Verbs are the foundations of ******** and accordingly they are one of the most common questions in the Structure and Written Expression section. Although many of the questions involve the advanced cases, an understanding of the basic tenses is essential
In this section we will be using four terms for the verb words. Let’s define them before we begin.
Infinitive to be to live
Dictionary be live
Gerund being living
Participle been lived
Present Tense
subject simple continuous perfect perfect continuous I live am living have lived have been living
you live are living have lived have been living
he/she/it lives is living has lived has been living
we live are living have lived have been living
they live are living have lived have been living
present simple—Indicates a habitual action—something that is always true—for example, a train schedule or a scientific fact. This action does not actually need to occur at the moment of speaking.
I live in Paris.
(Generally speaking, I live in Paris.)
I teach English.
(Generally speaking, I teach English.)
He eats lobster.
(He generally enjoys eating lobster.)
present continuous—An action that is occurring at the moment of speaking. An action in the present continuous must be occurring at the moment of speaking, as opposed to the more general present simple case. Be careful of “continual action” verbs, like to read, that are not necessarily occurring at the moment of speaking exactly.
I am living in Paris.
(At the moment of speaking, I am living in Paris.)
I am teaching English.
(At the moment of speaking, I am instructing a class or student.)
I am eating lobster.
(Right now, as I speak, I am eating lobster.)
present perfect—Refers to an action in the past that is connected to the moment of speaking. It does not necessarily mean that the action is still continuing, although in some cases, it does. Usually it is a past experience the speaker is using to demonstrate expertise on a subject.
I have lived in Paris for ten years.
(Ten years ago, I moved to Paris and I am still here. In the past, for a period of ten years, I lived in Paris, and that experience is important to the moment of speaking. I can recommend some restaurants.)
I have taught English for ten years.
(Ten years ago, I began teaching English, and I still am today. In the past, for a period of ten years, I taught English, therefore I can help you with your homework.)
I have eaten lobster for ten years.
(I began eating lobster ten years ago, and I still eat it today. I have eaten lobster before. In the past, I ate lobster, and that is why I hate it.)
present perfect continuous—An action that began in the past and is still continuing. Always. Make a parallel between this tense and the present perfect.
I have been teaching for ten years.(I began teaching ten years ago, and I still am teaching today.)
Past Tense
subject simple continuous perfect perfect continuous
I lived was living had lived had been living you lived were living had lived had been living he/she/it lived was living had lived had been living we lived were living had lived had been living they lived were living had lived had been living
past simple—Indicates a finished action. Something that has happened in the past and has no connection to the moment of speaking.
I lived in Paris
(In the past, I lived in Paris.)
I taught English.
(In the past, I taught English.)
I ate lobster.
(In the past, I ate lobster.)
past continuous—An action that happens in the past and is interrupted by another action. This verb can never stand alone, it must have a complement verb.
I was living in Paris when France won the World Cup.
(During my action of “living in Paris,” France won the World Cup.)
I was teaching English when the student got sick.
(While I was in the middle of teaching, the student got sick.)
I was eating lobster when the phone rang.
(While I was eating, the phone rang.)
past perfect—Usually used when there is more than one action happening in the past in a certain order.
I had lived in Paris before I went to school in England.
(First I lived in Paris, then I went to England.)
I had taught English before I finished my degree.
(Teaching came before finishing my degree.)He said he had eaten too much lobster.
(In the past, the man said that he performed the action of eating.)
[b]Future Tense
There are four forms to the future tense in English. It is not important to understand the distinction between them as they are virtually interchangeable. However, you must always be able to identify the future. Look for the time signature of the sentence if you are using the present simple or present continuous.
modal—I will leave tomorrow.idiom—I am going to leave tomorrow.
present simple (+ future time) —I leave tomorrow.
present continuous (+ future time) —I am leaving tomorrow.
Subjunctive This verb form requires a specific form in English. It is used to describe an action that is important or necessary. That is, the action of the second subject is important or necessary, generally, to the first subject. Let’s look at the form first, and then a method of finding the subjunctive.
Subjunctive with verbs of importance verb of importance that subject subjunctive Mr. Spinoza demands that the student write.
Subjunctive with nouns of importance noun of importance that subject subjunctiveMr. Spinoza’s demand that the student write has been beneficial.It is his demand that the student write.
Subjunctive with adjectives of importance adjective of importance that subject subjunctiveIt is important that the student write his assignment.
The subjunctive tense always takes the dictionary form. Here is a three step process for recognizing the subjunctive:
1. Look for the word “that” (be careful, “that” on its own does not automatically mean a subjunctive. “That” has many uses.).
2. Is the word before “that” a word of importance? Remember that such a word can be a verb, noun, or adjective.
3. The verb that follows the subject, no matter what number that subject happens to be, is always in the dictionary form
Here is a list of verbs, nouns, and adjectives of importance, which take the subjunctive:
verbs nouns adjectives suggest suggestion necessary
insist insistence important prefer preference essential
recommend recommendation recommended require requirement required demand demand imperative request request ask desire desirable
propose proposal
urge urgent
WRONG: It is imperative that he is here before the meeting begins.
RIGHT: It is imperative that he be here before the meeting begins.
WRONG: The policeman recommended that Robert drives more carefully.
RIGHT: The policeman recommended that Robert drive more carefully.
WRONG: The honors committee would not waive the requirement that Robert has letters of recommendation from his professors
RIGHT: The honors committee would not waive the requirement that Robert have letters of recommendation from his professors.
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موضوع: Let's us learn English grammar: Verbs 
الإثنين مايو 28, 2007 4:44 pm