Writing & Language Development Center
Verb forms for English Language Learners
Verbs contain a lot of information—about when something happens, about whether an event is complete or not, about
whether it is likely to recur, and more. Because verbs are so important in English, verb errors can be distracting and make
your writing seem confused. The first step in getting verbs right is to choose correctly from the three main verb forms.
Infinitives and three main forms (v1, v2, v3)
The first form of a verb (called v1) is the base form: register. You use it to make infinitives (to register) and commands and
requests (Register before the class fills.) It is also used to create the simple present tense (I register later than you do this
year). The second form of a verb (v2) is the past-tense form: registered. To create a past-tense verb, you usually add –ed
or –d to the base form, but many past-tense verbs are irregular and do not follow this pattern. The third form (v3) is the past
participle form. It is used with the helper, or auxiliary, verb have (has and had are other forms). The past participle form, too,
is often irregular.
The –s form
There are two other important verb forms to pay attention to (turn this page to see them). One is the –s form. When you pair
a verb in the simple present tense with a subject in the 3
rd
person singular (such as he, she, it, the president, Alexa, or the
car), the verb must be in the –s form (sometimes –es, depending on the spelling):
He registers late every semester.
Alexa works at the bookstore.
He cooks for his family three or four nights a week.
The –ing form
The other important verb form is the –ing form, or present participle. When you use it as the verb in a sentence, you must
also use a form of to be as an auxiliary (am, are, is, was, were, been):
I am freezing the leftover soup.
Were you sleeping when the rain started?
He has been working late every night this week (because you can’t use the part participle been without the
auxiliary has).
However, an –ing word is not necessarily a verb. It may instead be working as an adjective or a noun. In that case, it is used
without an auxiliary verb:
Don’t wake the sleeping baby (adjective).
This room feels freezing (adjective)!
There is more to life than working late (noun).