Verbs

In this section we look at the grammar of verbs—their structure and form—and how we use them in spoken and written English.

What is a Verb?

Verb Classification
1. helping verbs 2. main verbs

Verb Forms
Some languages have 30+ forms of a verb! English has 8 at most :)

Tense
Speak naturally with tense.

• What is Tense?
• English Tense System
  
  
• Present Simple
• Present Continuous
• Present Perfect Simple
• Present Perfect Continuous
  
  
• Past Simple
• Past Continuous
• Past Perfect Simple
• Past Perfect Continuous
  
  
• Future Simple
• Future Continuous
• Future Perfect Simple
• Future Perfect Continuous
  
  

Be Verb Rock Star Song 
The verb be is a very special verb in English. Listen to the song.

going to
I am going to do it

about to
I am about to do it

for and since for Time
for two days, since 1st April

Subjunctive Mood
She insists that he come.

Passive Voice
Active voice and passive voice
Cats eat mice. Mice are eaten by cats.

used to do/be used to
I used to do it. I am not used to it.

Future Time
I will do it. I am going to do it. I am doing it. I do it.

Conditionals
if I win, if I won, if I had won

Modal Verbs
can, shall, must...

Have fun with these verb tense games!

Phrasal Verbs
put out, look after, get on with

Questions
Do you like tea? Why do you like tea? Do you like tea or coffee?

Tag Questions
You like me, don't you?

Infinitive or -ing?
I like to do, I like doing

Continuous Tenses and Meaning
Am I being silly?

Subject-verb agreement
In general a subject and a verb must agree in number.

-ing Form
fishing is fun, I dislike working, after arriving

Catenative Verbs
Chains of two or more verbs: Let go. I want to play. He hates drinking.