Secrets of English Verbs

Presented by Nicole SafranekMATE Conference

January, 2013

An Introduction to X-Word Grammar

20 QuestionsGuess What’s in My Backpack!

Write 20 yes/no questions about what’s in my backpack. Start each sentence with a

different word.1. Is it spherical?2. Can it be used up?3. … (try to think of 19 more)

Meet the X-Words

1. Is2. Am3. Are4. Was5. Were6. Can7. Could

8. *Shall9. Should10. Will11. Would12. Might13. May 14. Must

15. Do16. Does17. Did18. Have 19. Has20. Had21. *Ought

How are X words used?

• They are used to make negatives.• They are used to make questions.• They are used to find the subject of a

sentence.• They are used to indicate time (tense).• They are used to add shades of meaning.

Making Negatives

She is good at yoga.

She is not good at yoga.

He can play guitar.

He can’t play guitar.

Forming Questions

She will get married next summer.

Will she get married next summer?

He drives a taxi.

Does he drive a taxi?

Finding the Subject

She will get married next summer.

Will she get married next summer?

He drives a taxi.

Does he drive a taxi?

Indicating TimeShe was good at yoga before her injury.

He could play guitar when he was a kid.

We’ll finish the project tomorrow.

She had just finished the project when her friend called.

Adding Shades of MeaningShe will practice Arabic with you if you ask.

She might want to practice Arabic with you; you should ask.

She must practice Arabic every day to have improved so much.

X-word CharacteristicsX-words are small but mighty.

They are difficult to define.

They can be combined to create additional times (or tenses) and shades of meaning.

My brother could have finished his homework if he hadn’t gone hiking instead.

X-word Characteristics

I have two cats.

I have traveled to nine countries.

How can you tell? Make a yes/no question!

Do I have two cats?

Have I traveled to nine countries?

Or a negative statement.

I haven’t traveled to nine countries.

I don’t have two cats.

X-words have, has, and had can also be main verbs, so be careful:

X-word CharacteristicsX-words do, does and did can

hide inside a main verb.

Does Mary love Bob?Mary does not love Bob.Mary Bob.does loveloves

X-word CharacteristicsX-word grammar gives students a set of rules about verbs that are always true.

Use a form of the verb sleep in the following sentences:

Did you _______ well last night?I was _________ soundly before the fire alarm went off.I have never ________ so well in my life.

sleepsleepingsleptThis bed has never been ______ in.slept