Verb Forms

        There are five or six verb forms that students often use: the infinitive (to “®), the present participle (“®ing), the future (“®), the present (“®s), the past (“®ed), and the past participle (“®en). Here's how to use them correctly.

•s’莌 �ito+Œ´Œ`�j

        You can use an infinite to link two verbs together. The second verb is put in the infinitive form. The first verb is put into the proper tense (past, progressive, perfect, etc).

Œ»�Ý•ªŽŒ=“®–¼ŽŒ �iŒ´Œ`ing�j

        The -ing form of a verb can be used in two ways. Like an infinitive it can be used to link two verbs together. The second verb is put in -ing form. The first verb determines which of the two verb forms--an infinitive or the -ing form--is used to link them. Only a few verbs (in the intial position) can be linked using either form. So be careful which one you use.

        A second way to use -ing verbs is to make the progressive tense. Then they are combined with a "be" modal (�•“®ŽŒ). Since the modal is often contracted it may be very hard to hear it clearly.

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Œ»�ÝŒ`�iŒ´Œ` (s))

        Present tense verbs are not used for actions in the present moment, but rather for repeated actions and continuous states that include the present. For actions in the present moment, present progressive verbs are used (see above). A present tense verb looks and sounds the same as the plain (dictionary) form of the verb, except when the subject is in the third person singular (he, she , and it). Then there must be an -s at the end of the verb. If the subject is pleural then an -s goes at the end of the noun. So in the present tense, only the subjects "I, we, you" do not have an -s attached to either the subject or the verb.

‰ß‹ŽŒ`�iŒ´Œ`ed�j

        In daily conversation we most often talk about things that have already happened. In that case you should use the past tense. The general rule, which covers the vast majority of verbs, is to add -ed to form the past, but it is often pronounced without the vowel sound as /t/ or /d/ rather than /ed/. And many of the most commonly used verbs have irregular forms.

        Simple past and present tense verbs do not use modals in affirmative sentences (except for extreme emphasis), but they need modals in negative sentences and questions--the "do" modal (�•“®ŽŒ).

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‰ß‹Ž•ªŽŒ�iŒ´Œ`ed/en)

        The past participle (often -en form of a verb, but usually -ed like the past tense) can be used in two ways. Combined with a "have" modal (�•“®ŽŒ), it forms the perfect tense. You should NOT use the perfect very often, however, only when you really need it. Below you can see some phrases that use the perfect tense. Even if the phrases are omitted, if you want one of those meanings incorporated into your sentence, then you should use perfect tense.

        Combined with a "be" modal (�•“®ŽŒ), the past participle puts sentences into the passive voice. Again it shouldn't be overused, and you must be careful about the subject and object in a passive sentence. The subject must come from the object in the related active (SVO) sentence, and, for that reason, it is impossible for a passive sentence to have an object.

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