or my uncle is My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.arriving by train today.

Rule 2Rule 2

Two singular subjects connected Two singular subjects connected by by either/oreither/or or  or neither/norneither/nor require a  require a singular verb as in Rule 1.singular verb as in Rule 1.Examples:Examples:

Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.Either Kiana or Casey is helping today Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.with stage decorations.

Rule 3Rule 3

WhenWhen I I is one of the two subjects  is one of the two subjects connected by connected by either/oreither/or or  or neither/norneither/nor, , put it second and follow it with the put it second and follow it with the singular verb singular verb amam..

Example:Example:Neither she nor I am going to the Neither she nor I am going to the festival.festival.

Rule 4Rule 4

When a singular subject is connected When a singular subject is connected by by oror or  or nornor to a plural subject, put the  to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural plural subject last and use a plural verb.verb.

Example:Example:The serving bowl or the plates go on The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.that shelf.

Rule 5Rule 5

When a singular and plural subject are When a singular and plural subject are connected by connected by either/oreither/or or  or neither/norneither/nor, , put the plural subject last and use a put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.plural verb.

Example:Example:Neither Jenny nor Neither Jenny nor the others are available.the others are available.

Rule 6Rule 6

As a general rule, use a plural verb As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they with two or more subjects when they are connected by are connected by andand..

Example:Example:

A car and a bike are my means of A car and a bike are my means of transportation.transportation.

Rule 7Rule 7

Sometimes the subject is separated Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as from the verb by words such as along along with, as well as, besideswith, as well as, besides, or , or notnot. Ignore . Ignore these expressions when determining these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural whether to use a singular or plural verb.verb.

Examples:Examples:

The politician, along with the The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.newsmen, is expected shortly.Excitement, as well as Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.shaking.

Rule 8Rule 8

The pronouns The pronouns each, everyone, each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone,anybody, someone, and andsomebodysomebody are  are singular and require singular verbs. Do singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows not be misled by what follows ofof..

Examples:Examples:

Each of the girls sings well.Each of the girls sings well.Every one of the cakes is gone.Every one of the cakes is gone.NOTE:NOTE:  EveryoneEveryone is one word when it  is one word when it means means everybodyeverybody. . Every oneEvery one is two  is two words when the meaning is words when the meaning is each oneeach one..

Rule 9Rule 9With words that indicate portions—With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainderall, none, remainder, and so forth —, and so forth —look at the noun in your look at the noun in your ofof phrase  phrase (object of the preposition) to (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.plural, use a plural verb.

Examples:Examples:Fifty percent of the Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.pie has disappeared.PiePie is the object of the preposition  is the object of the preposition ofof..Fifty percent of the Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.pies have disappeared.PiesPies is the object of the preposition. is the object of the preposition.One-third of the city is unemployed.One-third of the city is unemployed.One-third of the One-third of the people are unemployed.people are unemployed.NOTE:NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out  Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.fractions.

All of the pie is gone.All of the pie is gone.All of the pies are gone.All of the pies are gone.Some of the pie is missing.Some of the pie is missing.Some of the pies are missing.Some of the pies are missing.None of the garbage was None of the garbage was picked up.picked up.None of the sentences were None of the sentences were punctuated correctly.punctuated correctly.Of all her books, none have Of all her books, none have sold as well as the first one.sold as well as the first one.

Rule 10Rule 10The expression The expression the number the number is followed is followed by a singular verb while the by a singular verb while the expression expression a numbera number is followed by a  is followed by a plural verb.plural verb.Examples:Examples:The number of people we need to The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.hire is thirteen.A number of people have written in A number of people have written in about this subject.about this subject.

Rule 11Rule 11

When When eithereither and  and neitherneither are subjects,  are subjects, they always take singular verbs.they always take singular verbs.

Examples:Examples:Neither of them is available to speak Neither of them is available to speak right now.right now.Either of us is capable of doing the job.Either of us is capable of doing the job.

Rule 12Rule 12The words The words herehere and  and therethere have  have generally been labeled as adverbs generally been labeled as adverbs even though they indicate place. In even though they indicate place. In sentences beginning sentences beginning with with herehere or  or therethere, the subject follows , the subject follows the verb.the verb.Examples:Examples:There are four hurdles to jump.There are four hurdles to jump.There is a high hurdle to jump.There is a high hurdle to jump.

