Verbs

GRAMMAR & STRUCTUREVerbs

Definition

Verbs tell the action or state of the subject in a sentence.

Example

Terence feeds the dog. (action)Janice is tall. (state)

Explanation

Verbs --

follow the subject in a simple sentence. change form to agree with the subject. can be active or stative. show past, present, and future tense. have many different forms, for example:

o simpleo auxiliaryo gerundo infinitiveo modalo participle (present and past)

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExamplesVerbs

Sentences showing verbs agreeing with subject

I make breakfast at 7:30 every morning. verb = make

You eat breakfast at 7:45 every morning. verb = eat

He eats breakfast at 8:00 every morning. verb = eats

Jane eats breakfast at 7:15 every morning. verb = eats

The dog eats breakfast at 6:00 every day. verb = eats

We meet for dinner at 5:00 every Friday. verb = meet

You have dinner at 6:30 on Sunday. verb = have

They have lunch together on Wednesday. verb = have

Different forms of verbs

Name: Simple form

Example Use Example Sentence

eat 1) Future 1) I will eat soon.

2) Questions 2) Do you eat meat?

3) Conditional sentences 3) If I am hungry, I will eat.

Name: Auxiliary verb


dohavebemodals

1) Questions 1) Do you like ice cream?

2) Negative 2) I am not hungry.

3) Tenses 3) I was eating. I have eaten. I am eating.

4) Comes before the main verb

4) Manny is working on the computer.

Name: Modal verb


canwillmust

1) Show ability 1) I can play the piano.

2) Show permission 2) You may have a candy.

shouldmaymight

3) Show possibility 3) It might rain.

4) Show necessity 4) We must go to work.

5) Give advice 5) You should not smoke.

Name: Infinitive


to see

1) Object of certain verbs 1) I want to see the movie.

2) Reported speech 2) He told me to talk to you.

3) Purpose 3) We go to the store to buy food.

4) With "too" and "enough"

4) He is too angry to speak.

Name: Gerund


travelling 1) Object of certain verbs 1) Kathleen enjoys travelling.

2) Subject of sentence 2) Exercising is good for your health.

3) Object of prepositions 3) Joyce is excited about travelling.

Name: Present participle


talking

1) Present / past continuous

1) Stefan is talking to me.

2) Adjectives 2) This is an interesting movie.

Name: Past participle


painted

1) Present perfect 1) I have painted my house.

2) Past perfect 2) I had finished dinner when my daughter came home.

3) Passive 3) The meal was cooked by Teresa.

4) Adjectives 4) Jonathan feels bored.

Name: Transitive


buy 1) Must have an object 1) Charlotte buys food at the market.

Name: Intransitive


walk 1) Does not need an object 1) Sonja walks to work.

Name: Stative


befeel

1) No action 1) Tami feels tired today.

Name: Active


play 1) Action 1) Steve plays soccer on the weekend.

GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — ExercisesVerbs

Answer the following questions to check your knowledge of verbs.

Choose the verb in the following sentences.

ExampleManuela leaves work at 4:30.

Manuelaleavesworkat

The correct answer is "leaves".

1. Donna uses the fax machine in front of her office. uses machine in office 2. Tim gives his friend a ride home from work. a ride

home gives friend 3. Constantine waters his plants once a week. plants waters once week 4. Musicians play their instruments on the streets downtown. streets instruments play musicians 5. Many students do their homework at night. do their night students 6. Choose the auxiliary verb in the following sentence.

Wes is exercising today. is Wes exercise exercising 7. Choose the past participle in the following sentence.

Todd was excited about his trip. excited

was Todd trip 8. Choose the gerund in the following sentence.

Natalie enjoys working for the radio station. working radio enjoys for 9. Choose the simple verb form in the following sentence.

Judy will finish her book tonight. will finish book tonight 10. Choose the transitive verb in the following sentence.

Daniel goes to the bank and gets money. goes money gets bank

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Verbs