ENGLISH VERB RESOURCES

From Kenneth Beare,

Verbs and nouns are the two most important ingredients in any language. Nouns tell us
what is involved in a situation, verbs tell us what happens in a situation. This page
provides easy access to all the important information about verbs you can find on this
site.
Verb Types
To begin with, this overview provides a look at the different types of verbs in English.
These include transitive and intransitive verbs, as well as various verb patterns.
Verb Types Overview
Auxiliary Verbs
An understanding of auxiliary (helping) verbs is essential in English. All tenses make use
of auxiliary verbs and a complete knowledge of each will help you conjugate tenses
correctly. Begin with an overview of the function of auxiliary verbs:
Auxiliary Verbs Explained
In spoken English, auxiliary verbs are often contracted - She'll come, They've bought,
etc. - this guide to contractions will help you understand standard auxiliary verb
contractions.
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/contractions.htm
Irregular Verbs
Conjugating regular English verbs is relatively easy.
Verb Structures and Patterns
This guide provides a look at common verb structures and patterns used in English.
Each structure is explained and an example of correct usage is given.
Verb Type

Explanation

Examples

Intransitive

An intransitive verb does not take a

direct object

They're sleeping.
They arrived late.

A transitive verb takes a direct object.

The direct object can be a noun, a

They bought the

sweater.

Transitive

Linking

pronoun or a clause.

He watched them.

A linking verb is followed by a noun or

adjective which refers to the subject of
the verb.

The meal looked

wonderful.
He felt
embarrassed.

Verb Patterns
There are also many verb patterns which are common in English. When two verbs are
used, it is especially important to notice which form the second verb takes (infinitive - to
do - base form - do - verb ing - doing).
Verb Pattern

Structure

Examples

verb infinitive

This is one of the most

common verb combination
forms.

I waited to begin
dinner.
They wanted to come
to the party.

verb verb ing

This is one of the most

common verb combination
forms.

They enjoyed listening

to the music.
They regretted
spending so much time
on the project.

verb verb ing

OR verb
infinitive - no
change in
meaning

Some verbs can combine with

other verbs using both forms
without changing the basic
meaning of the sentence.

She started to eat

dinner. OR She started
eating dinner.

Some verbs can combine with

other verbs using both forms.
However, with these verbs,
there is a change in the basic
meaning of the sentence.

They stopped speaking

to each other. => They
don't speak to each
other anymore.
They stopped to speak
to each other. => They
stopped walking in
order to speak to each
other.

verb verb ing

OR verb
infinitive change in
meaning

verb indirect
object direct
object

An indirect object is usually

placed before a direct object
when a verb takes both an
indirect and direct object.

I bought her a book.

She asked him the
question.

verb object
infinitive

This is the most common form

when a verb is followed by
both an object and a verb.

She asked her to find a

place to stay.
They instructed them
to open the envelope.

This form is used with a few

verbs (let, help and make).

She made her finish

her homework.
They let him go to the
concert.
He helped him paint
the house.

This form is less common than

verb object infinitive.

I observed them
painting the house.
I heard her singing in
the living room.

verb object
clause with
'that'

Use this form for a clause

beginning with 'that'.

She told him that she

would worker harder.
He informed him that
he was going to resign.

verb object
clause with
'wh-'

Use this form for a clause

beginning with wh- (why,
when, where)

They were instructed

where to go.
She told me why she
had done it.

verb object past

participle

This form is often used when

someone does something for
someone else.

He had his car washed.

They want the report
finished immediately.

verb object
base form
(infinitive
without 'to')

verb object verb

ing

Know your Auxiliary Verbs!

Auxiliary verbs are conjugated depending on the subject of a sentence. Here are a few
examples of auxiliary verbs:
3

Tom has lived in Boston for twenty years.

They didn't come to the party last night.
I was cooking dinner when you telephoned.
What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?
Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage. Every tense takes an
auxiliary form of the verb. There are three exceptions to this rule:
1.
2.
3.

Simple present positive: She works at a bank.

Simple past positive: He bought a new TV last week.
Positive imperative statements: Hurry up!
There are also a number of short forms that take ONLY the auxiliary form of the verb:
Yes / No answer short forms:

Do you live in England? - No, I don't.

Has she been to Paris? - Yes, she has.
Question tags:

They enjoy learning English, don't they?

He won't agree with me, will he?
Positive agreement / inclusion:

I went to the beach last weekend.

