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VERBS
VERBS
Verb phrases
level: beginner
Verbs in English have four basic parts:
Most verbs are regular: they have a past tense and past participle with –
ed (worked, played, listened). But many of the most frequent verbs
are irregular.
Basic parts
Verbs in English have four basic parts:
Most verbs are regular: they have a past tense and past participle with –
ed (worked, played, listened). But many of the most frequent verbs
are irregular.
Verb phrases
Verb phrases in English have the following forms:
1. a main verb:
m
a
i
n
v
e
r
b
h
a e
W
r r
e
e e
.
l
i
i
I t
k
.
e
E s t
m
a
i
n
v
e
r
b
h
e
v
e a
r c
y a c
b w i
o d
d e
y n
t
.
l
a
u
W g
e h
e
d
.
The verb can be in the present tense (are, like) or the past
tense (saw, laughed).
a
-
u
i
x
n
il
g
i
a
f
r
o
y
r
b
m
e
E w
v a
e t
r c
i
y h
s
b i
o n
d g
y .
W w l
e e a
r u
e g
h
i
a
-
u
i
x
n
il
g
i
a
f
r
o
y
r
b
m
e
n
g
.
3. the auxiliary verb have and a main verb in the past participle form:
A verb phrase with have and the past participle expresses perfect aspect. A
verb with have/has expresses present perfect and a verb
with had expresses past perfect.
4. a modal verb (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would)
and a main verb:
m m
o a
d i
a n
l
v v
e e
r r
b b
c
T w
o
h i
m
e l
e
y l
.
m c
i o
H
g m
e
h e
t .
Level: intermediate
5. the auxiliary verbs have and been and a main verb in the –ing form:
A verb phrase with have been and the -ing form expresses both perfect
aspect and continuous aspect. A verb with have/has expresses present
perfect continuous and a verb with had expresses past perfect
continuous.
6. a modal verb and the auxiliaries be, have and have been:
v
e
r
b
l
i
s
t
e
n
v
e
r
b
i
n
g
.
a
r
r
i
v
e
d
.
l
i
s
t
e
n
i
n
g
v
e
r
b
7. the auxiliary verb be and a main verb in the past participle form:
a
u
x
i
l
i
a
r
y
b
e
i
s
a
u
x
i
l
i
a
r
y
b
e
h
a
v
e
b
e
e
n
w
a
s
b
e
i
n
a
u
x
i
l
i
a
r
y
b
e
w
i
l
l
b
e
m
i
g
h
t
a
u
x
i
l
i
a
r
y
b
e
h
a
v
e
b
e
e
n
A verb phrase with be and the past participle expresses passive voice.
The verb phrase 3
The verb phrase 4
Level: advanced
We can use the auxiliaries do and did with the infinitive for emphasis:
It was a wonderful party. I did enjoy it.
I do agree with you. I think you are absolutely right.
We can also use do for polite invitations:
Do come and see us some time.
There will be lots of people there. Do bring your friends.
2.Irregular verbs
Level: beginner
Most verbs have a past tense and past participle with –ed:
worked
played
listened
But many of the most frequent verbs are irregular:
be was/were been
do did done
go went gone
Level: beginner
Yes/No questions
Yes/No questions are questions which we answer with Yes or No. Look at
these statements:
They are working hard.
They will be working hard.
They had worked hard.
They have been working hard.
They might have been working hard.
We make Yes/No questions by putting the first part of the verb in front of
the subject:
Are they working hard?
Will they be working hard?
Had they worked hard?
Have they been working hard?
Might they have been working hard?
Yes/No questions 1
Yes/No questions 2
Negatives
We make negatives by putting not after the first part of the verb:
They are not working hard.
They will not be working hard.
They had not worked hard.
They have not been working hard.
They might not have been working hard.
In spoken English, we often reduce not to n’t:
They aren't working hard.
They won't be working hard.
They hadn't been working hard.
They haven't been working hard.
They mightn't have been working hard.
Negatives 1
Negatives 2
For all verbs except be and have, we use do/does + not or did + not to
make negatives in the present simple and past simple:
They worked hard. > They did not (didn't) work hard.
Here are the question forms and negative forms for be in the present
simple and past simple:
Positives Questions Negatives
You are (you're) Are you? You are not (You're not/You aren't)
They are (they're) Are they? They are not (They're not/They are
Wh-questions
Wh-questions are questions which start with a word
like what, when, where, which, who, whose, why and how.
