| Verb Forms |
| English verb forms change according to which tense is being used. The base form is the way a verb is spelled in the infinitive as in to dance, to eat, to work. The base form is used in the simple present tense; an 's' is added to the third-person singular. The base form is used with modals (will, might, should, used to etc.). The present participle is the -ing form. It is made by adding -ing to the base form. It is used in the progressive (continuous) tenses: he is dancing, they were eating, we should have been working. It is used to change a verb into an adjective as in the movie was exciting. The present participle is also used to change a verb into a noun (gerund). Ex: Dancing is good exercise. The simple past is made by adding -ed to regular verbs - planted, washed, voted. The simple past of irregular verbs must be memorized. The simple past is used to express action that took place at a specific time in the past: we planted corn yesterday. It is also used to express action to took place on a regular basis in the past: our ancesters planted corn every year. The past participle is also called the third form of the verb. In regular verbs, it is the same as the simple past: planted, washed, voted. The past participles of irregular verbs must be memorized. It is used in the perfect tenses. Ex. I have washed the clothes. The past participle can also be used as an adjective - the audience was excited by the movie. |
| Andre used to ski, but now he snowboards. |
Snowboarding is fun!
| Andre was snowboarding when he met his wife. |
| Andre has snowboarded for years. |
| He snowboarded every weekend last winter. |
| Snowboarding is invigorating; while snowboarding, Andre is invigorated. |
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