- So did I.
I'm working very hard at the moment. - So is she.
Negative agreement / inclusion:
They haven't worked here long. - Neither have I.
We won't be able to come next week. - Neither will I.
Here is a quick overview of auxiliary verb usage:
DO / DOES
Used simple present question and negative forms:
What time does he get up?
They don't drive to work. They take the bus.
DID
Used in simple past question and negative forms:

When did they arrive yesterday?

He didn't finish his homework last week.
IS / ARE / AM
Used in present continuous and for the future with 'going to':
They are working hard at the moment.
She is going to study medicine at university.
WAS / WERE
Past continuous:
I was watching TV when you arrived.
What were they doing while you were cooking dinner?
HAVE / HAS
Present perfect and present perfect continuous:
How long have you lived here?
I've been working since seven this morning.
HAD
Past perfect and past perfect continuous:
He had eaten by the time I arrived.
She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned.
WILL / WON'T
Future with 'will':
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
He won't understand.
If you don't understand all of these tenses, don't worry. This overview chart shows the
positive, negative and interrogative (question) forms of all the principle tenses in English
with a brief description of the principle usage. The timeline tenses chart provides a
handy visual reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to the past, present
and future. Included you will find active, passive, simple and continuous forms
positioned according to their occurrence in time.
AUXILIARY VERB QUIZ
Test your Understanding of Auxiliary Verbs
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In each of the following sentences an auxiliary verb is missing. Write the missing
auxiliary verbs on a piece of paper and then check the following page for the answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.

He _____ come to school yesterday because he was ill.

She _____ been working in the garden since two this afternoon.
He _____ finished his homework by the time arrived.
I'm afraid I _____ be able to come to the party. I have to study.
You've visited London, _____ you?
They _____ going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.
Why _____ you buy that?! It's ugly!
She _____ often go to the movies.
He _____ watching TV. He's doing his homework at the moment.
They _____ been playing tennis for two hours.
I don't like country music.
- Neither _____ I.
They won't come to the party, _____ they?
Mom _____ been working for two hours when I telephoned.
I think they are fantastic! - So _____ she.
What _____ they doing?
Mary hasn't enjoyed herself so much for a long time. - Neither _____ I.
Mike _____ go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.
He's studying Russian this semester, _____ he?
I _____ just been to the bank.
How long _____ you been working for this company?
Auxiliary Verb Answers

Answers: Auxiliary Verb Quiz

1.
2.

He didn't come to school yesterday because he was ill.

She has been working in the garden since two this afternoon.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.

He had finished his homework by the time arrived.

I'm afraid I won't be able to come to the party. I have to study.
You've visited London, haven't you?
They're going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.
Why did you buy that?! It's ugly!
She doesn't often go to the movies.
He isn't watching TV. He's doing his homework at the moment.
They've been playing tennis for two hours.
I don't like country music. - Neither do I.
They won't come to the party, will they?
Mom had been working for two hours when I telephoned.
I think they are fantastic! - So does she.
What are they doing?
Mary hasn't enjoyed herself so much for a long time.
- Neither have I.
Mike didn't go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.
He's studying Russian this semester, isn't he?
I've just been to the bank.
How long have you been working for this company?
Remember, if you don't understand all of these tenses, don't worry. This overview chart
shows the positive, negative and interrogative (question) forms of all the principle tenses
in English with a brief description of the principle usage. The timeline tenses chart
provides a handy visual reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to the
past, present and future. Included you will find active, passive, simple and continuous
forms positioned according to their occurrence in time.

ENGLISH TENSES TIMELINE CHART

This timeline tenses chart provides a handy reference sheet to English tenses and their
relationship to one another and the past, present and future. Conjugated verbs are
highlighted in bold. Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation are marked
by an asterisk (*).
SIMPLE
ACTIVE

PROGRESSIVE /
CONTINUOUS
ACTIVE

SIMPLE
PASSIVE

PROGRESSIVE /
CONTINUOUS
PASSIVE

PAST TIME
^
|
|
|
|
^
The painting
She had
|
I had been waiting
had been sold
already eaten
PAST
for four hours when
twice before it
when I arrived.
PERFECT he finally arrived.
was destroyed.
|
|
I bought a
new car last
week.

The book was

written in
1876 by Frank
Smith.

The company
has been
She has lived
managed by
in California for
Fred Jones for
many years.
the last two
years.

Those shoes
He works five
are made in
days a week.
Italy.