Question words
They have been working hard for their exams. > Why have they been
I want a computer for my birthday. > What do you want for your bir
I'd prefer some tea. > Which would you prefer, tea o
Wh-questions 1
When we ask who, what and which about the subject of the verb, the
question word takes the place of the subject:
Barbara gave me the chocolates. > Who gave you the chocolate
The dog frightened the children. > Which dog frightened the ch
I gave the money to my brother. > Who did you give the mon
She comes from Madrid. > Where does she come fro
They were waiting for an hour. > How long were they waitin
This is the right house. > Do you know if this is the right house?
Mr Brown lives here. > Can you tell me if Mr Brown lives here
4.Short forms
Level: beginner
Short answers
1. We often use short forms to answer questions. Usually we repeat
the first word of the verb phrase:
2. We often use verbs like think, suppose, expect and hope to answer
questions. When the answer is positive, we add so:
Tags
5. We sometimes put a short tag at the end of an agreeing comment.
We use a Yes/No question form for the tag. If the comment is
positive, we normally use a negative tag:
so and neither/nor
7. We use so and neither/nor to add to what other people say. We
use so to add to a positive statement:
Short questions
8. We often use short forms to ask questions when we want more
information:
10. We can use echo questions to check what someone has just said. In
this kind of question, we repeat the first word of the verb phrase:
Level: beginner
The verb be has the following forms:
The verb be
Infinitive form be
Am I? Are we?
? Are you? Are you?
Is he/she it? Are they?
We are not, We
I am not, I’m not
You are not, Yo
You are not, You aren’t, You're not
- They are not, T
He/She/It is not, He/She/It isn’t, He's
not
not
Present
am/is/are being
continuous
The verb be
My mother is a teacher.
Bill Clinton was the president of the US.
with an adjective:
answer hope
argument idea
assertion (a) pity
belief rule
claim (a) shame
explanation thing
feeling
answer promise
decision thing
hope way
idea wish
intention
awful lucky
bad obvious
clear possible
extraordinary probable
funny sad
good true
interesting unlikely
6. Present tense
Level: intermediate
There are two tenses in English: past and present.
The present tense is used to talk about the present and to talk about
the future.
There are four present tense forms:
Well, it's a lovely day and I'm just walking down the street when I see this
funny guy walking towards me. Obviously he's been drinking, because he's
moving from side to side …
I love Ian Rankin's novels. He writes about this detective called Rebus.
Rebus lives in Edinburgh and he's a brilliant detective, but
he's always getting into trouble. In one book, he gets suspended and
they tell him to stop working on this case. But he takes no notice …
7.Past tense
Past tense
There are two tenses in English – past and present.
The past tense in English is used:
8.Perfect aspect
Level: intermediate
We use perfect aspect to look back from a specific time and talk about things
up to that time or about things that are important at that time.
We use the present perfect to look back from the present:
I have always enjoyed working in Italy. [and I still do]
She has left home, so she cannot answer the phone.
We use the past perfect to look back from a time in the past:
It was 2006. I had enjoyed working in Italy for the past five years.
She had left home, so she could not answer the phone.
We use will with the perfect to look back from a time in the future:
By next year I will have worked in Italy for 15 years.
She will have left home by 8.30, so she will not be able to answer the phone.
Present perfect
We use the present perfect:
for something that started in the past and continues in the present:
Past perfect
We use the past perfect:
When George died, he and Anne had been married for nearly 50 years.
She didn't want to move. She had lived in Liverpool all her life.
9.Continuous aspect
Level: intermediate
We use continuous aspect:
10.Modal verbs
Level: beginner
The modal verbs are:
can could
may might
must
shall should
will would
Probability
Ability
Permission
Requests, offers and invitations
Suggestions and obligations
'can' and 'could'
'may' and 'might'
'will' and 'would'
'will have' and 'would have'
Modals with 'have'
Level: beginner
The modal verbs are:
can could
may might
must
shall should
will would
Probability
Ability
Permission
Requests, offers and invitations
Suggestions and obligations
'can' and 'could'
'may' and 'might'
'will' and 'would'
'will have' and 'would have'
Modals with 'have'
Level: beginner
Transitive verbs have both active and passive forms:
active passive
The hunter killed the lion. > The lion was killed by th
active passive
Someone has cleaned the windows. > The windows have been
be past participle
If we want to show the person or thing doing the action, we use by:
She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.
Active and passive voice 1
Active and passive voice 2
Active and passive voice 3
Level: intermediate
The passive infinitive is made up of to be with a past participle:
The doors are going to be locked at ten o'clock.
You shouldn't have done that. You ought to be punished.
We sometimes use the verb get with a past participle to form the passive:
Be careful with that glass. It might get broken.
Peter got hurt in a crash.
We can use the indirect object as the subject of a passive verb:
active passive
I gave him a book for his birthday. > He was given a book for h
active passive
Someone sent her a cheque for a thousand euros. > She was sent a cheque fo
active passive
They called off the meeting. > The meeting was called off.
