Verbs: Basic Forms and Transitivity

E. Siler

The English Verb

• Every English verb has five forms that we use as the “building blocks” to form verb phrases.

• Those parts are:– The simple– The –s form– The –ing form– The past tense form– The past participle form

Examples

Form Walk Eat Vanish Sleep

simple Walk Eat Vanish Sleep

-s form Walks Eats Vanishes Sleeps

-ing form Walking Eating Vanishing Sleeping

Past tense form Walked Ate Vanished Slept

Past participle form

Walked Eaten Vanished Slept

1 Grossly Irregular Verb

FORM BESimple Form Be-S form Is-ing form BeingPast Tense Form Was/Were (depending on the subject)Past Participle Form BeenOTHER FORMS (TWO OTHER PRESENT FORMS)

Am/Are (depending on the sujbect0

Using the Five Forms

• We use the five forms, sometimes with other verbs, to form VERB PHRASES.

• All English verb phrases are formed from combinations of these verb forms.

Use #1

• The Present Tense.• Requires the simple form and the –s form.

PERSON Singular PluralFirst I have We haveSecond You have You haveThird He/she it/ has They have

Use #2

• The Past Tense• Requires the past tense form (NOT THE PAST

PARTICIPLE).PERSON Singular Plural

First I ate We ate

Second You ate You ate

Third He/she/it ate They ate

Use #3

• The Progressive Tenses• Require a present or past tense form of “to

be” and the –ing form of another verb. The past progressive:

PERSON Singular PluralFirst I was doing We were doingSecond You were doing You were doingThird He/she/it was

doingThey were doing

Use #4

• The Perfect Tenses• Require a present or past tense form of “to

have” and the past participle form (NOT THE PAST TENSE). The present perfect:

Person Singular Plural

First I have gone We have gone

Second You have gone You have gone

Third He/she/ it has gone We have gone

Use #5

• The Perfect Progressive Tenses• Require a form of “to have” (present or past), the past

participle of “to be” (been) and an –ing form of another verb. The present perfect progressive:

PERSON Singular Plural

First I have been sleeping

We have been sleeping

Second You have been sleeping

You have been sleeping

Third He/she/it has been sleeping

They have been sleeping

Another Division

• In addition to the five forms, all verbs can be classified another way: as either transitive or intransitive or sometimes both.

• Transitive verbs are marked in the dictionary with the word “transitive” and intransitives are marked with the word “intransitive.”

The Difference

• Transitive verbs have direct objects (I bought the food).

• Intransitive do not (The food smells bad).

Switch Hitters

• Some verbs are sometimes transitive and sometimes intransitive, depending on whether a direct object is used.– I ate dinner (transitive). – I ate quickly (intransitive).

Rule #1

• Only verbs that are transitive or used as transitives can be made passive.

• We will talk about passives later.• However, this is the important thing to

remember: intransitives cannot be passive.

What This Rule Means

• This rule means that you can NEVER, EVER have a form of the verb “to be” in front of – the past participle form or – past tense form or – simple form

• of an intransitive verb. • You can NEVER say any of these sentences:– The accident was happen.– The accident was happened.

How to Edit

• Check the dictionary.• Is the verb transitive or intransitive? If it’s both,

which way are you using it?• If the verb is intransitive (or you are using it that

way), what form did you use?• Did you use a form of the verb “to be” in front of

it? • IF SO, YOU NEED TO FIX SOMETHING RIGHT NOW! • Start by removing the form of the verb “to be.”

HOW I MARK THIS

• IVF (Intransitive Verb Form)

Examples

• Landfill gas is occurred.• However, liners will be decayed.• Leachate is keep going down.• The plastic will be break.• The leachate is come to the plant.