Verb Type

• Main verbs – Express action, occurrence or state of being

• Julie studies English. She is a student.

• Auxiliary verbs – Accompany the verb and show person, number, or

tense, etc. • do, be, have

• I'm leaving now. I've finished my work. I don't need to stay.

• modal verbs (must, can, etc.) • George can speak French. • They must study more.

• To do

• Not normally used in affirmative sentences using simple verb tenses (Simple present and Simple past) I like tennis. I played it yesterday.

• Used in questions, short answers and negatives of simple verb tenses

• Do you speak English? Yes, I do. • Does your sister speak English? No, she doesn’t .• Didn’t she learn it in school? No, she didn’t take English as a foreign language. She studied French.• Did you study French also? No, my sister did but I didn’t.

• Notice that after the auxiliaries do, does, did, the base form of the verb is used.

Auxiliary Verbs

•To be

– Used to form the continuous aspect of verbs. The main verb in the -ing form will come after the auxiliary. (Present continuous, past continuous, present perfect continuous)

•Jeffrey is coming over for dinner. •Sharon was preparing a turkey. •They have been working for hours.

– Used to form the passive voice. The main verb always appears after the auxiliary, but when forming the passive voice, the past participle form of the main verb is used.

•Math 101 is taught by Mrs. Zircon. •The cake was made this morning.

• To be

– Used for affirmatives, questions, short answers and negatives of

both continuous and passive forms.

• Are you going to bed now?• What were they doing last night?

• Are the mistakes made by the students common?• What was he given for his birthday?

• To have

• Used to form the perfect aspect of verbs.

• Used in all perfect sentences: affirmatives, questions, short answers and negatives

– Have you ever gone parachuting? – Yes, I have and so has my brother, but my boyfriend

hasn’t because he’s scared of heights. – Had you considered parachuting for a long time before you went the first time? – No, I hadn’t. I hadn’t thought about it at all before I went.

My brother had gone several times, and he talked meinto going with him for lessons.

• Notice that after the auxiliary to have, the past participle form of the main verb is used.

•Modal verbs

– Used to give meaning to the main verb, related to: Certainty Obligation Necessity Expectation Freedom to act

– Followed by the base form of the verb

– Used for affirmatives, questions, short answers and negatives

• Could you pass me the ketchup?

• What must you do to get service here?

• Modal verbs – modal-like expressions

– Used in the same way as modals:– Certainty– Obligation– Etc.

– But they are formed with the auxiliary to be:• Be expected to• Be required to• Be supposed to

– Certain verbs also work like modals in that they add meaning to the verb:

• Used to• Need to

– In questions, short answers and negative form, they work with the auxiliary do/does/did.