^
|
PAST
|
|
^
|
PRESENT
PERFECT
|
|

The house had been

being painted for over
a month before they
began to decorate the
interior. *

The problem was

I was watching TV
being solved when I
when she arrived.
arrived late for class.

She has been

working at
Johnson's for six
months.

The students have

been being taught for
the last four hours. *

^
|
PRESENT I am working at the The work is being
|
moment.
done by Jim.
|

|
|
PRESENT
MOMENT
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|
|
|
FUTURE They are going to
INTENTION fly to New York
|
tomorrow.
|
V
The sun will
shine
tomorrow.

The food will

be brought
later.

|
FUTURE
SIMPLE
|
|
V

The reports are going

to be completed by
the marketing
department.

She will be
The rolls will be being
teaching tomorrow
baked at two. *
at six o'clock.

I will have
The project
|
She will have been The house will have
completed the will have been FUTURE
working here for
been being built for
course by the finished by
PERFECT
two years by the end six months by the time
end of next
tomorrow
|
of next month.
they finish. *
week.
afternoon.
|
V
FUTURE
TIME
|
|
|
|
V

VERB FORMATION: The following chart shows the positive, negative and interrogative
(question) forms of all the principle tenses in English with a brief description of the
principle usage. Please note that for a better understanding of the tense forms you
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should follow the links to pages focusing on the specific tense. This chart is
principally for comparison purposes.
TENSE
Simple
Present

POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION

I play
tennis on
Mondays.

They don't
(do not)
Does she
work in
know him?
New York.

USE
Habitual activities - States
More

They didn't
She went
Where did Actions happening at a
(did not)
Simple Past to Paris
she get that defined moment in the past.
drive to
last week.
hat?
More
work.
Simple
Future

I'll (will)
meet you
at the
airport
tomorrow.

He's (is)
Present
working at
Continuous the
moment.

He won't
(will not)
be able to
come.

They aren't
(are not)
What are
coming this you doing?
evening.

He wasn't
I was
(was not)
Past
watching
working
Continuous TV when
when she
you called.
arrived.
I'll (will) be
cooking
Future
dinner
Continuous
when you
arrive.

They won't
(will not)
be living in
Paris this
time next
year.

They're
He's (is)
(are) not
Future with going to fly
going to
Going to
to Boston
invite the
next week.
Browns.
Present
Perfect

Will they
visit us
soon?

I've (have) She hasn't

seen Mick (has not)
three times been to
this week. New York.

What were
you doing
when I
called?

Decisions made at the

moment about the future,
future predictions, future
promises More
Actions happening at the
present moment. Near
future intention and
scheduling. More
Interrupted past action,
action happening at a
specific moment in time in
the past.

What will
you be
Future action at a specific
doing next
moment in the future. More
week at this
time?
Where are
you going
to stay?
How long
have you
worked at
Smith's?

Future intent or planned

action More
1)To express an action that
was begun in the past and
continues into the present.
2) To express an action that
happened in the UNspecified
past. 3) To express a recent
10

action that has a present

effect. More
She hadn't
I'd (had)
(had not)
already
been to
Past Perfect eaten
Rome
before they
before that
came.
trip.

Future
Perfect

We'll (will)
have lived
here for
twenty
years by
2005.

She won't
(will not)
have
finished her
homework
by the time
we arrive.

Had you
ever seen
To express an action that
such a
happens before another
crazy lady action in the past.
before that?
How long
will you
have lived
in France by
the end of
next year?

To express what will have

happened or how long
something will have
happened up to a certain
point in the future. More

She's (has)
Present
been
Perfect
waiting for
Continuous over three
hours.

They
How long
haven't
have you
(have not) been
been
working on
studying for that
long.
problem?

To express the duration of a

continuous activity begun in
the past and continuing into
the present. More

She'd
(had) been
waiting for
Past Perfect three
Continuous hours
when he
finally
arrived.

I hadn't
(had not)
been
sleeping for
long when I
heard the
doorbell
ring.

How long
had you
been
playing
tennis when
she arrived?

To express the duration of a

continuous activity begun
before another activity in
the past. More

He'll (will)
have been
Future
sleeping
Perfect
for a few
Continuous hours by
the time
we arrive.

She won't
(will not)
have been
working for
long by 5
o'clock.

How long
will you
To express the duration of
have been an activity up to a point of
driving by 6 time in the future. More
o'clock?

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