His grandmother looked after him. > He was looked after by his gr
They will send him away to school. > He will be sent away to schoo
12.'to'-infinitives
Level: beginner
Infinitive of purpose
We also use the to-infinitive to express purpose (to answer why?):
He bought some flowers to give to his wife.
He locked the door to keep everyone out.
We can also express purpose with in order to and in order not to:
We started our journey early in order to avoid the traffic.
They spoke quietly in order not to wake the children.
or so as to and so as not to:
We started our journey early so as to avoid the traffic.
They spoke quietly so as not to wake the children.
Infinitive of purpose 1
Infinitive of purpose 2
Level: intermediate
Level: beginner
We can use the -ing form of a verb:
as a noun:
I love swimming.
Swimming is very good for your health.
You can get fit by swimming regularly.
as an adjective:
in front of a noun:
especially after verbs of the senses like see, watch, hear, smell, etc.:
I can speak English quite well but I can't speak French at all.
You should do your homework before you go out.
for something that happened before and after a specific time in the
past:
for something that happened before and after another action in the
past:
Level: intermediate
When we know about the future, we normally use the present tense.
1. We use the present simple for something scheduled:
We have a lesson next Monday.
The train arrives at 6.30 in the morning.
The holidays start next week.
It's my birthday tomorrow.
2. We can use the present continuous for plans or arrangements:
I'm playing football tomorrow.
They are coming to see us tomorrow.
We're having a party at Christmas.
3. We use will:
Be careful! You are going to fall. (= I can see that you might fall.)
Look at those black clouds. I think it's going to rain. (= I can see that it will
rain.)
5. We use will be with an -ing form for something happening before and
after a specific time in the future:
I'll be working at eight o'clock. Can you come later?
They'll be waiting for you when you arrive.
6. We can use will be with an -ing form instead of the present continuous
or be going to when we are talking about plans, arrangements and
intentions:
They'll be coming to see us next week.
I'll be driving to work tomorrow.
7. We often use verbs like would like, plan, want, mean, hope, expect to
talk about the future:
What are you going to do next year? I'd like to go to university.
We plan to go to France for our holidays.
George wants to buy a new car.
8. We use modals may, might and could when we are not sure about the
future:
I might stay at home tonight or I might go to the cinema.
We could see Mary at the meeting. She sometimes goes.
9. We can use should if we think there's a good chance of something
happening:
We should be home in time for tea.
The game should be over by eight o'clock.
Talking about the future 1
Talking about the future 2
Be careful!
I'll come home when I finish work. (NOT will finish work)
We won’t be able to go out if it rains. (NOT will rain)
but we can use will if it means want to or be willing to:
I will be very happy if you will come to my party.
We should finish the job early if George will help us.
17.Verbs in time clauses and 'if'
clauses
level: beginner
Verbs in time clauses and conditionals usually follow the same patterns as
in other clauses but there are some differences when we:
Making hypotheses
Some conditional clauses are like hypotheses, so we use past tense
forms.
We use past tense forms to talk about something that does not happen or is
not happening in the present:
He could get a new job if he really tried.
(= He cannot get a job because he has not tried.)
If Jack was playing, they would probably win.
(= Jack is not playing so they will probably not win.)
If I had his address, I could write to him.
(= I do not have his address so I cannot write to him.)
We use past tense forms to talk about something that we believe or know will
not happen in the future:
We would go by train if it wasn't so expensive.
(= We will not go by train because it is too expensive.)
I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was at home.
(= I cannot look after the children because I will not be at home.)
We use past tense forms to make suggestions about what might happen in
the future:
If he came tomorrow, we could borrow his car.
If we invited John, Mary would bring Angela.
After I/he/she/it, we can use were instead of was:
If Jack was/were playing, they would probably win.
We would go by train if it wasn't/weren’t so expensive.
I would look after the children for you at the weekend if I was/were at home.
We use the past perfect to talk about something which did not happen in
the past:
If you had seen him, you could have spoken to him.
(= You did not see him so you could not speak to him.)
You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.
(= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)
If we hadn't spent all our money, we could take a holiday.
(= We have spent all our money so we cannot take a holiday.)
If I had got the job, we would be living in Paris.
(= I did not get the job, so we are not living in Paris.)
If the main clause of a hypothetical conditional is about the present or
future, we use a modal:
If I had got the job, we might be living in Paris now.
(= I did not get the job so we are not living in Paris now.)
If you had done your homework, you would know the answer.
(= You did not do your homework so you do not know the answer.)
If the main clause is about the past, we use a modal with have:
If I had seen him, I would have spoken to him.
(= I did not see him so I did not speak to him.)
