:::: Verb Forms Verb Forms English verbs come in several forms. For example, the verb sing can be: sing, sang, sung, singing or sings. This is a total of 5 forms. Not many, considering that some languages (French, for example) have more than 30 forms for an individual verb.

• Forms Of Verbs Exercises
• All Forms Of Verbs In Hindi

English may be quite complicated, but the forms that we use to make the tenses are actually very simple! With the exception of the verb be, English main verbs have only 3, 4 or 5 forms.

The verb 'to be' is one of the most common verbs in the English language. It has many different forms. Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses.

Be has 8 forms. Helping verbs have even fewer forms as most of them never change. In this lesson we look at the forms of main verbs and helping verbs followed by a quiz to check your understanding. Forms of Main Verbs Main verbs (except the verb 'be') have 3, 4 or 5 forms.

The verb 'be' has 8 forms. In the table below, the # column shows the actual number of forms for the given verb.

Forms Of Verbs Exercises

We use these forms to make all the tenses and other verb structures, in all moods, aspects and voices. Base V1 past simple V2 past participle V3 present participle 3rd person singular present simple # reg.

Work worked working works 4 irreg. Cut cutting cuts 3 make made making makes 4 sing sang sung singing sings 5 have had having has 4 do did done doing does 5 base past simple (2 forms) past participle present participle present simple (3 forms) # be was were been being am are is 8 In the above examples: • cut has 3 forms: cut, cutting, cuts • work has 4 forms: work, worked, working, works • sing has 5 forms: sing, sang, sung, singing, sings • be has 8 forms: be, was, were, been, being, am, is, are Note that in dictionaries the headword for any given verb entry is always in the base form. Infinitive There are two possibilities for the infinitive: • base form (the 'bare infinitive') • to + base form (the 'to-infinitive') For example, sing and to sing are both infinitives. As they are identical in form to the base form, and 'to' is not part of the verb, we do not list the infinitive as a separate form. Note that the 'to' is NOT a preposition. It is an 'infinity marker' or 'particle'. At school, students often learn by heart the base, past simple and past participle (sometimes called V1, V2, V3, meaning Verb 1, Verb 2, Verb 3) for irregular verbs.

They may spend many hours chanting: sing, sang, sung; go, went, gone; have, had, had; etc. They do not learn these for regular verbs for one very simple reason - the past simple and past participle are always the same: they are formed by adding '-ed' to the base.

They do not learn the present participle and 3rd person singular present simple for regular or irregular verbs for another very simple reason - they never change. The present participle is always made by adding '-ing' to the base, and the 3rd person singular present simple is always made by adding 's' to the base (though there are some variations in spelling). Note that 'have', 'do' and 'be' also function as helping or auxiliary verbs, with exactly the same forms.

All Forms Of Verbs In Hindi

Example Sentences These example sentences use main verbs in different forms. Base - Infinitive • She helped him work on his homework. • We heard them sing their national anthem. • I want to have a drink.

• To be, or not to be, that is the question: Base - Imperative • Work well! • Have a nice day. Base - Present simple (except 3rd person singular) • I work in London.

• You sing well. • They have a lot of money. Base - After modal auxiliary verbs • I can work tomorrow. • You must sing louder. • They might do it. • You could be right. Past simple • I worked yesterday.

• She cut his hair last week. • They had a good time. • They were surprised, but I was not. Past participle • I have worked here for five years. • He needs a folder made of plastic. • It is done like this. • I have never been so happy.