Rule 13Rule 13

Use a singular verb with sums of Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.money or periods of time.

Examples:Examples:Ten dollars is a high price to pay.Ten dollars is a high price to pay.Five years is the maximum sentence Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.for that offense.

Rule 14Rule 14Sometimes the pronoun Sometimes the pronoun who, thatwho, that, , or or whichwhich is the subject of a verb in the  is the subject of a verb in the middle of the sentence. The middle of the sentence. The pronouns pronouns who, thatwho, that, , and and whichwhich become singular or plural  become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front according to the noun directly in front of them. So, if that noun is singular, of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.plural verb.

Examples:Examples:Salma is the scientist who writes/write Salma is the scientist who writes/write the reports.the reports.The word in front of The word in front of whowho is  is scientistscientist, , which is singular. Therefore, use the which is singular. Therefore, use the singular verb singular verb writeswrites..He is one of the men who does/do the He is one of the men who does/do the work.work.The word in front of The word in front of whowho is  is menmen, which , which is plural. Therefore, use the plural is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb verb do.do.

Rule 15Rule 15

Collective nouns such Collective nouns such as as teamteam and  and staffstaff may be either  may be either singular or plural depending on their singular or plural depending on their use in the sentence.use in the sentence.

Examples:Examples:The staff is in a meeting.The staff is in a meeting.StaffStaff is acting as a unit here. is acting as a unit here.The staff are in disagreement about The staff are in disagreement about the findings.the findings.The staffThe staff are acting as separate  are acting as separate individuals in this example.individuals in this example.The sentence would read even better The sentence would read even better as:as:The staff members are in The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.disagreement about the findings.

Exercises:Exercises:

1. The world (change, changes) so 1. The world (change, changes) so rapidly that we can hardly keep up.rapidly that we can hardly keep up.

2. People (is, are) often 2. People (is, are) often ten or twenty years behind the times ten or twenty years behind the times in their knowledge of the world.in their knowledge of the world.

3. People who (live, lives) in poverty 3. People who (live, lives) in poverty often do not even have television or often do not even have television or newspapers.newspapers.

4. He (doesn’t, don’t) want to be killed.4. He (doesn’t, don’t) want to be killed.

 5. Life (is, are) very complicated 5. Life (is, are) very complicated

6. Traditionally, college students (has, 6. Traditionally, college students (has, have) been very active in politics.have) been very active in politics.

7. There (is, are) both men and women 7. There (is, are) both men and women at the meeting.at the meeting.

8. The students in my class (has, have) 8. The students in my class (has, have) very poor work habits.very poor work habits.

9. Each of you (has, have) an equal 9. Each of you (has, have) an equal chance to make good grades.chance to make good grades.

10. All of the children (was, were) 10. All of the children (was, were) hunting Easter eggs in the garden.hunting Easter eggs in the garden.

 11. A notebook and a pen (is, are)  11. A notebook and a pen (is, are) lying on the desk in the library.lying on the desk in the library.

12. My son, along with two friends, (is, 12. My son, along with two friends, (is, are) coming for the weekend.are) coming for the weekend.

13. Sitting on the sofa (was, were) two 13. Sitting on the sofa (was, were) two students from Thailand.students from Thailand.

14. Either the workers or the manager 14. Either the workers or the manager (is, are) coming to the conference.(is, are) coming to the conference.

15. Not only the students, but also the 15. Not only the students, but also the teacher (has, have) been unhappy.teacher (has, have) been unhappy.

16. Everybody (hate, hates) to take 16. Everybody (hate, hates) to take tests.tests.

17. Knowledge gained after long study 17. Knowledge gained after long study (disappear, disappears) rapidly from (disappear, disappears) rapidly from our minds.our minds.

18. One of my greatest worries in 18. One of my greatest worries in college (was, were) that I would study college (was, were) that I would study hard and still flunk important tests.hard and still flunk important tests.

19.Georgia Southern University 19.Georgia Southern University (provide, provides) some scholarships (provide, provides) some scholarships for the students.for the students.

20. The news about Afghanistan (is, 20. The news about Afghanistan (is, are) shocking, isn’t it?are) shocking, isn’t it?