You could have stayed with us if you had come to London.
(= You could not stay with us because you did not come to London.)
If you had invited me, I might have come.
(= You did not invite me so I did not come.)
Wishes
We use the verb wish or the phrase if only to talk about things which we
want but which are not possible:
I wish I could see you next week.
If only we could stop for a drink.
I wish we had a bigger house.
They are always busy. If only they had more time.
John was very lazy at school. Now he wishes he had worked harder.
We use wish and if only with past tense forms:
We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for
the future:
I don't like my work. I wish I could get a better job.
That's a dreadful noise. I wish it would stop.
I always have to get home early. If only my parents would let me stay out
later.
We use past simple and continuous to talk about wishes for the
present:
We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:
Expressions
When we are talking about hypotheses, we use expressions like:
what if ... ? in case suppose (that) supposing (that) i
with present tense forms to talk about the present or future if we think
something is likely to be true or to happen:
with past tense forms to talk about the present or future to suggest
something is not likely to be true or to happen:
Imagine you won the lottery. What would you do with the money?
What if he lost his job? What would happen then?
with the past perfect to talk about things in the past which did not
happen:
Suppose you hadn't passed your exams. What would you have done?
What if he had lost his job? What would his wife have said?
Modal verbs
We use modals would and could for a hypothesis about the present or
future:
We can't all stay in a hotel. It would be very expensive.
Drive carefully or you could have an accident.
We use would in the main clause and the past tense in a subordinate
clause for a hypothesis about the present or future:
I would always help someone who really needed help.
I would always help someone if they really needed it.
We use modals with have to talk about something that did not happen in
the past:
I didn't see Mary, or I might have spoken to her.
It's a pity Jack wasn't at the party. He would have enjoyed it.
Why didn't you ask me? I could have told you the answer.
We use would have in the main clause and the past perfect in a
subordinate clause to talk about something that did not happen in the past:
I would have helped anyone who had asked me.
I would have helped you if you had asked me.
Clause structure
All clauses in English have at least two parts, a noun phrase (subject) and
a verb phrase:
The first noun phrase of a sentence is the subject. English clauses always
have a subject:
His father has just retired. He was a teacher. (NOT Was a teacher.)
I'm waiting for my wife. She is late. (NOT Is late.)
except for the imperative, which is used for orders, invitations and requests:
Stop!
Please come to dinner tomorrow.
Play it again, please.
If we have no other subject, we use there or it. We call this a dummy
subject:
There were twenty people at the meeting.
There will be an eclipse of the moon tonight.
It's a lovely day.
It's nearly one o’clock.
What's the subject?
Verb patterns
Different verbs have different patterns, so the structure of the clause depends
on the verb.
John smiled.
Transitive or intransitive?
Other patterns
Some verbs are both transitive and intransitive, but the object when they are
transitive is the same as the subject when they are intransitive:
Verb patterns
Link verbs
Multi-word verbs
Double object verbs
Verbs followed by the infinitive
Verbs followed by the '-ing' form
Reporting verbs with 'that', 'wh-' and 'if' clauses
Reported speech
Ergative verbs
Level: beginner
We often use common verbs like have and take with nouns like a shower, a
drink:
I took a shower. (= I showered.)
She had a drink. (= She drank something.)
We call these delexical verbs because the important part of the meaning is
taken out of the verb and put into the noun.
We often put adjectives in front of the noun:
I took a cold shower.
She had a nice, refreshing drink.
The verbs used most frequently in this way are:
have take make g
have
We use have with:
have ...
food and drink a meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, a cup of tea
take
We use take with:
give
We use give with:
affectionate
a hug, a kiss, a stroke
actions
make
We use make with:
talking and sounds a comment, an enquiry, a noise, a point, a promise, a sound, a s
go
We also use go as a delexical verb:
Shall we go swimming this afternoon? Or shall we go for a walk?
Mum and Dad have gone shopping.
We're going dancing tonight. Do you want to come?
We use go with -ing verbs for common activities:
We usually go walking at the weekend.
He goes running every evening after supper.
Mum's out. She's gone shopping.
We use go for a with verbs to do with moving:
do
We use do with -ing nouns to do with work, especially work in the house:
It's your turn to do the cooking.
You do the washing up and I'll do the drying.
and with other nouns to do with work:
I need to do a few jobs around the house.
I can't come out this evening. I have a lot of work to do.
We use do with nouns when it is obvious what the action is:
I'll have to do my hair before we go out. (= I'll have to brush my hair.)
Have you done your teeth? (= Have you cleaned your teeth?)
A question like
Have you done the car?
could mean
Have you washed the car?
Have you mended the car?
Have you put petrol in the car?
depending on the context.