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Common ESL Errors Workbook |
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Verb Tenses and Forms |
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Rule #1: After a modal (can, will, may, might…) the next verb is in the simple form. (Modals appear with verbs, but are not really considered verbs because they NEVER take -ed, -ing, or -s endings.)
We can go with you. He may want to come with us.
| Incorrect: | Revised: |
| He will goes. | He will go. |
| She will bringing the book. | She will bring the book. |
| She should writes every day. | She should write every day. |
| His son could caught a ball. | His son could catch a ball. |
Rule #2: After the helping verb "do", the next verb is the base form (just like a modal in the first rule).
To emphasize a main verb:
You do look delightful today.
This makeup does make your face look more round.
To express a negative meaning along with not:
You do not need that green registration form.
He did not want to stay with his parents.
To ask a question:
Do you want your dessert?
Does it ever rain in the winter here?
Rule #3: After have/has/had, the next verb is in the past participle.
We have gone to that movie.
He has been studying for a long time.
He had gone when we came.
Regular past participles:
| Base Verb | Past Participle |
| Like | liked |
| Receive | received |
| Talk | talked |
| Touch | touched |
Irregular past participles:
| Base verb | Past participle | Base verb | Past participle |
| Break | broken | do | done |
| Bring | brought | drink | drank |
| Build | built | eat | eaten |
| Buy | bought | grow | grown |
| Catch | caught | keep | kept |
| Choose | chosen | take | taken |
Rule #4: After "be" in any form in the active voice, the next verb is the present participle (-ing form).
He is going with us.
They are not coming until later.
How hard are you working?
Rule #5: In the passive voice, after "be" the next verb is the past participle.
The letter was written by him.
The problem was discussed (by the lecturer) yesterday.
Rule #6: After a preposition (by, about, in…), the next verb is the present participle (-ing).
By talking to the teacher first, you will often avoid problems on the test.
He is talking about living in Europe.
Rule #7: After "to" following a verb, the next verb is in the simple form. (This is a rule which applies even in sentences about the past. We cannot say, "Last night, he decided to talked to her." Only the main verb "decided" is in the past tense and takes the -ed ending.)
I want to go with you.
He never wanted to fire him.
Rule #8: Some verbs (called state-of-being verbs) cannot be used in the progressive, "-ing," form.
Examples of state-of-being verbs:
appear, desire, like, prefer, appreciate, dislike, love, recognize, believe, doubt, mean, seem, belong, hate, need, suppose, cost, know, own, want, weigh
Incorrect: I am loving you. Revised: I love you.
Incorrect: He is weighing 200 pounds. Revised: He weighs 200 pounds.
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